Italian Grand Prix Results with Fast Vettel Victory

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

 

Consisting of long stretches of Italian countryside and some heavy braking turns, the Formula 1 cars' annual arrival at the 5.793-kilometer (3.6-mile) Autodromo Nazionale Monza sees reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel back to winning form are a convincing victory at the Belgium Grand Prix. Set for 53 laps around the storied Monza circuit, the Italian Grand Prix's race grid presented the Red Bull-Renault of Vettel in the preferential pole position. On virtue of a qualifying best time just under half a second faster than the closest competition, German Red Bull Racing driver was initially placed for what could be a second Monza victory following his first Formula 1 win in 2008 with Toro Rosso. Catching many Formula 1 observers by surprise that day three years ago, Vettel is now favourite to win the Italian Grand Prix in 2011.

 

As the lights went out allowing the 24-car field to thrill the Italian crowd with the world's top open wheel racers, drama built up immediately as leaders lurches forward from their start. By the first turn of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, it was not Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull-Renault leading the Formula 1 drivers. Sailing from the start, Fernando Alonso combined the application of his KERS system and daring move on the inside of Vettel down the front stretch into the first turn (Monza's Variante del Rettifilo turn) to position his Ferrari in the lead. Naturally, the sight of the Ferrari Formula 1 car leading the infant 2011 grand prix immediately attracted a thunderous roar from the Italian fans.

 

As Alonso secured the lead into the first corner, havoc occurred seconds after several leaders weaved out of Variante del Rettifilo. Buried in the back of the Italian Grand Prix starting grid, HRT driver Vitantonio Liuzzi pushed hard to pass as many vehicles as possible before the first corner. Working through a three-wide scenario, Liuzzi's car was lured onto the Monza circuit's grass. With near zero traction as the Pirelli racing slicks skated over the grass surface, the HRT-Cosworth cut through part of the first turn crashing into the Lotus Renault car of Vitaly Petrov. Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg was also collected in the accident with race-ending damage to his racing machine. Other drivers receiving minor damage in the melee were saved from losing valuable track position with Formula 1 calling out the safety car before the 2011 Italian Grand Prix was barely 1 lap old.

 

While Ferrari's Fernando Alonso ignited the Italian spectators with his lap 1 heroics, the celebration of the famous red car at the front would not last. As the safety car returned to pit lane, Sebastian Vettel was engaged in full attack mode on the Alonso's Ferrari. Aggressively searching for an opening to reclaim the race's lead, Vettel found a line through the Curva Grande portion of the Monza track dramatically kicking up some dirt as he drifted his Red Bull-Renault to make contact with the race surface's edge.

 

As Vettel slowly built up a much needed lead, his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber would experience an early retirement from the Italian Grand Prix in 2011. Colliding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa on the restart of racing, Webber lost the front wing of his race car. In an attempt to soldier back to the pits, Webber lost control of his Red Bull-Renault just first corner prior to reaching pit road. Costly for the Formula 1 World Driver's Championship points, Webber retired for the first time this season from a grand prix.

 

Behind Vettel, 2nd through 5th in the Italian Grand Prix became an exciting battle of past world champions jockeying for position. Seven-time Formula 1 driver's champion Michael Schumacher held fiercely onto a third place spot the German driving master acquired on the initial start of the grand prix piloting the Mercedes GP. Holding tightly onto the final podium spot, Schumacher's Mercedes factory car would be challenged individually by the McLaren team drivers powered by customer Mercedes-Benz engines. As Jenson Button became the first McLaren pilot to pass Schumacher, the Mercedes GP driver initially blocked the Brit and would receive a friendly warning from team principal Ross Brawn. Lewis Hamilton would get around Michael Schumacher on the 27th lap. Despite falling prey to the McLaren-Mercedes cars, Schumacher maintained a solid effort by bringing the Mercedes GP car 5th across the line at the end of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

 

As the race progressed, maintaining pace with Sebastian Vettel was the best any driver could achieve during this 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Despite passing Alonso on lap 36, Jenson Button did not have the momentum to catch the flying Red Bull-Renault. Crossing the line with a 9.5 second lead, Vettel brought Red Bull Racing to their first victory on the Monza track. In post race, Sebastian Vettel recalled, “It was an emotional win today. This circuit means such a lot to me and is very special. I had my first win here, so when I crossed the line I remembered every single bit of it. The podium is absolutely unbelievable here; when you stand up there you feel blessed, as it doesn’t happen to many people." The win becomes the German's 18th in Formula 1 and pushes him to an astonishing 112-point advantage in the 2011 championship.

