As it happened: 2010 Italy - The Race

• 12:30

  Hello everyone and welcome to Sunday! It just so happens it's the Italian Grand Prix today, are you excited?

• 12:31

  Before we go any further, make sure you have voted in our poll, picking who you think will win the race. We'll recap the results before 1pm. https://sidepodcast.com/2010/09/12/live-italy-2010-the-race/

• 12:31

  You can also live comment throughout the race with us there. I highly recommend it.

• 12:32

  Fernando Alonso qualified on pole position yesterday, with Button joining him on the front row. Massa was third and a massive fall of speed from Red Bull sees Webber fourth.

• 12:33

  Jonathan Noble of Autosport reported earlier that Webber's gearbox was opened up today, but whatever tweaks they made do not result in a penalty.

• 12:33

  Equally, Liuzzi has a new engine in his car but is still within his season's allocation so no penalties there either.

• 12:34

  Those who do have penalties include Glock for fiddling with his gearbox, and Petrov who clearly blocked Glock during Q1. Both go back five places so... Glock didn't really gain anything out of that one.

• 12:34

  Tweet from @tonyfernandes: Its our birthday. One year ago we got letter from fia to start lotus racing. What a year. Manybirthday presents today. Hope we finish with 2

• 12:36

  Tweet from @tabathavalls: #F1 cars all out going to the start/finish line... Not long now! These moments are always so exciting!

• 12:39

  The Virgin crew get ready.

• 12:40

  Comment from RG: Re FBFB, is it there 2nd birthday now too? See I thought it was their 500th GP not that long ago...

  Having their birthday cake and eating it, eh?

• 12:41

  Interview with Nico Hulkenberg: "Before the weekend I didn't believe we were that competitive, but very positive qualifying yesterday and hopefully we can convert it into race result. I feel more and more comfortable and confident in the car and in the team."

• 12:42

  Interview with Rubens Barrichello: "We've seen in GP2/3, I think we need to look after the tyres for the first few laps. There'll be a bit of overtaking, I guess."

• 12:45

  Someone from Kasabian says this is "like Glastonbury on wheels."

• 12:45

  Tweet from @MikeGascoyne: Koybayashi back in the garage, 2.5mins to get out

• 12:46

  Interview with Massa: "Overtaking is not impossible for the speed of the straights, so let's try our best."

• 12:47

  Interview with Button: "You can say I've got more dirty air than the other cars but I've also got more downforce to lose. I don't know what's going to happen."

• 12:51

  The poll for race winner is closed - Button just pips Alonso with 14 votes to 13. Massa and Webber get one each, while 7 people believe it will be someone else.

• 12:52

  Kamui is still in his garage, and as the pitlane is now closed he will have to start the race from the pitlane. Depending on what the problem is, of course.

• 12:56

  

  25°C

  Track	35°C
  Humidity	44%
  Wind Speed	2.9mps

• 12:57

  Circuit Data

  Local Timezone	+0200 GMT
  First Race	1950
  Total Grand Prix	59
  Number of Laps	53
  Circuit Length	5.793km
  Race Distance	306.720km

• 12:58

  Massa gets in the zone. Wonder if he will make his grid slot this time.

• 13:00

  The cars are off on their formation lap.

• 13:01

  The mechanics are all running off the grid. Run, run, run. There's not enough running in F1, I say.

• 13:02

  Kamui in the garage - it's reported to be a gearbox problem. Will he get out at all?

• 13:03 Lap 1

  Race started.

• 13:03 Lap 1

  Button has passed Alonso into the lead.

• 13:04 Lap 1

  Accident between Hamilton and Massa. Lewis' front right tyre was broken and he ran off into the gravel.

• 13:06 Lap 2

  The Red Bull drivers had another shocking start - Vettel down to 7th, Webber down to 9th.

• 13:07 Lap 2

  Seconds before the collision.

• 13:07 Lap 3

  Sutil has pitted.

• 13:08 Lap 3

  Kobayashi did make it out of the garage and started the race, but has already retired.

