It’s been fantastic to win here, I am so happy for my team it’s been a
fantastic day.”
1-10 Hamilton, Perez, Alonso, Massa, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Rosberg, Di
Resta, Kobayashi, Senna
Martin Whitmarsh:
He did a great job to day and all weekend has been fantastic. We’re
delighted to have own but you have to feel a little for Jenson it should
have been a one-two. Not perfect but on balance we’ll enjoy the day.”
Lap 52 “massive black spots on the tyres” Webber says.
Hamilton has found a little speed and the gap between him and Perez is six
seconds which should be fine for the McLaren to hold.
Lap 51 here’s another retirement and it’s Hulkenberg who hasn’t really
featured today. Webber is stuck in gear and moving very slowly. That rounds
off a disaster of a day for Red Bull, Webber looking likely to come in and
it’s a double retirement I think.
Lap 50 Massa told to be consistent and just aim to finish this race.
Vettel looking nothing short of furious and it’s just got worse for Red Bull
as Webber goes off the track! He is NOT out of the race but he’s lost about
four places and is now 10th. he actually slid sideways there and is so lucky
to still be in this race!
Lap 49 Yellow flags being waved. Schumacher now makes a move on Webber
and takes 6th place. Well it certainly has been an afternoon to forget for
Red Bull. At the front Hamilton leads by 9.4 seconds with four laps
remaining and the Sauber is moving over a second a lap faster than the
McLaren
Lap 48 Red Bull issued the warning and now we have it, Vettel is out
of the race and that will also put Hamilton second in the championship
standings. Vettel was told “stop the car we need to save the engine”
wow that even made me jump, huge urgency in the engineer’s voice.
Lap 47 Phew catch your breath if you can! Hamilton told Perez is a
second a lap faster and he needs to put his foot down…right further back
I’ll bring you some order news. 3-10 Alonso Massa Raikkonen, Webber,
Schumacher, Di Resta, Ricciardo
Lap 46 There’s a lot of traffic behind Perez now so any overtake and
Alonso will have to be careful of what’s coming up. Perez makes the move and
takes the position from Alonso! That’s incredible having started in 12th!
Wonderful from Sauber, great judgement on this race!
Lap 45 I’m sorry I am not talking about anything other than Perez at
the moment but this speed is incredible and he is closing in on Alonso,
fantastic driving. On that note though, Hamilton is no doubt going to be
told to pick up the pace as Alonso is lapping faster than him.
Lap 44 this Sauber car is flying! Does it have enough in the tank to
challenge for second? His team-mate however is not having such a good day,
Kobayashi is in 10th having just lost position to Schumacher. Perez is 1.288
behind Alonso I believe
Lap 43 10 laps to go and Perez is under a second behind Massa and
therefore a place on the podium. Webber on the radio being told Vettel has a
car problem that may force him to stop suddenly. Blimey, not a good day for
Vettel. What a move and Perez is up to 3rd and he is on that podium for now!
Lap 42 tell him one thing and then another…Massa told he now needs to
speed up as Perez closes in on him! Hamilton out front has been told of the
Ferrari switch behind him and he’ll want to stay as far away as possible
form the Ferrari.
Lap 41 As things stand Alonso will retain his lead at the top of the
standing with Vettel second and Hamilton would move into third. Alo 182
Vet 148 Ham 142. Vettel has overtaken Webber for 6th and is now on the
hunt for Perez who is waving his arms around like a crazy man as a Marussia
car gets in his way as he laps.
Lap 40 anyone else hoping Massa ignores the team and just goes for
it….go on Felipe rebel! No he’s not listened to me, Alonso has gone second
and the crowd again on their feet.
Lap 38-39 Maldonado has gone fastest with a 1:28:92, the middle drivers
in this race are giving such an entertaining performance this afternoon!
Some great duelling going on. There is danger for Ferrari now as Perez
storms up and is chasing Alonso. Massa now warned that his team-mate is
coming through on DRS
Lap 37 how long do you give it before Ferrari tell Massa to let Alonso
overtake him? And now comes the move from Perez! And he goes 5th in front of
Raikkonen with a very smartly executed move to the left ot the Lotus.