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

 

As JensonMcLaren, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari was 7.4 seconds behind taking the final podium position for the race team's home event. Both Button and Alonso lost ground to Vettel but gained much needed points on Mark Webber. Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa rounded out the top-6 of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Deeper through the race results, the top-10 of the race featured Scuderia Toro Rosso cars of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi grabbing point-paying finishes. Force India's Paul di Resta finished 8th in the Italian Grand Prix while Lotus Renault GP's Bruno Senna scores 9th place for his first career Formula 1 points.

 

Formula 1 cars and drivers return to action September 25th for the Singapore Grand Prix.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Race Results

 

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
3. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
5. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
6. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
8. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
9. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
10. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
11. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
12. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
13. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
14. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
15. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
16. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
17. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
18. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
19. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
20. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
21. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
23. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
24. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1

Volare! Vettel Takes Italian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

The 13th race on the 2011 Formula 1 tour, the Italian Grand Prix on the historically fast Monza circuit. Racing on the 3.6 mile (5.793 kilometer), 11-turn road course, the long straights provide one of the best opportunities for the V-8 Formula 1 race engines to sing at high RPMs. Driving race cars wearing low-downforce packages, the 26 Formula 1 drivers and teams ready for Saturday's qualifying for what will be a 53-lap main event Sunday.

Following the times produced in the previous 3 practice sessions at Monza, it was assumed the battle for top spot in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix would be between the Mercedes-Benz engines powering the McLarens and the force of Red Bull Racing featuring Renault power. Indeed, it was a tight battle between the McLaren F1 drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button as well as Red Bull-Renault of the red hot Sebastian Vettel. Into the final round of qualifying, the McLaren-Mercedes cars launched to an early top time with Hamilton mustering the best effort with a 1 minute, 22.725 second lap. However, the undefeated force of Red Bull Racing in 2011 Formula 1 qualifying emerged with Sebastian Vettel in the late stage of the session. Crossing the line with a 1 minute, 22.275 second best lap, Vettel will start from pole position for the 10th time this season.

The Monza race track has served as a significant staging place for the career of Sebastian Vettel. In 2008, racing as a lesser known driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team, the German driver Vettel delivered a major upset becoming the youngest driver to win a Formula 1 race. Since that very first win, the talented driver was upgraded to the Red Bull Racing team where he is currently making history by winning 16 additional grand prix races since 2009.

Presented as the most regular rival to Red Bull Racing this season so far, McLaren-Mercedes once again starts close to that front with Hamilton starting alongside Vettel on the front row of the Italian Grand Prix. Jenson Button is place in the 3rd grid position with Fernando Alonso's Ferrari slotted in 4th. The second Red Bull-Renault car piloted by Sebastian Vettel will start 5th beside Felipe Massa's Ferrari. On the 4th row for the Italian Grand Prix, Lotus Renault GP's Vitaly Petrov collected his best qualifying result since the Spanish Grand Prix.

Qualifying 8th, Schmacher has recently begun showing he is still the same driver who won 7 World Championships. In the last grand prix event in Belgium, the senior driver in the Mercedes GP team stormed from a 24th place start to cross the line 5th on race day. Michael Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg will start the Italian Grand Prix one position behind in 9th place ahead of Lotus Renault GP driver Bruno Senna.

Holding the 62nd Italian Grand Prix on the Formula 1 schedule, the Monza road course will get underway at 2 PM local time (8 AM Eastern time). Weather forecast for Sunday predicts the race will be an affair taking place under a very hot day.

2011 Formula 1

Italian Grand Prix

Starting Grid

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
3. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
4. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
6. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
8. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
9. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
10. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
11. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
12. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
13. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
14. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
15. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
16. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
17. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
18. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
19. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
20. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
21. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
23. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
24. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1

Monza Madness as Alonso Takes Ferrari to Italian GP Win

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/ LAT Photographic

Six races remaining in the 2010 Formula 1 schedule, the series' top-3 teams (Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing) have shown incredible parity with each other. Though Mark Webber delivered Red Bull Racing a second after the last race at the Belgium Grand Prix, the team's Renault-engined car appeared to have suffered a speed shortage on the low-downforce circuit. While the McLaren's Mercedes engine was rumoured to be down on power since the season's first race at Bahrain, a new rear wing and diffuser design allowed the British team to equalize pace with the high-horsepower Ferraris.

