And that’s all from me in what was a very pleasing Italian GP, which is how it should be. Thank you all for your company. Before I go, here’s Giles Richards’ report from Monza.
A pretty unhappy Sebastian Vettel has been speaking, not blaming as such (well, he is, but obviously doesn’t want to say so) but certainly pointing towards that incident when he spun out on the first lap after a slight coming together with Hamilton.
He said: “I tried to pass Kimi and then he opened the brakes, so I got out of it. Lewis saw something on the outside but he didn’t leave me enough space and unfortunately I was the one who spun out, which was ironic. But from there we drove well and got some points.
“It doesn’t help when you lose points but it’s not the end of the world. We’re down, mostly for the people, but we’ll still wake up tomorrow morning. But what can you do if you get spun round? It was entertaining but not very satisfying.
“The points sound a lot but if you have the pace, it’s not so much.”
World championship standings
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 256pts
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 226
3. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/ Ferrari) 164
4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 159
5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 130
6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 118
7. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 52
8. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 49
9. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 44
10. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) 44
11. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 43
12. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 35
13. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Renault) 32
14. Pierre Gasly (FRA/ Toro Rosso) 28
15. Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber-Ferrari) 13
16. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 8
17. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/ Sauber-Ferrari) 6
18. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 5
Race result
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 16mins 54.484secs
2. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:17:03.189
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:17:08.550
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari 1:17:10.635
5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:17:12.692
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:17:50.804
7. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1:17:52.245
8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 1:17:53.162
9. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Renault) 1:18:12.624
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams at 1 Lap
11. Sergey Sirotkin (RUS/ Williams) at 1 Lap
12. Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber-Ferrari) at 1 Lap
13. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) at 1 Lap
14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) at 1 Lap
15. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso) at 1 Lap
16. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber-Ferrari) at 1 Lap
17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) at 1 Lap
Not Classified: 18. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 23 Laps completed, 19. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) 9 Laps completed, 20. Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro Rosso) 0 Laps completed
Updated
And here’s Felipe Massa to whip that crowd up a bit more. Muttering sweet nothings into the mic in Italian. More boos as he speaks to the drivers.
Hamilton: “Today was so difficult. We’ve got a great crowd here (sic), always. The negativity isn’t great but I accept the challenge they send but it’s the British flags that inspire me and the team. It’s such an honour to win here in front of such a crowd.”
Räikkönen: “We had the speed but the tyre went. It’s hard to take but we tried and we had great support. Thank you but sorry for not winning.”
Hamilton raises the trophy and those boos are pretty loud. Which is novel and that but is all a little bit silly as well. Räikkönen gets a huge reception despite what must feel a real missed opportunity.
The drivers are out on the podium. Bottas is booed, Räikkönen is cheered (one banner reads ‘Kimi for President’) and Hamilton’s welcome is mixed, at best, with a smattering of cheers. There is lots of red smoke.
Some quick driver reaction
Hamilton: “Firstly I want to give it up to Ferrari who put up a good challenge. Secondly, I want to give a huge shout to these guys (points at team) and everyone back home.
“There was a lot of negativity here, as it is when you’re racing Ferrari, but I could see a lit of British flags around the track, they know who they are, and they inspired me so in the end the negativity is all good.”
Bottas: “I was really trying to do all I can to get to the podium. I had to hold up Kimi for a while but after that it was all about the podium. As a team, we take this result, we got more points than Ferrari at their home.”
Räikkönen: “I think it was quick enough but unfortunately our rear tyres went and it was a losing battle from that point. It was far from ideal. Sure we try but the rear tyre gave up before the race ended.”
Räikkönen does secure his 100th career podium but admits over the radio he’s disappointed and then mumbles something about the tyres.
The Mercedes reaction: “Get in there Lewis. You are the man. You. Are. The. Man. You knocked that out the park today, mate. Knocked it right out of the park.”
Hamilton’s reply: “I can hear how happy you guys are, and thank you for your support and continuing to believe in me. I really appreciate it.”
Lewis Hamilton wins the Italian Grand Prix
After all the optimism surrounding the Ferraris, it proved a miserable day for the Prancing Horse. Vettel’s early spin left him playing catch-up and Räikkönen found himself trapped behind Bottas for far too long in the mid-point of the race. The Finn’s tyre management was also questionable and Hamilton bided his time before making the crucial pass. Hamilton extends his lead by 32 points and it’ll take some comeback from Vettel to catch him now.
