It was Rosberg who made the best of starts when the lights went out at Monza, surging into the lead as pole-sitter Hamilton struggled for power.

McLaren's Kevin Magnussen and Massa also got themselves ahead of Hamilton, giving Rosberg some breathing space in the early laps.

But Hamilton soon set about a recovery as his issues settled down; after Hamilton and Massa found a way past Magnussen on the same lap, the former World Champion pulled a fine move on the Brazilian around the outside of the first chicane.

Hamilton then edged towards race leader Rosberg as the pit-stop window loomed.

With the majority of frontrunners adopting a one-stop strategy, switching to Pirelli's Hard compound tyre for a sizeable second stint, the scene was set for another crucial scrap between the Silver Arrows drivers.

But it was not to be, with Rosberg locking up and taking to the escape road at the first chicane shortly after the halfway mark of the race, allowing Hamilton past as the German slowly negotiated the marker boards.

It was a lead that Hamilton would not surrender in the closing laps, ultimately crossing the line three seconds clear of Rosberg, whose championship lead has been trimmed to 22 points with six rounds remaining.

After the team's recent issues, it marked the first one-two for Mercedes since the Austrian Grand Prix.

With Bottas another to suffer a poor start, dropping to 11th, Massa took his first podium since last year's Spanish Grand Prix, although his younger team-mate did well to fight through to fourth with a series of fine passes.

Daniel Ricciardo took the 'best of the rest' accolade after the leading Mercedes and Williams machines, selling fellow Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel a dummy on the approach to the Roggia chicane late on to seal fifth.

Ricciardo's charge through the field came as a result of him pitting much later than his direct rivals, a call that was taken after the Australian, like Hamilton and Bottas, lost a handful of places on the opening lap.

Magnussen crossed the line seventh, but he was again penalised (five seconds added to his race time) for what the stewards deemed to be overly-defensive driving when he pushed Bottas wide at the first chicane.

Force India's Sergio Pérez, Magnussen's team-mate, Jenson Button, and Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen were all promoted when the time penalty was applied, but the Danish rookie still claimed a point from the race.

Pérez and Button's battle was a particular highlight; Button slipped past Pérez at the first chicane in the closing stages, only for the Mexican to cut back ahead at the second and skillfully resist further phases of pressure.

Daniil Kvyat had been set to inherit 10th place from Magnussen, but his Toro Rosso rocketed over the run off area at the first chicane on the penultimate lap, the Russian complaining of brake issues shortly afterwards.

Räikkönen's ninth position was all Ferrari could take away from its home event, with team-mate Fernando Alonso's F14 T stopping at the first chicane midway through the race amid apparent power unit problems.

Max Chilton was the only other retiree, clattering the kerbs and sliding into the barriers exiting the Roggia.

The 14th round of the Formula 1 season takes place in Singapore from September 19-21