Only in Italia!

In the sweltering heat, the Tifosi were out in full force at the Italian Grand Prix. Surrounded by a sea of red the cars lined up on the grid ready for 53 laps at Monza.

Drama started on Lap 1 with what could have been a nastier crash caused by Tonio Liuzzi in his HRT, sliding along the grass run off and into mid fielders making their way around Turn 1, he swept up Nico Rosberg and Vitaly Petrov, with several others having to avoid the incident.

This saw the Safety car come out till Lap 4, where Fernando Alonso took an early lead -a great sight for the passionate Tifosi- over Sebastian and now had to fight to retain it.

On the restart Mark Webber was a little too eager on trying to overtake Felipe Massa and knocked off his front wing under his tyre’s, Massa spun but was able to rejoin with no obvious damage to the car meanwhile Webber soon crashed out, the first time a Red Bull retired this year.

Lap 12 and the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher was in full swing, both eager to beat each other, with Schumacher showing a flare of his old racing with a naughty two move block on Hamilton, receiving a radio message from Ross Brawn to “make sure you leave room at Ascari”

Through the pits and Vettel takes the lead from Alonso with both McLarens hot on his hooves (get it?)

Hamilton slips up unable to keep up the momentum and Button was able to pass him, next up, Alonso.

Lap 36, as Vettel pits for new tyres, Alonso was slow out of the corners where Button was able to take advantage and pass him for second. Five World Champions were in the top five.

The now permanent for 2011 Renault driver, Bruno Senna had a challenging but exciting race and was able to cleanly over take Sebastien Buemi for 9^th entering the points for him and the team.

The last few laps and Hamilton was closing the gap on Alonso however he wasn’t able to make anything of it and time ran out. Sebastian Vettel won again in Monza, 3 years since his first win driving for Toro Rosso, an emotional win for the German. Joining Vettel on the podium was Jenson Button in 2^nd and Fernando Alonso, pleasing the passionate Ferrari fans with a podium spot in 3^rd.

Retirements of the race: Both Saubers retired out of the race- Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez along with Adrian Sutil, Mark Webber, Jerome D’Ambrosio, Vitaly Petrov, Nico Rosberg and Tonio Liuzzi.

Although Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line as the chequered flag went out, he was +14 laps down, a great effort and good seat time but he wasn’t classified.  


Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton: 1:26.187

 RESULTS:

The Podium celebrations:

[l-r Jenson Button (2nd) Sebastian Vettel (1st) Fernando Alonso (3rd)]

This has to be the best podium celebrations on the calendar. Incredible.

So the European races have drawn to a close and won't be back till 2012, it's gone fast, it's been great and the races have been exciting.

We now (i say that like i'm actually going, i'm not but i can dream!) move on to the fly-away races, first up is Singapore. I love the night race, the location, the track and the atmosphere. F1 Rocks will also be special along with the prospect of the reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel possibly becoming double world champion! As much as i'd like the championship to go to the wire at Brazil, let's face it, it isn't going to happen, Vettel will be crowned.

Don't miss it!