Lap 52/53: Reminder that Hamilton is about to join Michael Schumacher on five Italian GP wins. No driver has more.
Lap 50/53: Hamilton now seven seconds ahead. Vettel needs to gain a second to claim 4th due to Verstappen’s penalty but, as it stands, he’s just outside.
Lap 48/53: Five laps to go and Hamilton is more than five seconds ahead. Vettel also doesn’t look like he can catch Bottas, either.
Lap 47/53: That championship lead then will be a healthy 32 points. Reports that some of the tifosi are leaving after that pass by Hamilton. “We can see you sneaking out” etc. Fair to say Verstappen is not happy with his penalty, “they’re doing a great job killing racing. I gave him space!”
Lap 46/53: Hamilton is flying. In just a lap it’s up to 3.5secs. Can the Ferrari fight back?
Lap 45/53: And Hamilton takes Räikkönen going into the first chicane! The Finn just didn’t have the power. Hamilton got the outside line and then quickly ducked inside. It’s his race to lose now and Räikkönen’s tyres are looking a state. Elsewhere, Verstappen has a five second time penalty for that Bottas incident, which brings into play Vettel.
Lap 43/53: That is a stinker from Bottas who locked up going into the first chicane as he tried to overtake Verstappen and was forced off the track. He recovers but replays showed the Dutchman clipped him while trying to defend his line. One for the stewards.
Lap 42/53: Bottas has a go at Verstappen into the first chicane but some nice defensive work by the Dutchman keeps him at bay. Räikkönen and Hamilton are 0.59secs apart.
Lap 41/53: Räikkönen is getting through the laps, keeping Hamilton at arm’s length, but the Finn’s tyres are a bit of a state and the Mercedes driver’s are eight laps younger.
Lap 39/53: Vettel on the inside of Perez to move into 5th. He’s 13secs down on Bottas. The top 10:
1. Räikkönen
2. Hamilton
3. Verstappen
4. Bottas
5. Vettel
6. Perez
7. Sainz
8. Grosjean
9. Ocon
10. Hulkenburg
Lap 38/53: As it stands, Hamilton will have a 29 point advantage over Vettel. He’s only 0.9secs back on Räikkönen, though, so may want more.
Lap 37/53: There is concern over Hamilton and Räikkönen’s tyres. Interesting how long they can stay out on them.
Lap 36/53: Applause all-round for Bottas who finally pits and Räikkönen re-assumes the lead, 0.8secs ahead of Hamilton. Bottas rejoins in fourth.
Lap 36/53: Through the first chicane and it’s as you were regarding the top three. Vettel is 7th and 3.5sec behind Perez in 6th.
Lap 34/53: The top three were separated by 1.1sec as they passed through the start of the lap. There’s as much chance of Hamilton taking Räikkönen as there is the Finn going past Bottas. It’s very tasty.
Lap 33/53: Räikkönen can’t get close enough to Bottas who is doing some fine MOR driving here. “You’re doing a really good job, Valtteri. Kimi has blistered his left rear,” says the team radio. Bottas still not pitting.
Lap 31/53: Vettel down in 8th now. You get the impression, a podium is the best he can hope for now. Just needs to get as close as possible to Hamilton as possible. Bottas, meanwhile, is still out there, performing admirably for his team. He’s just completed his personal fastest lap of the race.
Lap 30/53: Vettel is back in again. Räikkönen is just over a second down on Bottas.
Lap 29/53: Hamilton pits, 2.4 seconds change, and he comes out in third, 1.5secs down on the Finn. Bottas now in front.
Lap 28/53: Räikkönen is just under three seconds behind Bottas in second who’s going to have to flog his tyres and keep a buffer on Hamilton. “Keep Kimi behind you,” is as clear an instruction as you’re going to get.
Lap 26/53: Hamilton has smashed the lap times to try and gain a significant enough advantage over Räikkönen but it doesn’t seem quite enough... just yet. Verstappen pits.
Lap 24/53: Räikkönen, who sets a new fastest lap, stating there’s rain on the circuit. He’s 21 seconds behind Hamilton. Vettel goes past Ocon to take fifth place. This Hamilton pit stop is going to be huge. Elsewhere, Ricciardo has smoke pouring out the back and has to retire.
