Italian Grand Prix (2010) RESULT

The Italian Grand Prix Monza 2010

Just for a change, the Red Bulls failed to dominate in qualifying, so we have a Ferrari and McLaren front row, with Hamilton back in fifth. Did Ferrari get glory at Monza?

It does make you wonder when you see one team – McLaren – using two completely different strategies whether they know what will work. Or maybe McLaren feels the needs to differentiate the strategies so the driver will be less of a focus than the strategy.

Whichever it was we’ll never really know which of McLaren’s setups for the Monza Grand Prix was the best. Button out-dragged Alonso on pole to take the lead from the start with his high downforce setting, and Hamilton managed to skittishly make contact with Massa on the first lap, break his steering and retired.

To compound that, Button had a slight brush at the back with Alaonso knocking part of his wing off in the first flush of the race, so even his setup was compromised. Best laid plans of mice and men…

But the race was about Button and Alonso. Button grabbed the lead at the start and kept it. Until McLaren ran a flag up the pole to tell Ferrari they were about to come in for a tyre change. That allowed Alonso a flying lap, a later stop, a quicker change and a leapfrog in to first place ahead of Button. And that’s how it stayed to the end, with Massa managing to maintain third place from start to finish.

Behind the front-runners the Red Bulls were out of sorts, at least by their standards. Vettel complained his engine was broken but changed his mind and managed to do his mandatory pit stop right at the end of the race coming out in front of team mate Webber and Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes to grab fourth place, and salvage something from the weekend for Red Bull.

A very good weekend for Ferrari in their home Grand Prix, and fully justified. Alonso drove a grown-up race to show he is a brilliant driver, especially when he stops pouting and stomping. And the result leaves the driver’s championship wide open with less than a win separating the top five.

Off to Asia next. Should be interesting.