Defending drivers world champion Sebastian Vettel moved within sight of retaining his title with ease yesterday when he drove to a comprehensive victory at a crash-hit and thrilling Italian Grand Prix.

As the 24-year-old German steered his Red Bull car clear of the field, his nearest title rival and team-mate Mark Webber, 35, crashed out – leaving Vettel to open up a massive 112-point lead with six races remaining.

Briton Jenson Button finished second in the leading McLaren after a typically well judged drive.

Two-times champion Fernando Alonso fought to hang on for a rousing third place for Ferrari, to the delight of the tifosi who invaded the circuit at the finish.

Alonso is now second in the title race, albeit 112 points behind, meaning Vettel is now likely to win his second title at the Japanese Grand Prix in October providing he does not suffer any catastrophic setback in Singapore later this month.

Lewis Hamilton, frustrated by Michael Schumacher and ultimately frustrated also by Alonso in the closing laps, came home fourth.

Schumacher, a five-time winner at Monza, finished fifth for Mercedes.

Vettel’s win was his eighth of the season and the 18th of his career, bringing him also his 31st podium finish in only his 75th race.

He won his maiden F1 race three years ago at the same Monza circuit for the Toro Rosso team and, perhaps signalling his feelings about that memory, he was close to tears as he acknowledged the hordes below on the circuit.

“Well done Sebastian, you have won the Italian Grand Prix. Fantastic,” said his Red Bull chief Chris Horner on the team radio.

“Yes! Yes! We did it,” replied the driver. “Nobody can believe it. We did it! Thank you boys.”

At the start Vettel was slow to accelerate away, allowing both Hamilton and Alonso, from fourth place, to draw alongside in the roaring run to the first chicane.

There Alonso took command for Ferrari ahead of Vettel with Hamilton third and, remarkably, Schumacher, who started eighth and swept through to fourth.

The first chicane claimed its usual bunch of victims as Vitantonio Liuzzi, of Hispania, ran off on the approach and on to the grass. The Italian, who was later handed a five-place grid penalty for the Singapore GP, slid sideways into the Renault of Vitaly Petrov who, in turn, smacked into the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg.

This trio were eliminated and the safety car was sent out while the mechanical carnage was cleared.

The field remained unchanged with Alonso in front until the safety car came in at the start of lap four when a sleepy Hamilton was passed by the alert and in-form Schumacher, making light of his age.

One lap later, more drama erupted when Webber collided with Felipe Massa, his Red Bull losing the front wing which was stuck under his car. Inevitably, Webber crashed out at Parabolica shortly after Vettel had taken the lead with a bold attack around the outside of Alonso at Curva di Lesmo.

As Vettel surged two seconds clear, behind him there was a notable scrap between Hamilton and Schumacher. In one episode, Hamilton passed Schumacher who responded and regained his place.

In another, as Hamilton – in the faster car – went by on the inside approach to Lesmo, Schumacher chopped across him and forced him briefly on to the grass.

In regaining total control, Hamilton decelerated and Button swept through to move into fourth.

Hamilton took fourth from Schumacher, at last, on lap 28 as order settled again, Vettel and Alonso, both having pitted, controlling the leading positions with Button and Hamilton in pursuit.

Alonso, struggling with traction, could not resist Button’s speed on lap 36 and the 2009 champion moved into second place behind Vettel who pitted for a second time on that lap.

And that was how it stayed for the closing stages when Hamilton pushed hard to close the gap to Alonso, but without final success.

Result in Monza

1. Vettel (Red Bull) - 1hr 20min 46.172sec
2. Button (McLaren)at 9.590sec
3. Alonso (Ferrari) - 16.909
4. Hamilton (McLaren) - 17.417
5. Schumacher (Mercedes GP) - 32.677
6. Massa (Ferrari) - 42.993
7. Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) - 1 lap
8. Di Resta (Force India) - 1 lap
9. Senna (Lotus-Renault) - 1 lap
10. Buemi (Toro Rosso) - 1 lap
11. Maldonado (Williams F1) - 1 lap
12. Barrichello (Williams F1) - 1 lap
13. Kovalainen (Lotus) - 2 laps
14. Trulli (Lotus) - 2 laps
15. Glock (Virgin Racing) - 2 laps

Retired
Liuzzi (Hispania) - spin 2nd lap
Rosberg (Mercedes GP) - spin 2nd lap
Petrov (Lotus-Renault) - spin 2nd lap
D’Ambrosio (Virgin) - mechanical problem 2nd lap
Webber (Red Bull) - accident 5th lap
Sutil (Force India) - mechanical problem 10th lap
Kobayashi (Sauber) - mechanical problem 22nd lap
Perez (Sauber) - mechanical problem 33th lap

Fastest lap: Hamilton 1:26.187.
Next race: Singapore GP, Sept. 25.

Drivers’ standings
1. Vettel 284 points; 2. Alonso 172; 3. Button 167; 4. Webber 167; 5. Hamilton 158; 6. Massa 82; 7. Rosberg 56; 8. Schumacher 52; 9. Petrov 34; 10. Heidfeld 34; 11. Kobayashi 27; 12. Sutil 24; 13. Alguersuari 16; 14. Buemi 13; 15. Di Resta 12; 16. Perez 8; 17. Barrichello 4; 18. Senna 2; 19. Maldonado 1.

Constructors
1. Red Bull 451 points; 2. McLaren 325; 3. Ferrari 254; 4. Mercedes GP 108; 5. Lotus-Renault 70; 6. Force India 36; 7. Sauber 35; 8. Toro Rosso 29; 9. Williams F1 5.