Lap 23/53: The gap between Hamilton and Räikkönen is just over 20 seconds. “One more lap, Lewis. Come on. Let’s have it,” comes from the garage.
Lap 22/53: Hamilton sets a new fastest lap and is being told to stay out... for now.
Lap 21/53: Räikkönen pits so Hamilton takes the lead with Verstappen assuming second and Bottas third. “It’s hammer time, Lewis,” is the call from the Mercedes garage.
Updated
Lap 20/53: Vettel powers past Sainz and is up into seventh. He has Ocon 1.1sec ahead and will be approaching the top five soon enough.
Lap 19/53: “He was nowhere near a pass there, Max,” claims the Red Bull engineer to Verstappen, who had to cut the corner after both cars locked up.
Lap 18/53: Vettel goes past Perez, after failed attempt the previous lap and now has eighth. Hamilton’s tyres, “are good” so chance for him pitting yet. Bottas makes a move of Verstappen but the Dutchman gets away.
Lap 16/53: Räikkönen to Hamilton remains around a second, Verstappen a further six seconds back. Vettel has just swept past Sirotkin and Stroll and into ninth.
Updated
Lap 15/53: Vettel claiming over the radio, “still a bit of damage. Balance is off.”
Lap 14/53: Not much change in the top 10 so here’s a quick update:
1. Räikkönen
2. Hamilton
3. Verstappen
4. Bottas
5. Grosjean
6. Ocon
7. Sainz
8. Stroll
9. Perez
10. Sirotkin
Lap 11/53: Vettel up to 11th. Meanwhile, Gasly and Ricciardo are having a bit of ding-dong behind the German, their cars touching into the chicane for a second time. Gasly, of course, taking the Australian’s seat at Red Bull next season.
Lap 10/53: Räikkönen and Hamilton are as you were. Max Verstappen is 4.4sec down on Hamilton and Bottas, in fourth, a further 1.3sec. And, unfortunately, Fernando Alonso is out. It’s a technical issue and everyone on the radio sounds very sad about it.
Lap 9/53: Vettel up to 14th after nipping past Ricciardo just before turn 2.
Lap 7/53: Räikkönen has a 0.923sec lead over Hamilton, although the Mercedes driver is the fastest man on the track at the moment.
Lap 5/53: That little exchange showcased the power of the Ferrari over the Mercedes. Vettel is up a place into 16th. Long, long way to go, but he’s has his pitstop and could stay on these tyres until the end. Ricciardo is also on the move and is up to 15th. The stewards have also ruled no further action over the incident between Hamilton and Vettel that led to the German’s spin.
Lap 4/53: Wowser, Hamilton does Räikkönen all over, accelerating away, but then the Finn bites back gets a slipstream down the straight and powers through the chicane to re-take the lead. The crowd is going quite a bit wild.
Lap 2/53: Correction, it was Stoffel Vandoorne who clipped Hartley at the start. Either way, he’s out. Safety car has ended and they’re racing again.
Lap 1/53: Räikkönen locked up going into the first corner and has had to pit and is now on softs. Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley is out of the race. I think he tangled with Ericsson at the start.
Lights out!
Early drama! Plenty of bobbing and weaving but the front three remain in formation. However, two corners later Vettel clips Hamilton and spins his back to 17th. The safety car is out for the first time since 2011. My word.
The cars are out for the formation lap. That rain is staying away for now. The top 10 are all on supersofts. Hamilton has just had word over the radio that there’s, “nothing on the radar” in terms of rain.
Fernando Alonso was Ferrari’s last winner at Monza in 2010. Given it’s his last time competing here, he’s been a popular man at the track, to everyone except Kevin Magnussen that is.
He said: “The response from the tifosi has been amazing. I’m ready to enjoy this grand prix, it’s quite special. Points are the main target but we are maybe not so super-competitive.”
Nico Rosberg on Mercedes’ tactics: “They have to try and split the Ferraris at the start but it’s difficult because Lewis is on the back foot and it’s a very tight track down there.
“I know that Mercedes have been practising their starts, working on their clutches to try and close that gap.”
