Italy   07-09 Sep 2012
Gran Premio Santander d'Italia
Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy Event Description: Race Distance: 53 laps, 306.720 km

As one of the three circuits on the schedule that were also on the schedule back in 1950's first F1 championship, Monza is one of the quintessential F1 tracks. Built in 1922 it featured an incredible oval and a high-speed road course. Today the oval is unused, and the road course has been drastically slowed with chicanes for safety, but remains the fastest track on the Formula 1 schedule. Long straights result in special low-drag bodywork for the race, giving the cars the top speed needed for low lap times, but also means low grip in the corners that test the drivers' skill.

In 2011, Alonso leaped to the lead at the start, but was later passed by Vettel on the outside of Curva Grande in perhaps the season's most amazing pass. Vettel held on for the win, Button grabbed 2nd, Alonso slipped to finish 3rd. Qualifying Summary: McLaren sets the front row with their low downforce specials at Monza. Massa sets the 3rd fastest time in front of the Tifosi, while teammate Alonzo, who had easily the fastest car all weekend in practice, qualifies only 10th due to a broken swaybar in Q3.

The top 10 in Italy:
HAM BUT MAS DIR* MSC VET ROS RAI KOB ALO
*5 spot gearbox penalty Race Summary: Hamilton takes Monza by the scruff of its neck and wins in dominating fashion. Using excellent tire strategy, Perez nabs 2nd, coming all the way from 12th on a 1-stop schedule.

To the delight of the Ferrari fans, Alonso is able to make up 7 spots and grab the last spot on the podium, with teammate Massa right behind in 4th.

While Alonso didn't win, his closest championship competitors did not better, with Vettel, Webber and Button all failing to finish. Driver Classification for Round 13: Fantasy Results: Event Media: