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 yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix. PHOTO: AFP
The triple world champion, who celebrated his 32nd career win and third at Monza, led from pole position with the possibility of rain – which never came – looking more of a threat than his rivals.
Red Bull team chief Christian Horner praised the winner: “Fantastic Seb, you’ve won the Italian Grand Prix again,” he said. “Brilliant drive.”
Vettel replied with his characteristic scream and then added: “Very good boys, very good race. Sorry for the lock up into the first corner, made the first stint a bit tricky.”
Alonso finished runner-up – 5.4 seconds behind – with Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who is leaving Formula One at the end of the season, taking third place in his final grand prix on European soil to deny Ferrari’s Felipe Massa a place on the podium.
Vettel now has 222 points to Alonso’s 169, with Lewis Hamilton – last year’s Italian Grand Prix winner who finished ninth for Mercedes at the fastest circuit on the calendar – on 141 with seven races remaining.
“Fantastic race,” said Vettel to boos and whistles from the massed ranks of Ferrari faithful who flooded the pit straight with their red flags and shirts.
“But you can hear the difference when you don’t win here in a red suit,” added the German, who had to manage a tyre problem in his first stint and mechanical worries in the closing laps.
“We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion and it was a fantastic win.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2013.
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