Michael Schumacher decimated Fernando Alonso’s lead in the F1 driver’s championship by dominating the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. By contrast, the Ferrari star’s Spanish rival suffered a devastating engine failure nine laps from the chequered flag.
Michael Schumacher decimated Fernando Alonso’s lead in the F1 driver’s championship by dominating the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. By contrast, the Ferrari star’s Spanish rival suffered a devastating engine failure nine laps from the chequered flag.
Shortly after the race ended, Schumacher told his team – and F1 fans around the globe – that he would retire at the end of the season. The German grabbed the lead after Kimi Raikkonen, who had started from pole position at Monza, made an early first pit stop.
Although the Finn kept in contention with Schumacher’s 248 F1 after his second pit stop, the McLaren-Mercedes ace had to settle for second ahead of Polish rookie Robert Kubica, who notched up his first podium finish for BMW in only the third grand prix of his career.
Schumacher was given a rapturous reception from the Italian fans as he took the chequered flag eight seconds clear of Raikkonen, who will replace him at Ferrari next season.
The German’s 90th career win elevated him to within two points of Alonso in the drivers’ standings and put Ferrari three points clear of Renault in the constructors’ race. Schumacher’s title aspirations were aided when Alonso, who had battled from 10th on the grid and looked set to finish in third position, was forced to retire from the race.
“I was hoping that Kimi would stop earlier than us, he did and that was enough for us to get by,” said Schumacher. “We have taken a big step towards the championship and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.
“It is difficult to say I will be more focused now that I’m retiring because I am only ever focused on one thing when I’m in the car. I want to concentrate on the last three races and finish in style.”
Schumacher’s Bridgestone-shod Ferrari was clearly the fastest car at Monza, but the German was forced to sit just behind Raikkonen for the first 15 laps after making an average start.
The German had come under pressure from Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber at the start of the race and briefly lost second place, only to reclaim it as the two cars went through the first chicane.
Behind them, Kubica made an electrifying start from sixth on the grid to slot into fourth, passing Heidfeld for third on the first lap. Alonso also had a strong start to the race; The Spaniard sought to make up positions after race stewards penalised him five grid positions for supposedly blocking Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in qualifying.
The defending world champion was up to seventh at the end of the lap, and passed Heidfeld for sixth at the start of the second lap. However, Alonso’s progress stalled as he came up behind Jenson Button’s Honda, which held him off until the first pit stops.
Alonso stopped one lap earlier than Button (Lap 19) and emerged ahead of the Briton. Massa made his pit stop on lap 39, two laps before the Spaniard, who made his second stop at the same time as Kubica – and the pair emerged from the pit lane side by side.
The Spaniard outbraked Kubica into the first chicane and also leapfrogged Massa’s Ferrari, but then his engine failed – setting up a nail-biting championship climax in the final three races.
“I had to push the engine more than normal to move up from tenth and sometimes these things (mechanical failures) happen,” said Alonso. “We were quicker in Hungary, in front in Turkey and we should have won here with the tyres we had.
“One per cent of the people will be happy, the people who decided the race yesterday. I hope they sleep well,” he fumed.
Massa lost fourth place when he was forced to make a pit stop after sustaining damage to his right front tyre in the confusion that followed Alonso’s engine failure.
That put Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella into fourth place, ahead of Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and Heidfeld, with Massa ninth and out of the points.
Italian Grand Prix results:
1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren +8,046 secs
3. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW +26,414
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault +32,045
5. Jenson Button (GB) Honda +32,685
6. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda +42,409
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +44,662
8. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber +45,309
9. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari +45,955
10. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams +1:12,602
11. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1 lap
12. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1 lap
13. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso 1 lap
14. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita Toro Rosso 1 lap
15. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1 lap
16. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 2 laps
17. Christijan Albers (Ned) MF1 2 laps
DNF Tiago Monteiro (Por) MF1 44 laps completed
DNF Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 43 laps
DNF Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 20 laps
DNF Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 18 laps
DNF Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams 9 laps