Sebastian Vettel (centre), flanked by Jenson Button (left) who finished second, and Fernando Alonso, shows his emotions on top of the podium after winning the Italian GP

Sebastian Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix from the pole position Sunday, fighting off an audacious challenge from defending champion Fernando Alonso, that moved him potentially to one race away from retaining his world title. His was a dominant victory finishing ahead Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.

Vettel admitted afterwards, that his first victory for his Red Bull team at Monza, which took him to the brink of a second successive title, was a “very emotional” experience given his own history at the track and the atmosphere created by the unique podium setting.

The runaway world championship leader clinched the eighth, and arguably most dominant, win of his remarkable season by nearly 10s from McLaren’s Jenson Button with the highlight a brave move on early leader Fernando Alonso around the outside on the run to the second chicane after the early safety car.

Vettel's victory also gives the Red Bull driver an opportunity to clinch his second Formula One title in the next race in Singapore later this month.

McLaren's Jenson Button eventually passed Alonso to finish second and Alonso was third, while Lewis Hamilton's race was compromised by a long scrap with Michael Schumacher, who finished fifth. Felipe Massa came home sixth ahead of Jaime Alguersuari - who started 18th - with Paul di Resta, Bruno Senna and Sebastien Buemi rounding out the points-paying positions.

At the start Alonso got the jump from fourth to dive down the inside with a move reminiscent of his first corner heroics at the Spanish Grand Prix, while Hamilton had to yield to Vettel and Schumacher picked his way through to fourth.

A big crash caused by Tonio Liuzzi brought the safety car out after he lost control and slid across the grass towards turn one, sideswiping Vitaly Petrov and Nico Rosberg. Rubens Barrichello was also caught up in the incident but was able to continue.

Schumacher managed to pass Hamilton on the restart and proceeded to defend vigorously for a number of laps, allowing Button to close up.

After a clos battle, which saw Schumacher stray close to breaching the rules by moving twice on the straights, Hamilton saw his chance heading into the Curve Grande on lap 16 but was squeezed onto the grass. He lost momentum as a result and Button eased past before going round the outside of Schumacher at Ascari later in the lap.

Hamilton eventually found a way past Schumacher as the Mercedes' tyres started to fade and from that point onwards attempted to get his race back on track. Towards the end of the race he targeted Alonso in third, and got close to the Ferrari's gearbox, but ran out of laps, crossing the line just 0.5s behind.

Schumacher settled for a comfortable fifth place ahead of Massa, whose race was ruined when Webber attempted to pass him on lap four. The Red Bull driver made a move around the outside of turn one but found himself clattering over the kerbs and then speared into the side of Massa.

The Ferrari was pitched into a spin and dropped to tenth as Webber attempted to get back to the pits. But as the Red Bull entered Parabolica its front wing folded underneath the wheels and Webber lost the ability to brake, ending his race in the barrier.

Alguersuari made up the most positions of any driver on the grid, taking seven places through the first corner pandemonium and then working a two-stop strategy to perfection to finish seventh.

Di Resta also had a strong race in eighth but came under pressure from Senna in the closing stages. Senna made an early pit stop after the first corner chaos but got his medium tyre stint out of the way which gave him an advantage on the soft tyres to pass Buemi towards the end.

Vettel, however, was imperious and crossed the line with a 9.5s margin to Button. The win means he now has a 112 point lead in the championship and could theoretically seal the title at Singapore in two weeks time.

Full Results of Italian Grand Prix

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2. Jenson Button (McLaren)
3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
5. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)
6. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
7. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso)
8. Paul di Resta (Force India)
9. Bruno Senna (Renault)
10. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso)
11. Pastor Maldonado (Williams)
12. Rubens Barrichello (Williams)
13. Heikki Kovalainen (Team Lotus)
14. Jarno Trulli (Team Lotus)
15. Timo Glock (Virgin)
16. Daniel Ricciardo (Williams)
Reitred
17. Sergio Perez (Sauber)
18. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber)
19. Adrian Sutil (Force India)
20. Mark Webber (Red Bull)
21. Jerome d'Ambrosio (Virgin)
22. Vitaly Petrov (Renault)
23. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
24. Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT)

World Drivers' Championship – Top 6

1. S Vettel Red Bull 284 points
2. F Alonso Ferrari 172
3. J Button McLaren 167
4. M Webber Red Bull 167
5. L Hamilton McLaren 158
6. F Massa Ferrari 82

World Constructors' Championship – Top 6

1. Red Bull Racing 451
2. McLaren 325
3. Ferrari 254
4. Mercedes GP 108
5. Renault 70
6. Force India 36