Alonso gifted third to stretched Championship lead
Lewis Hamilton - WinnerWinning at Monza is one of the greatest experiences of my Formula One career. I absolutely love this place: Ive been coming to Italy to race since I was 13 years-old and I just love the culture, the food and the people. Since I started in Formula One, Monza has been one of the races I always wanted to win at - its such an incredible, historic circuit and all the great racing drivers have won here. To finally put my name on that list makes me feel extremely proud, but also very humble. Our car has been fantastic all weekend, and it was nice to have a relaxed grand prix with no troubles. I was out on my own for most of the race and just tried to manage the gap behind me. I was cruising at the end, but, once I heard that Sergio Perez had got past Fernando Alonso, I had to push a little to keep the cushion over second place. The race was very unfortunate for Jenson - we were running first and second at the time and it would have been great for the team if we could have finished like that. This championship is proving to be so unpredictable - and Im so grateful that weve got a good car and that were in the fight. Weve got seven more races on the calendar. We should enjoy today, but this victory is just one step. Tomorrow, well start all over again, for Singapore.
Jenson Button - DNFI had too much wheelspin at the start, and that dropped me to third and caused me to lose a lot of time behind Felipe Massa. But it was nice to get past him, put some clear air between us, and then start chasing down Lewis. I was never going to challenge him for the win, but it would have been great for the team if we could have finished first and second. But it wasnt to be. I dont entirely know what caused my car to stop - Im told it was a fuel system problem that were still investigating. The engine cut out and I had to coast to a stop. These things happen. But, looking for the positives, I want to offer my congratulations to the whole team. Weve proven over the past few races that were very strong in both qualifying trim and race trim. That consistency is really key, and we havent seen that form from any team all season, so thats very encouraging indeed.
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principalLewis drove a perfect race here at Monza today, and duly took a well-deserved victory - his 20th grand prix win and McLarens 180th. In truth, he was in total control throughout all 53 laps, and was never really threatened. We should have scored a one-two finish, but Jenson was deprived of an easy second place by a fuel system problem. Thats frustrating for him and frustrating for us, but the important thing is that our car is a winner. Weve now won three Grands Prix in a row, and both our drivers are on top form. Lewis has now closed up to second place in the drivers world championship, with seven Grands Prix still to run. It was his third victory of the season, and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes fifth. The momentum is with us, and the drivers world championship crown is well within Lewiss grasp. In the constructors championship, too, were in good shape. Winning is what Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is all about. In Singapore in two weeks time, were planning to do some more of it.
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 2. Perez Sauber-Ferrari 3. Alonso Ferrari 4. Massa Ferrari5. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 6. Schumacher Mercedes 7. Rosberg Mercedes 8. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes 9. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 10 Senna Williams-Renault 11 Maldonado Williams-Renault 12 Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 13 d'Ambrosio Lotus-Renault 14 Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 15 Petrov Caterham-Renault 16 Pic Marussia-Cosworth 17 Glock Marussia-Cosworth 18 De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 19 Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 20 Webber Red Bull-Renault 21 Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 22 Vettel Red Bull-Renault
Not classified/
Button McLaren-Mercedes Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari
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World Championship standings afterround 13:
Drivers' Championship standings
1. Alonso 179 2. Hamilton 142 3. Raikkonen 141 4. Vettel 140 5. Webber 132 6. Button 101 7. Rosberg 83 8. Grosjean 76 9. Perez 6510 Massa 4711 Schumacher 4312 Kobayashi 3513 Di Resta 3214 Hulkenberg 3115 Maldonado 2916 Senna 2517 Vergne 818 Ricciardo 4
Constructors' Championship standings1. Red Bull-Renault 2722. McLaren-Mercedes 2433. Ferrari 2264. Lotus-Renault 2175. Mercedes 1266. Sauber-Ferrari 1007. Sahara Force India-Mercedes 638. Williams-Renault 549. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 12