Lap 36 The Red Bulls are now 8th and 9th and for the first time this
afternoon Webber is ahead of Vettel. Also going well is Perez who is
currently invoplved in a wonderful battle with Raikkonen for 5th. Massa
warned he needs to start thinking about how he is going to manage his tyres.
Lap 35 “No drive, no drive the engine’s gone.” Is what Button
said on the radio and now Vettel has take his penalty. Suddenly everything
is going well, fantastically even, for Ferrari. Massa is second with Alonso
third.
Lap 34 So Button out of the race, I have no explanation for this yet he
simply just pulled over. There were no signs of problem with his car this
afternoon.
Lap 33 Hamilton is now 7.2 seconds clear and Button in seconds has a
five second advantage over Massa who is closest to him.And no sooner do I
say that does Button pull out of the race!
Lap 32 well ignore what I said, it seems the stewards are unhappy with
the aforementioned incidents and have issued Vettel with a drive-through
penalty and that could have a huge impact on the championship. Alonso will
be delighted as will the crowd.
Lap 31 Webber told that the cars in front of him are on two stops so
there will be a window of opportunity for him coming up. Apologies that I
rarely mention the back of the pack but it is the usual suspects.
Lap 30 the incident involving Vettel and Alonso on turn three is under
investigation so I will bring you news on that when I get it. We have both
McLarens at the front of this race with both Ferraris behind followed by
Vettel 5th and Schumacher 6th
Lap 29 Alonso and Vettel are duelling again and the Ferrari takes the
place and goes 5th! Wonderful move and the crowd roars! Red Bull struggling
to challenge back for lack of speed. Now am hearing that Ferrari have
re-established telemetry with Massa.
Lap 28 Perez told his target has been extended to four more laps. So a
gap trying to be formed but it’s not going to happen as Hamilton has
overtaken him on the inside and is back in front.
Lap 27 D’Ambrosio also finding himself on the grass but car looks to
have come through it. Perez at the front is yet to pit but he is losing time
at a horrifying rate to Hamilton behind, at least a second a lap but his
team are telling him to stay out. Then again for a man that started the race
12th I doubt he is too unhappy with his position.
Lap 26 and another error from Ferrari! Alonso tries to overtake Vettel
and he ends up going so wide on the grass! Vettel will claim normal racing
line for anyone wondering if that was him forcing the Ferrari off the track.
Ferrari think it is “clear what happened” though am not sure that
deserves to incur a penalty.
Lap 25 “plan A will work” Button is told, well well, McLaren
certainly confident this afternoon. Hamilton is 2.7 seconds behind Perez who
leads the race. Good speed from Raikkonen who has just taken a place from Di
Resta and Rosberg has just locked up and had to weave himself through the
chicanes.
Lap 24 very good stop for Hamilton and that’s him done for the race
unless anything goes wrong. Hamilton out in second snow with Button behind
[3rd] and Massa [4th] and Vettel 5th.
Lap 23 Button has pitted and that’s not the greatest stop from McLaren
– 4.8 seconds – but we’ve seen worse as you know. Hamilton now pits so
Perez will take the lead for now
Lap 22 Hamilton over six seconds ahead of Button in second. Perez is
now third and Ricciardo has got himself into the top 10 and has Massa
heaping pressure on him and he does. Great duel between that Toro Rosso and
the Ferrari but it’s Vettel that gains well from that and the Australian has
lost three positions in a fight that maybe he just wasn’t strong enough to
play a part in.
Lap 21 and the big names have reacted with Alonso and Vettel both in
for the hard compound and they emerge behind Massa. Was that an unsafe
release by Red Bull? Webber told he is now doing well and it seems he is
also on a one-stop.
Lap 20 Button told Massa has pitted and thathe needs to make the most
of the time he has with little threat behind. Maldonado now fastest
1:29:652, he’s on a fresh set and is over a second faster than the race
leaders.
Lap 19 and it’s just got worse for Massa and he’s gone second after
Button makes a fantastic move so we are back to McLaren one-two. The
Brazilian’s Ferrari looks to be struggling for grip and so he is called into
the pits.
