Here are some key quotes from the drivers at last weekend’s F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Sebastian Vettel took pole position from the two McLarens by a huge margin on Saturday.
“I think we have been working hard knowing that this is usually not our best circuit. We can be very happy and I felt I got everything out of the car today.”
Sebastian Vettel
“It is a long race tomorrow. The target is to finish. I am sure if we are in the race then we will be able to finish quite high.”
Lewis Hamilton – McLaren
“I don’t think Red Bull and Seb are going to have it all their own way, which is exactly what everyone wants, so it should be a fun race.”
Jenson Button – McLaren
Mark Webber, down in fifth and behind the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, admitted a poor tactical choice cost him a shot at a front row start.
“I could have done a better job in preparing what kind of run plan we were going to do in Q3. I was too much in doubt whether to do one run or two runs. In the end two runs was the thing to do. I fucked up.”
Mark Webber
The leaders got away cleanly but, thanks to the Magic of Monza, Fernando Alonso bolted from fourth to take the lead, ahead of Vettel, Hamilton and a charging Michael Schumacher.
“The start was really a magical moment, like in Barcelona. It was close with Lewis. At the first moment he was concentrating on Sebastian moving to the left and then when he saw me on the right he put me close to the pit-lane exit and a little bit on the grass but in turn one it was not a problem.”
Fernando Alonso – Ferrari
“The start wasn’t ideal. I don’t know where Fernando came from and it took me a while to understand it was three cars going side-by-side down to turn one.”
Sebastian Vettel
Behind them a mass pile-up took place as Vitantonio Liuzzi, from last on the grid, got nudged off onto the grass and scythed sideways through the chicane, taking out half the midfield, and causing chaos that fetched out the safety car.
"I had a good start getting past both Virgins, Lotuses and Daniel [Ricciardo] but then I went for another overtaking manoeuvre and got closed out. That put me into the grass and once I was there I tried to slow down but completely lost control of the car and unfortunately hit other cars. I am really sorry for Petrov, Rosberg and the other drivers who were forced to retire because of this."
Tonio Liuzzi – HRT
At the restart, Vettel bravely drove around the outside of Alonso on the Curva Grande. Any suggestion that Vettel can’t overtake was shattered along with Alonso’s slim hopes of another Monza victory.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it on TV, how much space there actually was. I know that Fernando is an animal so he will brake as late as he can. There wasn’t much space. I had two wheels on the grass. I hit [the brakes] first and then he was quite late, but I had the inside so I was quite relieved after I was ahead.”
Sebastian Vettel
“We have nothing to lose in the battles with Sebastian. He is leading the championship by 100 points I think so when we have to defend we will be a little bit harder with him. Sorry!”
Fernando Alonso
Depending on your allegiances, Schumacher’s defiant holding-off of Hamilton was either a masterful demonstration of defensive driving or a drivethrough penalty offence.
“The fighting against Lewis was big fun, and my mirrors seemed to be very small at times. We are both known for driving on the limit, and that is what we did. I had to make my car as wide as a truck.”
Michael Schumacher – Mercedes
“It was a good race: I finished and I got some points, so I can’t really complain.”
Lewis Hamilton
Button caught up, bided his time and slipped past both Hamilton and Schumacher and set about chasing down Alonso.
“I think Lewis went for a gap with Michael that wasn’t there on the exit of turn two and I got the run on him and then set about getting past Michael. I was able to get him down the outside down into Ascari which I am going to say was pretty brave as Michael doesn’t give much room. I don’t know how close we were. I pretty much closed my eyes after I turned in.”
Jenson Button
Meanwhile, Vettel went serenely on his way to his eighth victory of the season, putting him within touching distance of a second world title. His main rivals conceded it, though Seb refuses to speculate.
“I doubt it’s still possible to beat Sebastian for the title, but we’ll keep pushing. For now, I’m looking ahead to the flyaways – they’re going to be exciting.”
Lewis Hamilton
“There are six races to go so the championship is impossible – not mathematically, but we are no longer in contention. We will now simply try to enjoy every race.”
Fernando Alonso
“It’s all over now, isn’t it?”
Mark Webber
“It’s over when it’s over, not before. We go into every race trying to optimise our result as we did here. I think it’s wrong to plan before something happens. It would be wrong for you to plan what you would do with a million dollars if you won the lottery tomorrow. First you have to win, then you worry about what you do with your winnings.”
Sebastian Vettel
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