This is the circuit which has hosted the Italian GP every year, with the exception of 1980, since the dawn of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 1950. Monza is one of the oldest circuits on the calendar and always attracts the Tifosi, fanatical Ferrari supporters who come in their drones to watch those famous red cars race. In 2013, was a win for Ferrari on the cards? Or was the Red Bull of Vettel just too strong? Here is my race review...
Qualifying was a breeze for Sebastian Vettel. He looked dominant from the early practise sessions as well as during the qualifying hour. He put his Red Bull on pole with relative ease and his retiring teammate Mark Webber qualified on the front row with him. The Red Bull is usually a car that works best around the high down force tracks and Monza's long high-speed straights have not been kind to that car in the past. However, this year it looked like the charging Bull would be unstoppable: race simulations suggested that the car would lap a second a lap quicker than the opposition!
The star of qualifying was Nico Hulkenberg. Heavily linked with the second seat at Maranello, he put in his best quali performance of the season and qualified in third. Another surprise was that the Ferrari of Massa out-qualified teammate Alonso, even though he was supposedly helping Alonso by giving him a tow. The Spaniard was also caught in the middle of controversy when he broad casted to his team over the radio a message in Italian that translated to "You're all idiots!". You never publicly discredit the team, it also doesn't help his situation that he also discredited Ferrari (the most well known team) at their home race of all places. Does he face the sack?
Also, Hamilton didn't make the cut for Q3 for the first time in years while both Lotuses languished in 12th and 13th. Could they make their way up through the field like Sergio Perez did last year?
The race starts at Monza are always eventful and the drama began when a lock up for Sebastian Vettel caused him to flat spot his tyre, which slightly complicated his race more than first planned. However, it was a stroll in the park for the German as he led most of the laps and came home to take his 6th victory of the season. The tyre didn't really hinder his efforts in all honesty.. He was just uncatchable as he edged away from the field lap by lap and brought his car home! He and the majority of the field opted for a one-stop strategy which caused nobody any problems.
In second place was Fernando Alonso, of course. The man is relentless in his pursuit of Vettel and is also very mighty indeed during the first laps of a race. He jumped Hulkenberg at the start and made a brilliant move on Mark Webber at the second chicane despite making contact. He passed his teammate who could not close down on Vettel on the opening laps and held of Mark Webber at the end to keep up his 100% podium record for Ferrari at Monza.
Webber made a sound start and was running in third place. He may have passed Alonso had he not had to manage a gear-shifting problem which meant he had to short shift between 2nd and 3rd gear. In fourth place was the other Ferrari of Massa- a strong result considering he is fighting for a Ferrari drive next season.
Hulkenberg had a relatively quiet race but a poor start ruined his chances of a podium. However 5th place gave him 10 points, much needed for himself and the Sauber team. This pushes them closer to Toro Rosso in the overall standings. Nico Rosberg ended the race in sixth. He made the most of his one stop strategy to collect 8 championship points.
Ricciardo, who is going to Red Bull next year, ended in 7th place and secured yet another points scoring finish to his name. He also now moves ahead of his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne in the overall standings. Both Toro Rossos were strong all weekend but Vergne suffered his 5th retirement of the season and scored no points.
In 8th was Grosjean, who was rammed from behind by Paul Di Resta on the opening lap. That was a second successive retirement for the Scot, who is surely looking for a drive further up the grid (Ferrari or Lotus) for next season.
Hamilton wrote off his title chances after fighting his way up to 9th place on the last few laps. Raikkonen finished in 11th and is also now out of Championship contention. The McLaren of Button finished in 10th, he made a poor start from 6th it has to be said. Then came Raikkonen, the 2 Mexicans of Perez and Gutierrez, the 2 Williams of Maldonado and Bottas, Sutil and then the 4 drivers of the younger teams. They came through in the following order: Pic, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton.
Retirements were Di Resta and Vergne.
The race out front was fairly unexciting but from 5th downwards it was exciting indeed. There were close fights between many drivers on many different parts of the track. The parabolika, both chicanes, Ascari and both Lesmos saw overtakes.
However Sebastian Vettel stormed to victory yet again this season and now moves 53 points clear in the championship. Its not over yet though! Alonso moves further clear from Hamilton in the standings, he is now 28 points ahead. Raikkonen is now only 4 points ahead of the other Red Bull of Webber. Hulkenberg and Ricciardo also move up the championship and edge closer to drivers outside the top 10 like Sutil and Perez.
The Red Bull is the best car and it looks like the car is in the perfect position to dominate the remaining races of this season. He won 4 races in a row last year at the same events (Singapore, Korea, Japan and India) and it doesn't look good for his competitors..
That's my report and take on the Italian GP. A very average race indeed it must be said. Now we have 7 flyaway races which will determine the world champion. Vettel is the out-and-out favourite it has to be said though..
What did you think of the race? Can Alonso catch up with Vettel? Let me know down below fellow petrol-heads!
Thanks for reading,
Matt
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