Fernando Alonso moved up to third in the drivers' title race after securing a impressive victory for Ferrari in the team's home Grand Prix at Monza.

The Spaniard started the Italian Grand Prix in pole position and held off a spirited challenge from McLaren's Jenson Button to win the race and move to within 21 points of current leader Mark Webber.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who is now second in the standings, five points adrift of Webber, was forced to retire from the race after collisding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who finished third.

Sebastian Vettel was fourth with Webber sixth behind the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg but Red Bull will be pleased with the result after earlier identifying the Italian Grand Prix as one of their weakest races of the year.

Button, starting from second on the grid, overtook Alonso going into the first shicane after the two-time world champion had made a poor start.

However, Alonso bided his time, with the race taking a significant turn on laps 36 and 37 when both the Spaniard and Button pitted in quick succession.

A brilliant in-lap followed by a pit stop that was 0.8 seconds quicker than McLaren's meant Alonso exited the pits just ahead of Button and the Ferrari ace had enough quality to hang on to his slender advantage until the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, Hamilton said of his race after being forced to retire: "I had a good start and gained a position.

"In a realistic world I perhaps should've stayed there a while. I put my car up the inside and tried to get third – it was obviously a little bit too much. I'm very disappointed in myself and sorry for the team.

"I've got to try to collect my thoughts and move onto the next race. The championship is not over, but it's mistakes like I made today that lose world championships."

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