Alonso extends championship lead with first win at Monaco

DEFENDING world champion Fernando Alonso drove from pole position to a clear and consummate victory for Renault in yesterday’s controversy-hit Monaco Grand Prix.

His first win in the principality, in the wake of Saturday’s extraordinary penalty that sent disgraced rival Michael Schumacher from pole to the back of the grid, enlarged his lead over the seven-times champion to 21 points.

The Spaniard, who dedicated the win to Michelin tyres chief Edouard Michelin, who died on Friday, said: “The race was quite emotional from the start. Kimi [Raikkonen] put some pressure on me, which was quite tough, but it was good in the end.