Sebastian Vettel extended his lead in the drivers’ world championship to more than 50 points when he drove to a polished victory for Red Bull in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old German, series leader and defending triple world champion, survived a torrid start and gearbox problems as he dominated an intriguing 53-laps race, the last of the European part of the Formula One season.
Vettel came home 5.4 seconds clear of Fernando Alonso, as the Ferrari driver thrilled the tifosi with a battling chase in pursuit ahead of third-placed Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and Brazilian Felipe Massa, fourth in the second Ferrari.
On a warm, if overcast, afternoon, Vettel proved both his sublime talent and his fighting spirit — as both Red Bull men were told to nurse their cars home — to reel off his sixth win of the season and the 32nd of his career. It was his third win at Monza and helped Red Bull end a run of poor results at the circuit.
His brilliance, however, was matched by that of Briton Lewis Hamilton, who started 12th, lost the use of his team radio and suffered a slow puncture, as he fought back twice to finish ninth. “A nightmare weekend,” Hamilton said before conceding that he felt it was virtually impossible for him now to fight for the title.
Force india’s
Di Resta crashes out
Paul di Resta retired on the first lap for the first time in his career and Adrian Sutil finished 16th as Sahara Force India returned without points for the fourth time in the season.
Force India remained on 61 points in the sixth place.
Di Resta locked up his front left tyre in the first corner and hit the Lotus of Romain Grosjean from the back.