Toto Wolff then pops up to add: “Ferrari have the quicker package at the moment so the start is the best opportunity (to catch them).”
Your 15-minute warning. The drivers are standing and ‘Il Canto degli Italiani’, the Italian national anthem, is being played in a kind of weird, 80s elevator-style. Needless, I tell you. Just play the tune as it is.
Probably a good idea to give you the top 10 of the championship standings
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 231
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 214
3. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 146
4. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 144
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 120
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 118
7. Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) 52
8. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 48
9. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) 44
10. Sergio Perez (Force India) 40
Here’s a moment befitting of such an emotionally-charged and passionate GP, as Räikkönen secures pole...
Is this the most Kimi reaction ever? 😂#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/btCiUIOGeI
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2018
Nico Rosberg is trackside and predicting no team orders from Ferrari.
Regarding the weather, which could have a big part to play given how fast Monza is. Rain is forecast and there are supposedly “spots in the air” but, as it stands, it’s dry. The people at Accuweather are telling me rain is due within the next hour, with clouds drifting in from the north east.
Interesting little milestone Räikkönen is chasing, via F1’s Twitter account, with the Finn on 99 career podiums.
155 – Michael Schumacher
127 – Lewis Hamilton
107 – Sebastian Vettel
106 – Alain Prost
99 – Kimi Räikkönen
Kind of feel this needs to be posted, given Jacques’ presence at the race today. The Canadian actually had a pretty poor record in Italy; he never secured a podium with his best finish a 5th place in 1997. Anyway, enjoy...
As a means of catching up on the qualifying action from yesterday, here’s Giles Richards’ report
Plus that aforementioned needle between Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso
Celeb spot 3: It’s 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, dressed like a man who once recorded an album of earnest, soft-country rock...
Celeb spot 2: PSG also played yesterday, allowing Dani Alves to make the trip. The Brazilian is always a man for a strong jacket.
Celeb spot 1: Sergio Agüero got away quickly after Manchester City’s 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle.
Here is that grid, plus Kimi arriving at Monza
1. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
4. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
7. Carlos Sainz (Renault)
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India)
9. Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
10. Lance Stroll (Williams)
11. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
12. Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
13. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
14. Sergio Perez (Force India)
15. Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
16. Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
17. Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
18. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
19. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
20. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Preamble
Good afternoon everybody. It’s been five years since Kimi Räikkönen last won a F1 race and it’s been eight since the tifosi were able to celebrate a Ferrari triumph at Monza. There’s a good chance at least one of those droughts will come to an end today after the Finn surprised everyone, including teammate Sebastian Vettel, to take pole with the fastest lap in F1 history; his 1min 19.119sec, with an average speed of 163.78 mph, exceeding Juan Pablo Montoya’s previous best set in 2004. At 38, Räikkönen is the oldest to start at the front of the grid since Nigel Mansell in 1994 and with 14 of the last 18 Italian GP winners coming from pole, he has an excellent chance of winning for the first time since Australia in 2013 – that’s 108 races ago, folks.
Not everybody is entirely happy about it... well, by everybody we essentially mean Vettel who was chippy on the team radio, after he thought he had been fastest, and then chippier in the post-qualifying press conference. The question, of course, now is, do Ferrari allow Räikkönen to race for the win? It would be a brilliant story, in what could be his last season for the Prancing Horse but Vettel is 17 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the championship standings and with a Ferrari one-two on the grid has a prime opportunity to eat into that further. We shall see.
As for Hamilton, he has quite a bit to do to keep pace with the Ferraris as Mercedes have looked a little off the pace so far this weekend and if he could split them early on, it would certainly help. The world champion is chasing a bit of history himself today as a win would be his fifth at the Italian GP, putting him level with Michael Schumacher at the top of the all-time list. Given the less-than-hospitable welcome he’s received so far, and what that would also mean in the wider context of the title race, it probably won’t go down too well. To put it mildly. Which is, no doubt, exactly what Hamilton, who can be a bit of a wind-up merchant, would love.
A few other subplots to look out for: Daniel Ricciardo is always a fun driver and should be extra fun as he starts from the back of the grid; Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari’s last winner at Monza) haven’t been the best of pals and start just two places apart; youngsters Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll find themselves in the top 10 and it’ll be interesting to see how they fare. Lights out at 14:10. Should be a good’un.
Updated
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