Lap 18 Raikkonen pits and it’s very well done by the Lotus team. Webber
has gained another place and is up to 7th. News form the garage again then
is apparently Massa has electronic problems and his team is blind to his
car. I’m hearing no telemetry.
Lap 17 and Button is again told his tyres are good so they will “go
with Plan A” can only think that’s a one-stop and the engineers in the
Ferrari garage are look a little flushed and now throwing bits of paper
around in a truly Italian style.
Lap 16 Hamilton now almost five seconds clear at the front, Massa
chasing with Button behind him Alonso in 5th now is closing in on Vettel but
tyres are starting to tire now. Schumacher emerged from that pitstop in 15th
and his team-mate is back in 19th but they were the early cars to pit.
Lap 15 more cars starting to pits not and Rosberg is the first of the
Mercedes to stop for the hard compound tyres so he’ll likely be on a
two-stopper. Schumacher in 6th now is holding up a fair number of cars, he
does frustrate his rivals well doesn’t he! Raikkonen and Perez behind him
but he is now being called in.
Lap 14 No sooner do I write that but Maldonado pits…don’t worry he is
still not causing trouble. Button’s engineer on the radio telling him that
his pace is very good and strong suggesting he may be on a one-stop
strategy.
Lap 13 Hamilton is four seconds clear at the front of the race at the
moment so good speed from the McLaren. At the back – well almost – Maldonado
has climbed from 22nd to 17th and so far not caused any chaos. I say that
light heartedly before you all start emailing me.
Lap 12 Webber’s finally got himself into the points, he is up to 10th
with his team-mate ahead in 4th. First bit of good news for the Aussie this
afternoon.
Lap 11 Tyres so far look to be holding up well. News from the Lotus and
that is that D’Ambrosio’s KERS has packed in. If you’re not sure why I
mention his name, he is on track this afternoon in place of Roman Grosjean
who is banned for the pile-up last weekend in Spa.
Lap 9-10 So Hamilton leads with Massa behind and Button 3rd. Vettel is
4th with Alonso behind. And we have a car off and it looks like out of the
race – that is the Toro Rosso of Jean Eric Vergne, his left rear suspension
goes and his race is over. He is asked if he is OK on the radio and
worryingly he says he has a pain in his back. The good news is though that
he has walked away from his car. Yellow flags are out and DRS is disabled.
Lap 8 Vettel in 4th now making a move on Button and the McLaren really
not showing the speed I had spoken about. Senna has been forced wide off the
track by Di Resta! And as result of going the long way around the Williams
nearly takes out Mark Webber as he re-takes to the track, I think Di Resta
is going to suffer for that.
Lap 7 Alonso and Schumacher go wheel-to-wheel on the straight and the
Ferrari takes the position and is up to 5th. Still took him longer than her
would have wanted and Schumacher’s held him up well. Also going well is
Perez who has climbed to 9th having started back in 12th. Crowd at Monza has
gone nuts at the sight of Alonso’s fantastic openeing laps.
Lap 6 Schumacher under huge pressure from Alonso again, wonderful to
see them duelling. Further back we have Raikonnen in 7th being chased by
Kobayashi and Di Resta and another bad start showing there and that is
Rosberg who is back in 13th.
Lap 4 apologies my feed has meessed up so wrong information coming
through. The debris I mentioned earlier was from the front wing of
Karthikeyan.
Lap 2 Vettel remains in 5th so a satisfactory start from here and he is
chasing Schumacher at the moment and Alonso up to 6th that’s 4 places he has
gained in two laps. Hamilton fastest 1:31:9
Lap 1: Hamilton comfortable at the front then but where did that come
from from Massa! Alonso also got a good start and is up to 8th, not 7th as
he overtakes Raikkonen but not good for Webber who has lost two places.
First corner: Decent starts from Hamilton but Massa has got ahead of
Button and so nearly takes the lead! A bit of debris flying around but all
cars out well.
12:55 right, it’s race No 13 of the season who will it be lucky for who
will be be unlucky for? Drivers now on formations laps…hold on to your
hats, it’s race time.