With Italy associated as Ferrari's home territory, the hearts of the Italian auto racing fans probably skipped a beat when the prancing horse's driver Fernando Alonso soared to supremecy in qualifying Saturday afternoon. Taking the grid the pole position, the Spanard's Ferrari would be overtaken on the start by fellow front row sitter Jenson Button. As the one McLaren-Mercedes shot to the Italian Grand Prix's early lead, the other team car would not make it past the first lap. 2008 F1 drivers champion Lewis Hamilton collided with the #7 Ferrari of Felipe Massa resulting in a suspension break which saw Hamilton's Italian Grand Prix end in the gravel. Admitting fault in being over-anxious on the first lap, Hamilton said on his official website “I was trying to position the car in a certain way, I was too close to Felipe, and his left rear clipped my right front. The car was damaged after that, and there was nothing I could do; you try your best, but some things just don’t go your way". Felipe Massa was more fortunate as his Ferrari continued competitively after the contact.

As the green flew for the Italian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing squad found the race to be a consistent struggle as both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were out of touch with the top-3 runners all day. After setting fast time during a Friday practice, Vettel found through the weaker effort his Saturday qualifying that his Renault engine could have been down on power. Changing the powerplant prior to the grand prix start, the pace of Vettel's car was more hindered by a brake issue during the race. At one point, Sebastian Vettel allowed Red Bull teammate Mark Webber by for than 5th place.

In regards to Mark Webber's pass on Sebastian Vettel, there was at least one allegation leveled by Speed channel reporter implying team order might have been communicated indirectly to Vettel. This speculation was based on Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner's apparent endorsement of team orders after an FIA ruling where no further penalties were levied against Ferrari for an incident in the German Grand Prix late July. While team orders for determining the outcome of Formula 1 races had been strictly forbidden, Ferrari's judging was said to be a "presedent" by Horner as the FIA did not punish the Italian team further for the German Grand Prix outcome. As Mark Webber is better positioned in the 2010 Formula 1 driver's championship where the 5th spot would help the Australian Webber, team orders were neither confirmed or denied on that occasion.

While Jenson Button held onto the Italian Grand Prix lead, Alonso Ferrari maintained a very tight interval on the rear of the Mercedes-powered McLaren. Unable to completely break away from Alonso, a lap 39 pit stop by the Scuderia Ferrari team proved a deciding factor the Italian Grand Prix. Thanks to an ultra-fast pit stop by the Ferrari crew, Alonso was launched out of pit road ahead of Button's McLaren-Mercedes. Fernando Alonso's trademark skill on cold tires sustained his position at the front. In fact, Button narrowly avoided losing the runner-up position to the other Ferrari of Felipe Massa.

As the top-3 maintained their position at the finish, Alonso won at 2.9 seconds on Button with Brazil's Massa rounding out the podium for the Italian Grand Prix. With Ferrari's 1st and 3rd at Monza the Italian supporters, known throughout Formula 1 as the tifosi, allowed horns to blare on the air and applause echo through the trees of the Monza landscape.

In distant but hard fought 4th place, Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel recorded the finish thanks to some pit stop strategy that recalled the German driver late in the race for his tire change. Nico Rosberg in 5th led the factory Mercedes GP team taking the position late from Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber. Rosberg said in post-race “Fifth place was an ok result today except for losing the place to Sebastian at the end there. It was a tough fight and I was pushing to the maximum throughout the race, firstly with Robert at the start and then with Sebastian towards the end.

Finishing 6th, Webber was able to make opportunity from the somewhat off-colour effort as the Australian retook the driver championship point led from Lewis Hamilton. Williams F1 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault's Robert Kubica, Mercedes GP's Michael Schumacher and the 2009 Italian Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello in a second Williams-Cosworth were 7th through 10th at Monza.
Following the 2010 Italian Grand Prix, the season's point standings are dramatically reshaped. Lewis Hamilton's zero-point day as result of his early retirement allowed Mark Webber to emerge 5 points in front for the Formula 1 driver's points. Fernando Alonso's win with Ferrari was the first time since 2006, the Spanish driver gained 20 points on the leader in the Formula 1 drivers championship. Alonso is only 21 points behind Mark Webber but Jenson Button is only 1 point behind him in 4th place in the standings. Salvaging a decent finish from a difficult race, Vettel's points gain allowed him to stand only 2 points behind Button.


2010 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Race Results

1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
7. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
8. Robert Kubica Renault F1
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
11. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
13. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
14. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari

15. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
16. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
17. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
19. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth
20. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
21. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
22. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
23. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
24. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari

Ferrari's Home Track Advantage: Alonso Takes Pole for Italian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Italian auto racing fans gave a roaring applause Saturday afternoon as their native auto racing team figured prominently. Through overwhelming fashion, Fernando Alonso set top time in the final Q3 qualifying session to place his Ferrari F2010 out front for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Recording a 1 minute, 21.962 second lap to take pole for the 14th race of the 2010 Formula 1 season, Alonso was the only driver in the qualifying session to break the 88-second barrier.