• 13:08 Lap 4

  Driver Positions

  1	Button	McLaren
  2	Alonso	Ferrari
  3	Massa	Ferrari
  4	Rosberg	Mercedes
  5	Kubica	Renault

• 13:10 Lap 5

  Seconds after the collision.

• 13:10 Lap 5

  Fastest lap for Alonso - 1:27.282.

• 13:11 Lap 6

  Team radio to Felipe Massa: "Rosberg is fourth and you're pulling away very quickly for them. You need to stay with Fernando and Button, just to see if they make a mistake anywhere."

• 13:11 Lap 6

  Webber passes Schumacher for 8th position.

• 13:11 Lap 6

  Michael doesn't give it up easily, and they run side by side, but Webber keeps the position.

• 13:12 Lap 7

  Comment from Scott Woodwiss: JB does look like he's getting a better exit out of the corners thanks to the extra downforce.

• 13:12 Lap 7

  Tweet from @VirginRacing: Kov past Lucas :-(

  Awww.

• 13:13 Lap 8

  Keeping the helmet on.

• 13:15 Lap 9

  Team radio to Mark Webber: "Look after these tyres, Mark, it's going to be a longish stint."

• 13:18 Lap 10

  Battle For 1st

  Pos	Driver	Time
  1st	Button	--
  2nd	Alonso	+0.5
  3rd	Massa	+1.5

• 13:19 Lap 12

  There's a bit of a gap building with Rosberg in 4th leading a train of cars backwards. Or, as RG has coined, the Rosberg Roadworks.

• 13:20 Lap 12

  Tweet from @clubforce: Adrian is now closing in on Senna and the pack of cars ahead of him. Tonio looking good in P13.

• 13:21 Lap 12

  Sutil has now passed Senna, and it's believed he won't need to stop again - he's bolted on the hard tyres for the rest of the race.

• 13:21 Lap 12

  Liuzzi has also passed De la Rosa now for 12th place. So... disregard that last tweet. Eh-hem.

• 13:22 Lap 13

  Senna has stopped, pulled over to the side of the track - coming out of the second Lesmo.

• 13:23 Lap 14

  A new fastest lap from Button - Fastest lap for #.1:26.695

• 13:24 Lap 15

  Webber is closing up on Vettel for 7th now. I bet the Red Bull pit wall are pretty nervous right about now.

• 13:25 Lap 15

  Kobayashi walks back to the garage.

• 13:26 Lap 16

  Tweet from @EliGP: Webber engineer calculating how many cans of Red Bull they have to sell to collect $100,000

• 13:28 Lap 16

  Alguersuari pits and returns to the track. Blink and you'll miss it.

• 13:29 Lap 16

  De la Rosa pits.

• 13:29 Lap 19

  One to Watch

  Glock	vs.	Kovalainen
  18th	+0.6s	19th

• 13:30 Lap 19

  Rosberg has pulled out a bit of a gap, meaning the hold up is now with Kubica in 5th.

• 13:31 Lap 20

  Alguersuari given a drive through penalty for missing a chicane and gaining a place.

• 13:32 Lap 20

  Team radio to Rosberg: "Come on Nico, four critical laps."

  Expect a pit stop soon!

• 13:33 Lap 21

  Tweet from @autosportlive: Massa fluffs the first chicane, taking to the run-off. He's fallen a 2.7 seconds behind team-mate Alonso.

• 13:33 Lap 21

  Team radio from Vettel: "Problem with the engine. Seems like it's dying. The engine is dying on me."

• 13:33 Lap 21

  Webber has got past his teammate already. Vettel lost about two seconds on his last lap.

• 13:36 Lap 23

  Alguersuari has taken his drive through penalty now, rejoins in 19th place behind Kovalainen.

• 13:37 Lap 24

  Yamamoto has pitted from last place.

• 13:40 Lap 26

  Alonso has lost a little bit of time on Button as the pair of them navigate some backmarkers. They're still nice and close though.

