Two things we know about F1 from reading the newspapers: Red Bull cars aren’t very good at Monza and Sebastian Vettel can’t overtake for toffee. At least that was the story before the weekend when Seb ambled to his second Italian Grand Prix victory after a brave (some would say marginal) overtaking move on the famous shrinking violet Fernando Alonso. This - and a couple of other things - are making the news today…
It was been pointed out that, while not the toughest victory of the year for the World Champion, Vettel looked emotionally exhausted on the magnificent podium in Monza and may even have shed the odd tear…
The Independent
Meanwhile Mark Webber’s DNF (his and Red Bull’s first of the season) saw finally extinguished Mark Webber’s hopes of mounting a challenge. Mark’s typically blunt comment was “It’s all over now, isn’t it?”
Sydney Morning Herald
Seb’s win puts him within touching distance of back-to-back world championships, a feat he can achieve in Singapore, albeit only in very unlikely circumstances. Meanwhile Red Bull remain on course to clinch a second successive Constructors’ title, as the team and Vettel climbed higher in the all-time list – though perhaps the most remarkable statistic from Monza was that the top five places were all filled by F1 World Champions.
F1Fanatic
Despite the championships being all but done, McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh claimed his team is determined to continue pushing until the end of the year, rather than concentrate on 2012. With his usual honesty (something of a rarity in the F1 paddock) and humour Whitmarsh conceded the desire to finish this season on a high was a matter of ‘personal weakness’.
The Guardian
A footnote to the Italian Grand Prix was the FIA’s decision to oblige Pirelli and set maximum camber limits for wheel orientation. They weren’t able to introduce a new rule, so decided anyone going beyond the Italian tyre manufacturer’s recommendations would be guilty of knowingly using a ‘dangerous construction’. The new not-quite regulation was expected to affect Red Bull the most, given the extreme camber they used in Spa.
GrandPrix.com – And check out Mark Webber’s novel use for Pirellis here
Royalty was present at Monza as Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo bestrode the paddock. Di Montezemolo, who may or may not be a future Italian Prime Minister, reiterated his idea of top teams being able to field three or more cars as they did in the good old days. He also bemoaned F1’s lack of on-track testing and reliance on aerodynamic simulation.
Pitpass
Michael Schumacher’s tussle with Lewis Hamilton made for great viewing, though plenty of people thought the seven-times world champion was stretching the ‘one-move-only’ defensive driving rule. McLaren raised the issue with race control, though stopped short of outright criticism after the event.
Crash.net
Jenson Button only took a couple of corners to size-up and pass Schumacher. It puts the 2009 Champion nine points ahead of the 2008 Champion with six races to run, and while both McLaren drivers are at pains to say it doesn’t matter, any racing driver who says he isn’t bothered if his team-mate beats him is not be taken seriously. There is a growing consensus that the fight between the two McLarens might be well worth watching in races to come.
The Daily Telegraph
Blame for the carambolage which caused first lap chaos at the Rettifilo chicance has been officially apportioned to Tonio Liuzzi, who will face a five-place penalty on the grid in Singapore, though the Italian driver suggests his spin was not self-induced and blames a certain Finn spotted in the immediate vicinity…
PlanetF1.com
In other news, the long-running saga of naming rights and the battle between Team Lotus-Renault and Lotus-Renault seems to be coming to an end. Green Lotus look all set to rebrand themselves as the catchy Team Air Asia Caterham-Renault in the near future.
Autosport
Another rumour surrounding Green Lotus was the chance of Karun Chandhok getting at drive at the Indian Grand Prix. With Narain Karthikeyan expected to start for HRT, there is a certain amount of logic in the idea that Karun, who drove for Lotus at the Nürburgring, might get another go at his home race.
BBC.co.uk
And while most teams are looking to the very green Buddh International Circuit, a couple are paying very close attention to one of a considerably older vintage. With Silverstone being redeveloped at least two F1 outfits have expressed an interest in setting up shop within its new enterprise zone.
SpeedTv.com
Looking even further ahead, there are those doubting F1’s sanity in choosing to return to America and race on the same day as the finale of NASCAR. Within the F1 paddock it’s been hailed as a sensible move designed to ensure a larger-than-otherwise TV audience, who may watch F1 as the hors d’oeuvre for their stock car entrée. Elsewhere, including from the pen of our very own North American racing correspondent Jeff Pappone, the fact it will also certainly mean an empty press room, no newspaper coverage in the States, and probably fewer bums on seats, is seen as a bit of a problem…
– The Globe and Mail
Meanwhile the word on the street is that the authorities in Singapore, while enthusiastic about the success of their Grand Prix, are getting it in the neck from their constituents, some of whom are unhappy about the disruption (which is considerable) to their city when F1 comes to town and large swathes of the city centre are fenced off. The solution? Possibly a purpose built racing circuit…
– Joe Saward's Blog
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