Category Archives: Italian Grand Prix

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: Sebastian Vettel Triumphant Yet Again

by in 2013 GP, F1, Fernando Alonso, Formula 1, Formula One, GP, Grand Prix, Grand Prix 2013, Italian GP, Italian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen, KMehaffey, Lewis Hamilton, Motorsport, Sebastian Vettel | Leave a comment

MONZA – In one of the most exciting races of the season, reigning champion Sebastian Vettel dominated and cruised to an easy victory, his 3rd win at the Italian GP and extending his lead to 53 points in the Driver’s Championship.


RedBull’s Sebastian Vettel claimed his 32nd win in his F1 career, tied with Fernando Alonso.
(via BBCSport)

 



Sebastian Vettel took a giant step towards his fourth World Drivers Championship with another dominant display here at the Autodromo de Monza. His win contained just one mistake, a huge lock up going into the chicane at the very start of the race giving him an uncomfortable start.
Just before the start there was indecision by the teams on which tyre to start with. Light rain showers meant that teams were looking to go with intermediate wet tyres. However the track dried as cars went out to the track and teams opted for dry tyres to start with.
 
The first 10 cars started on the softer medium tyre with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen starting on the prime (hard) tyre to give them the benefit of a faster finish with the option (medium) tyre.


So to the start itself. A clean getaway for most except Jenson Button who was slow away and immediately dropped positions. Sebastian Vettel held his position but locked up his front right wheel heavily into the first chicane. However he exited still in 1st place and had a clear run into Curva Grande. The rest of the pack got through with the exception of Sergio Perez who had to take the escape road and give positions back as he rejoined the race. Paul DiResta crashes out at the second chicane.

VIDEO: Di Resta Crashes Out – Thermal Cam
 

The early laps saw Lewis overtake Kimi who had to pit for damage to his wing. Fernando Alonso pulled off one of the great overtakes of the race while passing Mark Webber side by side through the second chicane! Great trust and respect shown to each other during the move clear to see, great stuff!
Fernando went on to easily overtake his team mate Massa going into the first chicane on lap 8, surely team orders there as Felipe offered little resistance. Meanwhile Sebastian receives a radio call acknowledging the discomfort of his flat spotted front right tyre, then promptly puts in a fastest lap of the race at a stunning 1:29.008.
On lap 12 disaster for Lewis as his team inform him he has a slow puncture and needs to box immediately! However a radio problem means Lewis does not hear the call and stays out. Only his mechanic franticly waving a pit board telling him to pit eventually brings him in and he changes to medium tyres.
Lewis and Kimi start recording fastest lap times as they try and catch the leaders. Eventually on lap 23 Seb was very relieved to come in and change his lumpy tyres to a fresh set of primes. On lap 31 Lewis pulls off a stunning overtake on the inside around Curva Grande on Hulkenburg and gets himself up to 5th although would have to stop again.
Lewis has to pit again and comes out just behind Kimi in 14th. Again Raikkonen and Hamilton trade fastest laps and make some good overtakes, clearly the entertainment of the race with fighting drives! At the front, Seb continues despite a gearbox problem and holds off a challenge from Fernando Alonso to take the chequered flag yet again!
Ferrari support swarms the crowd in Monza
at the podium. (via RadioSport)

The podium was engulfed by the amazing Tifosi who made their feelings very clear by booing Seb as he spoke to John Surtees. There was only love for their man Fernando Alonso who put in a great drive for second. Mark Webber’s last ever F1 race in Europe was marked by a 3rd place and he will be sorely missed next season.

My drivers of the day were Nico Hulkenburg (p5) and Lewis Hamilton (p9), great fighting drives under difficult circumstances.

WINNING TIME: Vettel – 1 hour, 18 mins, 352 seconds.

FASTEST LAP: Lewis Hamilton – 1.25.849 (Lap 51)

 


 The championship now moves on to the flyaways and Singapore now beckons in two weeks time. Seb’s rivals need to win or this championship is over!



By @KeithMehaffey

TheSportMatrix.com
 – Sports for the Fans, by the Fans.
 
 
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ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: Preview

by in Autodromo Nazionale Monza, F1, F1 Preview, Formula 1, Formula One, Italian GP, Italian Grand Prix, Italy, KMehaffey, Motorsport, Race Preview | Leave a comment
With his dominant drive at Spa, Sebastian Vettel extends his championship lead. Can any of his rivals put together some strong results and prevent him from winning his fourth World Drivers Championship in a row? Welcome then to another legendary circuit, The Autodromo Nazionale Monza!
 
 

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix since 1922. The old banked circuit still visible!

There are two words which are synonymous with the Italian`s love of cars and motorsport, `spirit` and `passion`, or as they say in Italy, `Lo spirito e la passione`! It`s an emotion, a feeling, something that you just cant put your finger on. Whatever it is the Italians have it by the bucket load and it surrounds their cars, race circuits and fans! This is what makes the Italian Grand Prix a truly special occasion.

Monza is also a very special place as along with Silverstone formed part of the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship in 1950. The dominant team then was Alfa Romeo and the first ever Formula 1 World Champion was Giuseppe Farina winning it in his supercharged Alfa Romeo 158 at Monza. The first and only time in F1 history a driver has won the F1 World Championship at his home race!.

Of course the track has changed since then, the old banked oval circuit no longer is raced on and instead we have a super fast low downforce modern circuit some 5.8 km in length. The Grand Prix will be 53 laps and last years winner Lewis Hamilton completed the race in 1 hour and 19 minutes.

So how do the teams and drivers stack up going into this years race? Lewis will be very concerned that his Mercedes car looked slow on the equally fast low downforce Spa track. He was dogged by set up problems during free practice, however showed that no one could live with him in an astonishing qualifying session that saw him take a breathtaking last gasp pole! The Mercedes team still need to work on their car`s race pace as it was once again found wanting in Spa.


There is a saying in F1, “If you stand still you go backwards”. The Red Bull team most certainly did not stand still during the summer break! Sebastian Vettel`s powerfull first lap overtake of Lewis down the Kemmel straight was a big warning to their rivals that they had made some big upgrades to the car! I expect that Sebastian and Mark will be the drivers to beat yet again here at Monza.

The home team, Scuderia Ferrari will take Fernando Alonso`s second place in Belgium as an encouraging sign that they can compete for the win on their own doorstep and send their fans, the Tifosi, into hysteria! The Maranello team have won the most Grand Prix here, an amazing 19 times! Every true Formula 1 fan would welcome and cheer a Ferrari win here!
Second on the list of all time Italian GP winners lie McLaren. They would so love to get a podium here but the team have all but admitted they are concentrating on development of the 2014 season car from now on. A fact that will disappoint their many fans who will have taken heart from Jenson`s strong showing at Spa.

Whoever is going to win this race in Monza they are going to need plenty of “spirito e passione” When the lights go out on sunday afternoon, turn the sound up and absorb some Italian spirit and passion for yourselves! Forza Formula 1!

In memory of Paolo Gislimberti 1967 – 2000
 
 By @KeithMehaffey

TheSportMatrix.com
 – Sports for the Fans, by the Fans.

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