Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Italian GP

Sebastian Vettel took an easy win for Red Bull in tonight’s Italian Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso couldn’t bring a home win for Ferrari but did the next best thing by finishing second. While Mark Webber departs his final European-based F1 race from the third step on the podium.

Both Red Bull drivers got off the front row of the grid well and for a moment it looked like Webber might challenge Vettel for the lead into the first corner. But while the Red Bulls ahead scrapped the Ferraris pounced and Felipe Massa took third place while Alonso was on Webber’s tail.

Alonso eventually got past Webber with a typically courageous move and Massa was soon brushed aside. The race then settled into an otherwise lifeless rhythm.

Webber got past Massa in the pit stop sequence and with the preferred strategy being a one stopper that was pretty much it as far as seeing any excitement at the head of the field.

There were some concerns from the Red Bull pit wall with both drivers asked to short shift to look after their gearboxes and the field did close up towards the end, but there were no serious threats to Vettel or the two men behind him.

Felipe Massa held on to fourth place and Nico Hulkenberg and Sauber will be overjoyed with his fifth place. Nico Rosberg salvaged some pride for Mercedes AMG in sixth and Daniel Ricciardo was seventh and the sole Toro Rosso finisher after Jean-Eric Vergne suffered engine problems.

So, another easy win for Vettel. He joins Alonso on 32 grand prix wins and looks to be on an unstoppable charge to his fourth world championship.

2013 Italian Grand Prix final placings

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – 53 Laps (25 pts)
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – +5.4 secs (18 pts)
3. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing – +6.3 secs (15 pts)
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari – +9.3 secs (12 pts)
5. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber – +10.3 secs (10 pts)
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – +10.9 secs (8 pts)
7. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso – +32.3 secs (6 pts)
8. Romain Grosjean Lotus – +33.1 secs (4 pts)
9. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – +33.5 secs (2 pts)
10. Jenson Button McLaren – +38.3 secs (1 pt)
11. Kimi Räikkönen Lotus – +38.6 secs
12. Sergio Perez McLaren – +39.7 secs
13. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – +40.8 secs
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams – +49.0 secs
15. Valtteri Bottas Williams – +56.8 secs
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

Retired/Not classified
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – +39 Laps
Paul di Resta Force India – +53 Laps Accident

2013 F1 world championship – Drivers (top 10)

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – 222
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – 169
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 141
4. Kimi Räikkönen Lotus – 134
5. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing – 130
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – 104
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari – 79
8. Romain Grosjean Lotus – 57
9. Jenson Button McLaren – 48
10. Paul di Resta Force India – 36

2013 F1 world championship – Constructors

1. Red Bull Racing-Renault – 352
2. Ferrari – 248
3. Mercedes – 245
4. Lotus-Renault – 191
5. McLaren-Mercedes – 66
6. Force India-Mercedes – 61
7. STR-Ferrari – 31
8. Sauber-Ferrari – 17
9. Williams-Renault – 1