Hamilton: 'You're a villain when you beat Ferrari in Italy'

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Lewis Hamilton's win at Monza was greeted with a chorus of booing but the Mercedes driver says the negative treatment is the price to pay when you beat Ferrari on home turf.

Hamilton - now a four-time winner at Monza - brandished the winner's trophy to the partisan and jeering crowd but remained oblivious to its reaction.

"To be honest, I had a real nice song playing in my head, and it kind of went over my head," said Hamilton of the booing. "It's to be expected here in Italy.

"I think over the last five, six, seven, 10 years it's been common to have that if a Ferrari driver is not on the top.

"Inevitably you're going to be the villain here, if you're the one that's stopping the Ferraris. If I wasn't driving today and Valtteri wasn't driving today, the Ferraris would have won.

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Despite the raucous reception, Hamilton said he still admired the local fervor.

"We are the villains. Some days I'm happy to be the villain, and I really don't mind. I think I just try to remain respectful.

"I admire their passion. They feel a little bit more like football fans here, the aggressive ones. But it's all the name of love for the red cars."

The Mercedes driver also noted a good many of his own supporters in the crowd.

"In amongst them I see there's a British flag, I see there's Italians that have crossed over from Ferrari to Mercedes.

"And bit by bit – there's a lot of people to convert, and a lot of people won't convert – but bit by bit, and year on year, I'll convert a few more."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.