12:55 Predictions? After the week he has had I wouldn’t be surprised to
see Hamilton take this from the start but Button has shown equally
impressive speed. It’s going to be an incredible start me thinks as lurking
behind the two McLarens on that front row is Massa and Schumacher with
Vettel and Rosberg chasing them. I think we’ll see both McLarens on the
podium with the Red Bull of Vettel…I know that not including a Ferrari has
made all Italian readers gasp in disgust. If that’s the case – and even if
it’s not – let me know how your think this race will end, drop me an email.
How they start:
1st row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
2nd row
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
3rd row
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
4th row
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
5th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)*
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
6th row
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
7th row
Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault)
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
8th row
Jerome d’Ambrosio (BEL/Lotus-Renault)
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault)
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault)
10th row
Timo Glock (GER/Marussia-Cosworth)
Charles Pic (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)
11th row
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT-Cosworth)
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)*
12th row
Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
* Maldonado hand 2×5 grid penalty, Di Resta handed 5 grid penalty
12:51 Strategy, as always, key this afternoon and the winning driver
from last season – Vettel – carried out a two-stop race on lap 20 and 35.
The first turn will be crucial today as it’s the best opportunity to
overtake on this track.
Monza in numbers
- Circuit length: 5.793km/3.599 miles
- Laps: 53
- Race distance: 306.720km/190.586miles
- Lap record: 1min 21.046secs (Rubens Barrichello, 2004)
- 2011 pole position: Sebastian Vettel 1min 22.275secs
- 2011 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
- 2011 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1min 26.187secs
- Number of corners: 11 (4 left/7 right)
- Tyre compounds to be used: hard/medium
- Average lap speed: 237kph (147mph)
- Total DRS overtakes: 18
- Number of safety cars deployed since 2002: 4
12:43 Alonso’s engineer saying he will just be happy to score some
points today…hmmmm, they being coy? Surely given what we have seen so far
this season they think it is possible to get their man near the front? Let’s
have a look at this circuit in more detail.
12:42 Italian national anthem now being played out and what a sight, a
sea of red at the circuit, Alonso and Massa must love this! The latter
especially this afternoon as he starts in third having out qualified his
team-mate!
On the topic of Hamilton and his future, here’s what our columnist David
Coulthard had to say about the situation:
“I don’t know whether Lewis Hamilton is moving to Mercedes. I’m not
sure that he does either. Which is not to say that Eddie Jordan was wrong
this week when he lobbed a verbal hand grenade into the paddock by claiming
that Lewis had “already agreed personal terms” with the Brackley team. It is
perfectly possible to have agreed a deal with one team while simultaneously
negotiating with another. In fact, it is prudent as it strengthens your
bargaining power.
Will it happen? And would it be a good move for him? I hate to sit on the
fence but I’m going to have to; I reckon it is about 50/50 that Lewis will
go to Mercedes. You can make a persuasive case either way.
Ultimately, though, it all boils down to winning. You need to be successful
to be a superstar and that is what Lewis will be mulling over: which team
are more likely to win him championships?
What would I do if I were Lewis? It is always a bit of a gamble switching
teams, leaving a known quantity for an unknown one. You can never be 100 per
cent sure it will prove the right decision. I would never presume to tell
Lewis what to do. But sometimes change can be a good thing.”
He may be far closer to the back that anticipated but Pastor Maldonado still
happy to carry out his media duties.
12:35 Couple of penalties dished out ahead of this race and so
unfortunate for Paul di Resta who yesterday finished qualifying in fourth
place but will start back in 9th alongside Fernando Alonso. Also a move
backwards for Pastor Maldonado – this is becoming a near weekly thing to
write – he starts 22nd after being issued with a 10 place penalty after a
false start in Spa causing a collision during the race.
