Rosberg: It was an epic drive from Lewis

After qualifying third, forced to watch Ferrari claim the front row, Hamilton was somewhat subdued and withdrawn ahead of the race, but on the grid before the race, Rosberg was quick to point out that this "Lewis at his most dangerous" and he proved to be correct.

In 2016, Rosberg beat Hamilton in a bitter battle for the Formula 1 championship and, after that famous night in Abu Dhabi, the German admitted that he did not have it in him to take the battle to the Briton for another year, so he quit.

Now after a thriller at Monza on Sunday, after witnessing Hamilton defy the odds to thump Ferrari in their own backyard, Rosberg declared, "It was an epic drive from Lewis."

"That is why he is considered to be one of the best of all time. He showed it again today in an inferior car. Hamilton is driving phenomenally and is surely at the peak of his career."

"He has delivered in the crucial moment here in Monza and has done such a blow towards Ferrari here this weekend at their home race, where they were the odds-on favourite."

“He nailed the start and got past Sebastian, made him [make] a huge mistake, which put him all the way back. Then he got Kimi as well. It doesn’t get better than that.”

With regard to the Vettel-Hamilton clash on the opening lap, Rosberg was adamant, “Lewis has no fault, because he leaves plenty of space. There is nothing you can blame him for."

"Sebastian runs too wide, gets into Lewis and spins out. That was the end of it, 110% Sebastian’s fault,” added Rosberg who was a busy man at Monza as he switched between Sky and RTL microphones.