Vettel takes dominant win at Monza!

Sebastian Vettel took an incredible victory for Red Bull in Italy on Sunday afternoon, further increasing his already huge lead in the championship standings.

The reigning World Champion kind of defied the odds, driving a dominant race at a track RBR were expected to struggle. The McLaren drivers were very optimistic of being able to beat him in the race, before the start, but couldn’t make it. Button took second while his teammate Hamilton finished in fourth place.

Fernando Alonso delighted the Italian crowd with a podium for Ferrari. Michael Schumacher took fifth. Massa was sixth. Alguersuari, di Resta, Senna and Buemi completed the top ten.

How the race unfolded :

As Vettel was busy fending off the assaults of Hamilton in the run down to the first corner, Fernando Alonso dived past both of them to take the lead of the Italian Grand Prix. At the back of the field, it was mayhem as Liuzzi spun his HRT and collected Petrov and Rosberg at the chicane.

The Safety Car was immediately deployed so that marshals could clear the stricken cars. Barrichello was slowed in the incident. Kobayashi had his front wing ripped apart and pitted at the end of the opening lap. Jérôme d’Ambrosio retired a couple of laps later.

The race restarted on lap 4. Alonso held the lead while Hamilton lost third place to Schumacher. Vettel immediately put pressure on the leading Ferrari and made his move on lap 5. At the same time, his teammate Webber was trying to attack Massa at the first chicane and made contact with the Ferrari. It took his front wing off and, has he tried to make it back to the pits, he went off and retired.

Once back in the lead, Vettel upped the pace and set a string of fastest laps to pull away from his rivals. On lap 11, he enjoyed a 6-second lead on Alonso. Hamilton was still stuck behind Schumacher and couldn’t find a way past despite the help of the DRS. On lap 12, he passed him at the first chicane but the Mercedes driver quickly re-passed him. Their scrap allowed Button to close on them and he was all over the rear wing of Hamilton on lap 13.

Button overtook both Hamilton and Schumacher on lap 16. As Hamilton was still stuck behind him, the German dived in the pitlane on lap 17. Now enjoying a clear track, the McLarens were able to stretch their legs and up their pace. However Button pitted next time round. Hamilton came in one lap later and rejoined behind Schumacher. They soon resumed their duel.

Alonso stopped on lap 20. Vettel pitted from the lead at the end of this lap and safely rejoined in the lead. Massa was up in 2nd place but stopped on lap 22. The fascinating battle between Schumacher and Hamilton was still raging on. The Briton relentlessly hassled with the German but was unable to make it past as the Mercedes was super fast in the straights.

In front of them, Button was closing on Alonso for 2nd place. Halfway through the race, Vettel was comfortably leading the pair by 12.7 seconds. Schumacher was still holding off Hamilton for P4. Massa was in sixth place.

Hamilton eventually passed Schumacher on lap 28 and managed to pull away from him. In the meantime, Button was giving Alonso a hard time but the Ferrari driver was defending well and was able to slightly break away again.

Further down the order, Alguersuari claimed P8 from di Resta. Pérez was up in seventh place and yet to make his first stop. Unfortunately, he had to retire on lap 34.

Button stopped for the second time on lap 34. Alonso and Hamilton pitted on lap 35. Race leader Vettel came in at the end of the same lap.

On lap 36, Button passed Alonso for P3 – Schumacher was 2nd and yet to stop. He paid his second visit to his team crew on lap 38 and rejoined in sixth place behind Hamilton – who must have been relieved to sail past him as he emerged the pitlane.

The race pretty much settled down afterwards. Vettel was long gone out front with a 15-second advantage over his pursuers. Both Button and Hamilton were finding some good speed and trading fastest times. Massa’s 2nd stop elevated Hamilton to fourth.

Alonso’s rhythm faded away in this final stint as he struggled to make the hard tyres work for him – which has been Ferrari’s weakness this season. It allowed Hamilton to close the gap but he couldn’t make it and the Spaniard held on to the podium.