Here’s news from our F1 man Tom Cary who is on the grid at Monza:
“Monza is looking simply glorious today. It’s 28C, sunny and packed
with real race fans (as opposed to the fake ones bused in at some other
races). Did a track run last night just as the sun was setting and the fans
camping in the woods in the Parco Reale really added to the atmosphere, as
they did at Spa last weekend; the BBQs were in full swing, the beer was
flowing it sounded as if they were having a great time. We’re anticipating a
great race, too. The McLaren drivers have a golden opportunity to claw back
some ground in the title race with Alonso so far back and the Red Bulls
struggling, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Spaniard surging through
to claim a podium. With all the off-track intrigue over Hamilton’s
contractual status, it is shaping up to be a busy day. Off to the grid now
to grill a few more people.”
12:27 More news from the week and that is that there is an new (ish)
face on the track this afternoon, that it Jérôme d’Ambrosio who is driving
for Lotus in the absence of Romain Grosjean. You’ll remember him as
Marussia’s -then Virgin – driver form last season. He signed as Lotus’
reserve driver at the start of this year and today marks his race debut for
the team and you’ll know the reason for his presence if you watched the
Belgian GP last weekend when Grosjean was issued a one-race ban for his part
in the first-corner pile-up. It is the first time a driver has been
banned from a race since 1994 when Eddie Irvine missed a race for a similar
offence.
Mark Webber sporting a little more face fuzz than normal today
1221 Plenty of news this week as I said, dominated by the McLaren man
whose future has been a hot topic of conversation amid rumours he has
already held talks with Mercedes. It’s Eddie Jordan that got people’s
tongues wagging after he said: “I believe Hamilton and Mercedes have
already agreed personal terms and a deal could be imminent.”
Mercedes have refused to comment on the rumour and added that until they
confirm their 2013 line up they will not pay attention to speculation.
McLaren issued their own statement insisting they were still in talks with
the 2008 world champion about a new contract.
We have been told by Lewis Hamilton’s management team that the story is
untrue,” said a McLaren spokesman. “Negotiations between Lewis
Hamilton and McLaren continue.”
McLaren’s statement has been backed up by XIX entertainment, Hamilton’s
representatives, who claim they are in “advanced discussions with
McLaren about a new deal”
1217 Lewis Hamilton is tweeting again but fear not McLaren fans it is
not more pictures of classified team information, no it’s just him on his
way to the track…this time minues Nicole. According to his most recent
tweet he’s listening to Frank Ocean, The Lonny Breaux Collection
tracklist…very chilled…
12:11 I am starting today’s live blog with news on a subject I am
emailed about so often – that is the future and status of Robert Kubica.
Well I have an update for you. A year and a half on from his near-fatal
rally accident he has said he remains hopeful of returning to F1 and while
currently out of contract feels he has unfinished business in the sport.
Ahead of his participation in a Subaru in the Rally Ronde Gomitolo di Lana
event, the 27-year-old said:
“Being here is already a good step, but I would have preferred to be
somewhere else. I have still got a long road to travel and will probably
never be at the same physical level as before. But I don’t intend to give
up. The aim remains to return to Formula One and the next few months will
tell me whether I can do it next year already or will have to wait until
2014.”
12:00 Good afternoon F1 fans and welcome to today’s coverage of the
Italian Grand Prix. Quite a week it has been in the world of F1…namely in
the world of Lewis Hamilton and following on from his excessive and slightly
too revealing tweets of last weekend at Spa, he continues to grab the
headlines this weekend.
The McLaren driver’s future has stolen the headlines this week. Is if off to
Mercedes? Apparently the talks have happened while McLaren claim they are in
advanced talks with their title winning driver. What’s true? What’s mindless
gossip? What’s the best thing the 27-year-old can do? Who would replace him?
Would he replace Schumacher or Rosberg? So many questions! We’ll try and
answer as many as we can in the next hour.
How they start:
1st row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
2nd row
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
3rd row
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
4th row
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
5th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)*
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
6th row
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
7th row
Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault)
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
8th row
Jerome d’Ambrosio (BEL/Lotus-Renault)
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault)
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault)
10th row
Timo Glock (GER/Marussia-Cosworth)
Charles Pic (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)
11th row
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT-Cosworth)
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)*
12th row
Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
* Maldonado hand 2×5 grid penalty, Di Resta handed 5 grid penalty