Fernando Alonso wins Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari

Ferrari's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Grand Prix in Monza yesterday. Image Credit: AFP   Ferrari narrowly miss one-two while webber cashes in on Hamilton's early exit Reuters Published: 00:10 September 13, 2010 Monza: Fernando Alonso seized a longed-for victory in his first Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari on Sunday while Lewis Hamilton lasted less than a lap and handed the championship lead back to Australian Mark Webber. It was Ferrari's first Formula One win at their home circuit since Michael Schumacher's victory in 2006 and Alonso answered the fans' prayers despite being overtaken at the start by McLaren's world champion Jenson Button. Button, who led for more than half the race by little more than a second, finished runner-up after losing out at his pitstop after 36 of the 53 laps. With Button's teammate Hamilton going out on the first lap, Red Bull's Webber surged five points clear despite finishing only sixth. The top five are now separated by just 24 points, less than the 25 available for a victory, with everything to play for and five races remaining. Track invaded Webber has 187, Hamilton 182, Alonso 166, Button 165 and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel 163. Button denied Ferrari a one-two finish, with Brazilian Felipe Massa joining teammate Alonso on the podium in third as a sea of red-shirted fans invaded the track in jubilation. "This is a good motivation for all of us but the remaining five races are the really important ones," said Alonso, who started on pole position and had earlier described Monza as crucial to his hopes of a third title after he crashed in Belgium last month. "We need to remain calm. This was a good weekend for us. Spa was a bad weekend. We need to find some consistency in the final races." Massa had challenged Alonso at the start, a seemingly futile gesture for a driver ordered to let the Spaniard win in Germany, but his main contribution was to knock Hamilton out of the running at the Della Roggia chicane on the opening lap. The two banged wheels in a risky bid by the 2008 champion for third place and Hamilton's front right suspension was broken by the impact. Hamilton's retirement was his second in three races, although he won the previous race in Belgium, and his second in succession in Italy. "The championship is not over but it's mistakes like I made today that lose world championships," the Briton told reporters. "It's my fault, I'll take the blame." Vettel was fourth, leaving his pitstop to the last lap after earlier suffering an engine problem and slipping behind Webber. He cut his deficit to Webber from 28 to 24 points. Standings Yesterday's Italian Grand Prix final positions: 1. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 1hr 16min 24.572sec 2. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) at 2.938secs 3. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 4.223 4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 28.196 5. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes GP) 29.942 6. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) 31.276 7. Nico H|lkenberg (GER/Williams F1) 32.812 8. Robert Kubica (POL/Renault) 34.028 9. Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes GP) 44.948 10. Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Williams F1) 1:04.213 11. Sibastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso) 1:05.056 12. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Force India) 1:06.106 13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Renault) 1:18.919 14. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/Sauber) 1 lap 15. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso) 1 lap 16. Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India) 1 lap 17. Timo Glock (GER/Virgin Racing) 2 laps 18. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Lotus) 2 laps 19. Sakon Yamamoto (JPN/Hispania) 2 laps 20. Lucas Di Grassi (BRA/Virgin Racing) 2 laps. Overall standings — Drivers: 1. Mark Webber (AUS) 187.0pts, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 182.0, 3. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 166.0, 4. Jenson Button (GBR) 165.0, 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 163.0, 6. Felipe Massa (BRA) 124.0, 7. Nico Rosberg (GER) 112.0, 8. Robert Kubica (POL) 108.0, 9. Michael Schumacher (GER) 46.0, 10. Adrian Sutil (GER) 45.0, 11. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) 31.0, 12. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) 21.0, 13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) 19.0, 14. Nico H|lkenberg (GER) 16.0, 15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) 12.0, 16. Sebastien Buemi (SUI) 7.0, 17. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) 6.0, 18. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) 4.0 Overall Constructors' standings: 1. Red Bull 350.0pts, 2. McLaren 347.0, 3. Ferrari 290.0, 4. Mercedes GP 158.0, 5. Renault 127.0, 6. Force India 57.0, 7. Williams F1 47.0, 8. Sauber 27.0, 9. Toro Rosso 11.0 From Gulf News