UPS AND DOWNS ... Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton tackle the Monza circuit
Published: 1 hr ago
LEWIS HAMILTON showed exactly why he is the hottest property in Formula One after winning the Italian Grand Prix in style.
The Brit moved to second in the drivers’ championship with a faultless performance here to finish ahead of Saubers’ Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.
But it was a disappointing day for Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, who was forced to retire with a fuel problem.
But perhaps the biggest winner, aside from Perez who drove brilliantly to move up from his starting berth of 12th on the grid, was Alonso.
While Hamilton is now just 37 points behind him in the drivers’ table, the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber’s failure to finish the race, has given him breathing space.
All the talk before this race had been dominated by Hamilton’s future in Formula One.
The Brit is out of contract with McLaren at the end of this season and has been tipped to join Mercedes in an eye-watering £100m deal.
The 27 year-old was staying tight-lipped about whether he was staying with the Woking-based team or whether he, as some sources within in the paddock have hinted, has already agreed terms with Mercedes.
Yet the rumours did not seem to bother Hamilton, as he blitzed his way to pole position on Saturday’s qualifying session.
It was the 23rd front-row start of his career and he used it to his advantage at the start as he managed to get away cleanly and into the tight chicane at turn one.
But it was not such a good start for Hamilton’s teammate Button, who was quickly leapfrogged by Felipe Massa’s Ferrari – much to the delight of the Italian spectators.
Button got bogged down as the five red lights went out and he had no answer to Massa’s pace, although he did managed to block Michael Schumacher’s challenge.
Unlike the previous weekend, all 24 cars made it through the first turn unscathed and Hamilton was soon able to set about extending his lead out in front.
Further back, Alonso, who started this race down in 10th after suffering a suspension problem during qualifying, was determined to maximise his points return.
The Spaniard was wiped out at the first turn in the Belgian Grand Prix and then could not hide his disappointment after qualifying so far down here at Monza.
But the two-time world champion showed his brilliance by overtaking two cars in two laps and by the 14th lap he was up to fifth.
It was a brilliant drive from Alonso and he quickly set about charging down Vettel, who was in fourth place.
Further back Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne was the first to retire – and in spectacular fashion — when his rear tyre exploded, sending his car into the air, although he walked away unscathed.
There was more drama on lap 19 when Massa’s Ferrari suffered an electrical problem which prevented the mechanics from looking at his telemetry.
The fault did not directly affect the car, yet it obviously made an impact on Massa, as he was soon caught and overtaken by Button.
Massa’s team-mate meanwhile, was enjoying a great tussle with Vettel.
The two came close to colliding when they were released from their respective pitstops.
And they went even closer when Vettel forced the Spaniard on to the grass – and almost the gravel.
Alonso was furious and complained on the team’s radio that Vettel had not given him enough space.
And the race stewards clearly sided with him, as they slapped Vettel with a drive-through penalty which dropped him down to ninth place, one spot behind Webber.
There was even more drama on lap 34 when Button, who was running so well in second, was forced to retire.
He inexplicably slowed on the straight just before Curva Parabolica telling his team via the radio: “I’ve got no drive. The engine is off.”
It was disappointing for Button after his victory at Spa and now almost certainly ends his championship title hopes.
Button’s retirement played straight into Alonso’s hands, especially as he soon passed Massa on lap 40 to move into second place.
But this was not going to be completely straightforward for Alonso, as Perez underlined his brilliant natural ability once again with a fine performance.
He passed Massa and then dished out the same treatment to Alonso to move into second place behind Hamilton.
However, he was unable to challenge the McLaren ace, who was too far ahead.
Meanwhile, Red Bull suffered another miserable afternoon as both their cars failed to finish the race.
Vettel was first to retire due to a mechanical problem on the 48th lap before Webber spun off and flatspotted his tyres before calling it a day a few laps from the end.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/motorsport/4528972/Lewis-Hamilton-wins-Italian-Grand-Prix.html#ixzz25z3hvXFq