The spanish driver's pole time outpaced the efforts of McLaren-Mercedes pilot and reigning Formula 1 champ Jenson Button mustering a fast lap just 12/100ths of a second slower than the Ferrari. Three seasons ago, Fernando Alonso found success on the Monza circuit when the Spanard briefly drove for the McLaren-Mercedes team. Based on a turbulent time Alonso spent with the British race team, Alonso's pole-sitting accomplishment serves slightly as an act of vengance. Felipe Massa placed 3rd fastest in the qualifying session to make Ferrari the bread in a McLaren sandwich.

Red Bull Racing had an unsually-weak Q3 qualifying round at Monza as Mark Webber was only able to place the typically front row-starting Renault-powered machine outside of the second row. After leading Friday practice, Sebastian Vettel found it most difficult to find enough speed for any more than 8th fastest.

Photo Credit: Steven Tee/LAT Photographic

In 10th place, 2009 Italian Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello is soldiering through the 2010 season with Williams F1. Rookie team mate Nico Hulkenberg bettered the veteran Brazilian with an 8th place run while both Williams cars are likely suffering from a minor power deficet with their Cosworth powerplants compared to the likes of higher-funded, factory-supported teams.

For North American Formula 1 fans, Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for 8 A.M. Eastern time Sunday morning with the Formula 1 event to be televised on TSN live for Canadians and on Speed for American fans.


2010 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Starting Order

1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
5. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
6. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
7. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
8. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
9. Robert Kubica Renault F1
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
12. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
13. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
14. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
15. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
16. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
17. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
20. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
22. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth

Red Bull Racing's Vettel Tops Friday Practice at Monza

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

A tight Formula 1 points race between the past driving champions of McLaren and the rising stars of Red Bull Racing, the fast Italian 3.6 mile Monza race circuit, the 2010 Formula 1 enters the Italian Grand Prix with the potential of a thrilling event on Sunday. Two days prior to this anticipated Grand Prix, a free practice sessions of Friday provided some valuable shakedown time on this second low-downforce track in a row for the Formula 1 teams.

On the Friday session McLaren's Jenson Button topped the first Friday practice round but it was Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel who led the faster, later afternoon practice session. Storming around the 3.6 mile Italian Monza complex in 1 minute, 22.839 seconds, Vettel out ran Button's morning session by more than 8/10ths of a second. For the German Red Bull Racing driver, the trip back to Monza is the return for where his Formula 1 greatness was realized. Only two years ago, the still green Sebastian Vettel grabbed a surprise victory at Monza for Red Bull Racing's satellite team Toro Rosso Racing. Within the Red Bull Racing organization, Vettel's pace through both sessions is beating Australian teammate Mark Webber handedly with the second Red Bull-Renault 6th fastest following the 2nd practice.

In pursuit of Vettel, Fernando Alonso as well as teammate Felipe Massa recorded the 2nd and 3rd quickest times on Friday afternoon practice charts little more than 2/10ths of a second off the Red Bull-Renault. Hometown hero car builder, the Scederia Ferrari team is certain to be providing much of the ambient crowd noise over the Monza track. An equally strong McLaren-Mercedes effort led by Lewis Hamilton over Jenson Button following the red Ferraris by at least 1/10th of a second.



The conclusion of the Belgium Grand Prix two weeks ago at Spa-Francorchamps circuit saw the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton persist to clinch victory after a late safety car. Ending well for McLaren Hamilton and Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, both driver's teammates failed to score points in that late August Formula 1 round allowing the two drivers to breakaway in the points standings.

With Lewis Hamilton currently a mere 3 points ahead of Mark Webber, the gap is 28 points back to 3rd place Sebastian Vettel and 32 points in front of 4th place Jenson Button. Of course, with the new the 2010 Formula 1 points as well as 6 Grand Prix races including the Italian Grand Prix left to be run, these season race winners are by no means out of the fight. 5th place Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso 41-point gap on Hamilton keeps the 2-time Formula 1 driving champion in the hunt. However, the Spanish driver Alonso needs to not only win Grand Prixs but the respect of the FIA Formula 1 stewerds who have been catching too many incidents that cost the Ferrari pilot valuable track position.  


2010 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Afternoon Practice Time Chart Ranking

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
7. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
8. Robert Kubica Renault F1
9. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
10. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
13. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
14. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
15. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
16. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
17. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
20. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
21. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth