Italian GP: Race – Vettel triumphs again at Monza, Alonso on the podium

The Italian Grand Prix in Monza took place this afternoon, and only 3 drivers started on hard tires: Nico Rosberg, Bruno Senna, and Kamui Kobayashi.

Bold choice for Sebastian Vettel as well, the Red Bull driver opted for a very short 7th gear ratio.

Fernando Alonso takes the lead on track as Michael Schumacher recovers to fourth place while Nico Rosberg is involved in a violent crash, along with Vitaly Petrov and the two HRT drivers. Vitantonio Liuzzi causes a real strike after a minor bump in the pit lane. Jérome d’Ambrosio is also forced to retire, while Daniel Ricciardo struggled to get going. Several drivers take the opportunity to pass through the pit lane, sometimes forced like Kamui Kobayashi who loses his front wing.

Sebastian Vettel attempts an overtake in the second chicane on Fernando Alonso while Michael Schumacher gains an advantage over Lewis Hamilton as soon as the safety car exits.

Mark Webber makes a mistake by colliding with Felipe Massa at the end of the pit straight, costing him his front wing and sending him straight into the wall shortly after. Turning point of the championship for the Australian driver, who will lose points to his teammate.

The Red Bull driver had his front wing under his single-seater, preventing him from braking properly at the Parabolica, narrowly avoiding a collision.

Sebastian Vettel overtakes after a completely masterful maneuver against Fernando Alonso before the second chicane, going onto the grass, and ends up escaping completely.

Michael Schumacher puts the pressure fully on Fernando Alonso, which reminds some of the 2006 era, where the two men engaged in great battles. But the German driver is subsequently distanced in the battle for 3rd place against Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa has climbed back to sixth place, which he occupied before his collision with Mark Webber. Michael Schumacher executes the same overtake as Sebastian Vettel on Lewis Hamilton after he was able to pass thanks to the DRS. The remaining Mercedes and the two McLarens are within a second, and Lewis Hamilton attempts a very delicate maneuver in the first corner, and Jenson Button takes advantage to overtake his teammate, then Michael Schumacher, who stops at the pits to switch to soft tires, followed later by Sebastien Buemi. Jenson Button imitates him on the following lap, as does Lewis Hamilton. The 2008 world champion comes out behind Michael Schumacher.

Fernando Alonso stops on the 20th lap, along with Pastor Maldonado, who was battling with Sergio Perez. Sebastian Vettel stops next, the German driver seems to be his biggest enemy for the victory. Felipe Massa thus finishes the series of first pit stops for the leading drivers. Vitantonio Liuzzi will have to visit the stewards to discuss his early race accident, which caused a strike that eliminated many drivers. Kamui Kobayashi, who had already retired at the start last year, parks his car on the straight before the Parabolica. It is definitely not his favorite circuit.

The battle continues between Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, while Jenson Button has finally caught up with Fernando Alonso. The 2008 world champion eventually gets past Michael Schumacher and pushes hard to catch up with Jenson Button. Meanwhile, Button is losing ground on Fernando Alonso. Sergio Perez, in 7th place, is driving at a decent pace despite having made no pit stops by the 30th lap.

Sebastian Vettel, leading the race, doesn’t hold back as he sets the fastest lap, while Jenson Button pits at the same time as Rubens Barrichello, his former teammate at Brawn GP, narrowly avoiding a collision. Sergio Perez also retires, due to a problem with his car.

Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton pit, all these drivers have switched to medium tires as Sebastian Vettel does the same. Jenson Button manages to overtake Fernando Alonso in the second sector and increases the gap. Michael Schumacher, then in second position, enters the pits and comes out just behind Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa stops afterwards while Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest lap, the Briton is aiming for Fernando Alonso’s 3rd place. Further down the pack, there’s a great battle between the Toro Rosso drivers, Paul di Resta, and Bruno Senna for the points between 7th and 10th place.

The battle between Sebastien Buemi and the LRGP driver is indeed very intense, with Bruno Senna narrowly avoiding a collision in Lesmo. His team encourages him to overtake in order to chase down Paul di Resta, who is 5 seconds ahead. And he manages to do it, continuing to push hard. Sebastian Vettel, despite having a 15-second lead over Jenson Button, doesn’t ease up and sets the fastest lap of the race.

Further ahead, Lewis Hamilton attacks very hard to catch up with Fernando Alonso but gets held up by a Toro Rosso, causing him to lose some time. His stint behind Michael Schumacher costs the 2008 world champion a podium finish. However, he sets the fastest lap of the race and quickly closes in on Fernando Alonso!

Sebastian Vettel crosses the line with a 9.5-second lead over Jenson Button, and Fernando Alonso completes the podium in the Ferrari.

Great race also from the Toro Rosso drivers who achieved a double points finish.

Results of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix: