Whitmarsh is refusing to blame Lewis Hamilton for early exit at Monza

McLAREN boss Martin Whitmarsh today leapt to the defence of Lewis Hamilton, whose first lap blunder in the Italian Grand Prix cost him the lead in the world championship.

As Whitmarsh claimed this season's title chase was "the best in history", and Jenson Button vowed to be more "aggressive" after finishing runner-up at Monza to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Hamilton was left to rue a race which ended early in a gravel trap.

He damaged his car's steering while he attempted to overtake Felipe Massa's Ferrari with a high-risk manoeuvre at the second chicane but he careered off the track, fortunately stopping just short of a barrier.

It was a move that might have been expected of an impetuous Hamilton in his debut season four years ago, not the more mature Hamilton who had mastered treacherous conditions to win in Belgium just a fortnight ago.

But having watched his driver trying to make immediate gains from his starting position of fifth on the grid — Hamilton had already overtaken Red Bull's Mark Webber at the first chicane — Whitmarsh refused to condemn a mistake that has cost vital ground in an increasingly tense title chase.

Whitmarsh said: "Lewis was trying hard at the outset. He had to go for it, he had to go out there and be assertive but it didn't come off. It was a racing incident. The result was disappointing but we'll rebuild from this. The next Grand Prix is at Singapore where last year we had a great race and Lewis won. I'm sure he'll be trying to repeat that."

Webber's sixth place means the Australian now heads the championship with a five-point margin over Hamilton. The Briton said: "The championship certainly isn't over. I'm already fully focused on Singapore."

Button, who had gone four Grands Prix without a podium place, hauled himself back into contention for back-to-back titles although he was disappointed to have lost the lead to Alonso in the pit lane when the Ferrari team made a better-timed stop for fresh tyres.