?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.
Poor show by Force India
Paul di Resta retired in the first lap for the first time in his F1 career and Adrian Sutil finished 16th as Sahara Force India returned without points for the fourth time in the season, on Sunday.
The result meant Force India remained on 61 points in the sixth place and McLaren, courtesy their one point from the race, have marginally increased their lead over the Indian side to five in the constructors’ championship.
The second half of the season has been quite tough for Force India as it is third time in the last four races that they have returned without points. Di Resta locked up his front left tyre in the first corner and hit the Lotus of Romain Grosjean from the back.
A lot happened in corner one of the opening lap as Kimi Raikkonen also hit Sergio Perez, which forced the McLaren to cut the corner. Raikkonen headed into the pits to change the front wing and consequently pushed back to last place, 21st.
‘Shame about losing Paul so early in the race. Some contact at the second chicane for him,’ Force India stated on twitter. Sutil moved to 13th from 17th on the grid but had a daunting task of passing Grosjean, Hamilton and Jenson Button to enter the top-10.