• 13:41 Lap 27

  Replays show Hulkenberg cutting the chicane, he didn't gain or lose anything, but Webber is now a little further behind him.

• 13:42 Lap 28

  Team radio to Button: "Only one more backmarker to pit, you're doing a great job."

  Looks like all the cars are cleared now, they're likely to pit before reaching Sutil in 15th.

• 13:43 Lap 28

  Vettel is still going, his engine appears to be holding firm for now. The team orders speculation is rife already.

• 13:43 Lap 28

  On 5live, Karun Chandhok does not believe it was team orders, as Vettel sounded a bit too panicked over the radio.

• 13:44 Lap 29

  Tweet from @EliGP: An ambulance will enter the pitlane to assist an Hispania mechanic, apparently

• 13:45 Lap 29

  Comment from Alex Andronov: Martin didn't think it was orders either for the same reason. Eddie loves all of the conspiracy though

• 13:46 Lap 30

  Tweet from @tonyfernandes: i think car went over a pit guest. but guest looks like hes moving so heres hoping all alright.

• 13:48 Lap 31

  In the best possible hands.

• 13:48 Lap 32

  The pit lane was closed while the ambulance was there, but Race Control confirm it is now clear.

• 13:49 Lap 32

  Fastest lap from Massa - 1:25.670. Chandhok says Rob must have had a word.

• 13:49 Lap 33

  News on the HRT incident: The radio mechanic was changing some settings on Yamamoto's car, and the car moved away with him still there. The mechanics was conscious and moving.

• 13:50 Lap 33

  Comment from Alex Andronov: The soft tyres are lasting for ever, despite the very hot weather, Will Vettel's engine last, when he's going so fast? And Schumacher's not looking clever

  I'd forgotten our poetry challenge. Any more for any more?

• 13:52 Lap 34

  Tweet from @edb_lotusracing: I was timing the HRT stop & I've just seen the radio guy get run over. I so hope he's ok, it was a horrible thing to see.

• 13:52 Lap 34

  Really slow stop for Kubica, trouble on the front tyres. He returns to the track in 9th place.

• 13:53 Lap 34

  Strong running from Force India at the moment:

  Top Speed

  Sector 1	Liuzzi	337kph
  Sector 2	Sutil	335kph
  Sector 3	Liuzzi	312kph
  Speed Trap	Webber	345kph

• 13:55 Lap 36

  Interview with Hamilton: "I had a good start, I gained a position. In a realistic world I should have perhaps stayed there for a while. I tried to put my car up the inside and tried to get third at the second corner but it was too much and I lost position. Very disappointed in myself, sorry for the team. The championship battle is not over but mistakes like this and days like today, they're what loses you championships. I've only got myself to blame. You just have to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty."

• 13:55 Lap 36

  Button pits, Alonso stays out.

• 13:56 Lap 36

  Button has joined in third at the moment, out in front of Vettel.

• 13:56 Lap 37

  Hulkenberg had a brilliant stop, and manages to just hold off Kubica and Webber - really close racing there.

• 13:57 Lap 37

  Webber has passed Kubica, meanwhile Hulk cut a corner but remains in front.

• 13:57 Lap 37

  Alonso pits and rejoins in the lead. Button has lost the lead to the Ferrari.

• 13:58 Lap 38

  They are still incredibly close, but Alonso is holding position, even with a Yamamoto to pass.

• 13:59 Lap 39

  Massa pits and rejoins in third.

• 13:59 Lap 39

  It's good that the refuelling ban means there's no overtaking in the pit stops, huh?

• 14:00 Lap 40

  Team radio from Button: "Just wondering why we chose to pit before them?"

• 14:02 Lap 40

  Webber complains about Hulkenberg to his radio - outbraking himself, cutting corners, etc. They're going to let Charlie know.

• 14:04 Lap 43

  Comment from Alex Andronov, with news from Ted Kravitz: TED says Ferrari very happy in the pits Luca Badoer is there apparently! And They say this was their plan to go one lap later than whatever Jenson did.

