Singapore Grand Prix – Race
The Italian Grand Prix was yet another Vettel victory – he has the Drivers’ Championship virtually wrapped up.
Grid: SV, MW, JB, LH, FA, FM, NR, MS, AS, PD, SP, RB, PM, SB, BS, JA, KK, VP HK, JT, TG, JD, DR, VL*
*VL had a 5 grid-spot penalty
Everyone at the front is starting on the super-soft (red band) option tyre except PD, who’s starting on the soft (yellow) prime compound.
SV leads everyone away on the formation lap, under the intense lights for this night race
Long wait for the tailenders to take their grid slots
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Italian Grand Prix – Race
No penalties have been announced since Qualifying, so the provisional grid remains: SV, LH, JB, FA, MW, FM, VP, MS, NR, BS, PD, AS, RB, PM, SP, SB, KK, JA, JT, HK, TG, JD, DR, VL.
In not-so-silly season news, Red Bull have extended their contract with engine supplier Renault for a further five years [BBC], McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh says Jenson Button will definitely be their driver next year [BBC] (the only sticking point seems to be how long that contract will be), Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo says the team’s failure to challenge for the title will not cost Stefano Domenicali his job as team boss [BBC] and Jarno Trulli will drive for Team Lotus in 2012 after the team extended the Italian’s contract [BBC].
In other news, Robert Kubica plans return to driving in October [BBC], which is great news.
Meanwhile, back at Monza… NR is starting on the prime (medium compound) tyre whereas everyone ahead of him will be on the option (soft) compound. Red Bull have geared SV’s car “so that he will be competitive on a heavy fuel load” says team boss Christian Horner; this means he’ll hit his top speed sooner, but it’s a lower top speed than his competitors (about 20km/h slower on the main straight). And don’t forget that MW is the only front-runner not to take a new engine for this race.
Air temperature 29°C; track 41°C; wind 1.8m/s; humidity 48%
BBC report that NR has had to take a different set of prime tyres because the ones he qualified on are blistered.
SV leads everyone away on the formation lap
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Italian Grand Prix – Qualifying
After another Red Bull 1-2 in Belgium, they’re expected to have more competition at the low-downforce Monza circuit.
Pirelli have provided the medium (white band) and soft (yellow) compounds. The teams (mostly Red Bull) have been warned not to exceed Pirelli’s recommendations for camber (the amount to which the wheels lean) and could be excluded on safety grounds.
Air temperature 29°C; track 43°C; wind 2.0m/s; humidity 49%
Qualifying session 1
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