Alonso couldn't have asked for a better Grand Prix victory than his win today at the 2010 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton retired on lap 1 after his front suspension suffered from impact with Felipe Massa in the initial corners of the first lap.
Starting from pole Alonso failed to retain his lead and Jenson Button who had a better start leaped ahead into the lead. Alonso however maintained a close distance to Button before the first round of pit stops. The front runners were on the option tyres but were able to run more than half distance on those tyres.
With Lewis Hamilton out of the race the running order was Alonso, Button, Massa, Rosberg, Kubica, Hulkenberg and Vettel. Mark Webber failed to get a good start and dropped to 9th behind Michael Schumacher on lap 1. Schumacher however failed to retain his postion and soon Webber overtook Schumacher for eighth on lap 7.
On lap 22, Sebastian Vettel dropped back to eighth after reporting problems with his engine. Vettel however was able to maintain a good distance to Schumacher.
The pit lane closed momentarily around lap 30 after one of the HRT mechanics was reportedly hurt during Sakon Yamamoto's pit stop. The pit lanes were open again around on lap 31 just about time for the leaders to take their first pit stops.
Button takes his stop for the harder tyres on lap 37. The Ferrari pit were alert to the change and immediately pit Alonso on lap 38. A super pit stop by the Ferrari team coupled with a hot inlap by Alonso ensured that the double world champion jumped to the lead after his pit stop, but only by a small margin. Button tried to overtake Alonso around the outside, but Alonso had the inside line and was able to maintain his lead. That was the only opportunity for Button to retake his lead. Alonso set a series of fastest laps after that and soon was 3 seconds ahead of Button.
Vettel had started the race on the prime tyres and only pitted on the penultimate lap. By then he had built enough of a lead over Rosberg and finished ahead of Rosberg and Webber in 4th. Rosberg completed a good day for Mercedes in 5th with Schumacher in 9th. Webber who finished in 6th will see the race as damage limitation, in a race where the Red Bulls haven't been strong.
With two laps remaining Alonso had a scary moment at turn 1 after he ran over the first chicane. Button however was too far behind to take any advantage. Massa finished on in third completing a great weekend for Ferrari.
With his win at Monza, Alonso is definitely back in the championship. Mark Webber now leads the championship with 187 points. Hamilton drops back to second with 182 points. Importantly Alonso is now third in the championship with 166 points, 21 points behind Webber.