• 14:06 Lap 44

  Team radio to Webber: "Hulkenberg will not let you through. Keep pushing."

• 14:09 Lap 46

  Retirements

  Driver	Reason	Lap
  Senna	Hydraulics	12
  Kobayashi	Gearbox	1
  Hamilton	Accident	1

• 14:09 Lap 46

  Webber sets a new fastest lap - 1:24.531.

• 14:10 Lap 46

  Backmarker watch - Alguersuari, Sutil, Glock, Kovalainen are one lap down, Di Grassi, Trulli and Yamamoto are two laps down.

• 14:10 Lap 46

  Comment from Steven Roy: Webber purple lap????????

• 14:11 Lap 46

  Crofty and Karun on 5live are similarly gobsmacked at the sudden pace of the Red Bull, and why they have waited this long to release it!

• 14:12 Lap 48

  Tweet from @alexjsnell: Is vettel ever going to pit? ;-) #F1

• 14:14 Lap 49

  Trulli hops out of his car - a smoking Lotus. And I don't mean good looking.

• 14:15 Lap 49

  Hulkenberg makes yet another mistake, and then cuts up Webber trying to correct his racing line. That looked decidedly dodgy.

• 14:15 Lap 49

  Webber went to make a pass on the Williams but Trulli's yellow flags stopped him.

• 14:15 Lap 49

  Now he has done it. Webber is 6th.

• 14:17 Lap 51

  Webber finally gets past The Hulk. I think Mark may have a new nemesis.

• 14:17 Lap 52

  Most Pitstops

  Driver	Visits
  Alguersuari	2
  Sutil	2

• 14:17 Lap 52

  And Vettel still hasn't come in. There are only two laps left. He'd better make the move soon.

• 14:18 Lap 52

  I was hoping to bring you a live standings update, but Vettel was smack dab in the middle messing it all up.

• 14:18 Lap 52

  He finally pits!

• 14:20 Lap 53

  Fernando Alonso wins the Italian Grand Prix.

• 14:20

  Button and Massa will join him on the podium. A good day for Ferrari.

• 14:22

  I would usually do this a few laps from the end, but Vettel might have ruined that too.

  Driver Positions

  1	Alonso	Ferrari
  2	Button	McLaren
  3	Massa	Ferrari
  4	Vettel	Red Bull
  5	Rosberg	Mercedes

• 14:23

  Here are the live standings, which are less live and more actual. Shh.

  Live Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Webber	187
  2	Hamilton	182
  3	Alonso	166
  4	Button	165
  5	Vettel	163

• 14:24

  Alonso secured pole position, took the fastest lap and the chequered flag this weekend. He didn't lead every single lap though. You can't have everything.

• 14:27

  Alonso makes his way to the podium.

• 14:28

  Brilliant track invasion.

• 14:33

  I've just noticed the live timing saying Di Grassi stopped on lap 50. I didn't see that happen. That makes it one retirement for each of the new teams this race.

• 14:34

  Your Monza podium - Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Felipe Massa. With a bit of Stefano Domenicali thrown in for free. You're welcome.

• 14:35

  That is the last European race for this season. The fancy motorhomes are gone, the cars will be shipped far overseas and it will by fly-away central until the end of the year.

• 14:35

  Ferrari have done pretty much all they could this weekend to a) please the home fans and b) keep themselves in the championship fight.

• 14:36

  Red Bull had some great strategy calls, making the best of what was a really terrible start for both drivers, and also what was a terrible Williams in front of Webber.

• 14:38

  Rosberg did really well today, finishing solidly in fifth, with his teammate way back in 9th. A good double points finish for Mercedes.

• 14:39

  The paddock will be moving on to Singapore, the night race, where time zones play a big part. Expect Alonso to do well (with a little help from his friends), and Red Bull will likely be back on form.

• 14:40

  Thank you for joining me today, stay tuned to Sidepodcast for full results, standings and thoughts coming soon. See you next time!