There was even more joy for the fizzy drinks backed squad as Mark Webber overcame some gearbox issues in the race, which forced him to short shift out of second and third gear corners, and with third place claimed his first ever podium at Monza at his final Formula 1 race on European soil. In the middle of the Red Bull sandwich in the final standings was Alonso, embroiled in Ferrari politics, the Spaniard set these aside and from fifth on the grid took second place to the delight of the tifosi. The result keeps the Spaniard in the title hunt for now, and with Vettel on a streak damage limitation on the points front was vital. In that sense it was mission accomplished for the Maranello squad.
Alonso had a move of day. A beautifully judged move around the outside into the Roggia chicane on lap three took Alonso past Webber's Red Bull for third, as they went wheel to wheel right through the complex, making only slight contact on the exit.Nico Hulkenberg lived up to his qualifying performance by settling his Sauber into fifth place. He had Nico Rosberg's Mercedes in often very close company all afternoon, but kept his compatriot at bay and finished just a few seconds behind Alonso, Webber and Massa at the end of an outstanding weekend.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MONZA
53 laps, 306.720km., Weather: Sunny.
CLASSIFIED:
P. DRIVER TEAM TIME
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1h18:33.352
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari + 5.467
3. Mark Webber Red Bull + 6.350
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari + 9.361
5. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber + 10.355
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG + 10.999
7. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso + 32.329
8. Romain Grosjean Lotus + 33.130
9. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG + 33.527
10. Jenson Button McLaren + 38.327
11. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus + 38.695
12. Sergio Perez McLaren + 39.765
13. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber + 40.880
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams + 49.085
15. Valtteri Bottas Williams + 56.827
16. Adrian Sutil Force India + 1 lap
17. Charles Pic Caterham + 1 lap
18. Giedo van der Garde Caterham + 1 lap
19. Jules Bianchi Marussia + 1 lap
20. Max Chilton Marussia + 1 lap
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton - 1:25.849
NOT CLASSIFIED:
DRIVER TEAM On Lap
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 35
Paul di Resta Force India 1
After 12 Races:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Vettel 222 1. Red Bull 352
2. Alonso 169 2. Ferrari 248
3. Hamilton 141 3. Mercedes AMG 245
4. Raikkonen 134 4. Lotus 191
5. Webber 130 5. McLaren 66
6. Rosberg 104 6. Force India 61
7. Massa 79 7. Toro Rosso 31
8. Grosjean 57 8. Sauber 17
9. Button 48 9. Williams 1
10. Di Resta 36
11. Sutil 25
12. Perez 18
13. Ricciardo 18
14. Hulkenberg 17
15. Vergne 13
16. Maldonado 1
