Feature: Highlights from Monza’s post-race press conference
In the Italian Grand Prix post-race press conference, podium stars Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, and Felipe Massa revealed their thoughts about the race, the aftermath of victory, and their prospects for the rest of the championship season via the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
Fernando Alonso of Ferrari renewed his hopes of taking home the championship title with his first place win, with McLaren’s Jenson Button in second and Alonso’s team-mate Felipe Massa in third. Capitalizing on a pit-stop near the end of the race, the Spaniard managed to overtake the Briton by a mere 0.8 seconds when leaving the pit-lane. Very satisfied with the move which led to victory, Alonso remarked, “When we saw Jenson coming it was one of the two possibilities we had. There was one lap to push and rely on the mechanics. I think the lap was more or less okay, nothing special, but the pit stop was superb.”
For Button, who maintained the lead for most of the race, the high downforce setting of his car made it difficult to keep the Ferrari’s at bay, as well the stability of the tyres. “When I exited the pits I had very little grip on the prime tyre – lots of shuddering which means the tyre isn’t working, so [it was a] little bit disappointing to find myself in that position and Fernando coming out of the pits in front.”
Yet Button did go on to justify the use of the set-up, which was left out by team-mate Lewis Hamilton during qualifying, thus resulting in his disappointing grid position. For Button, the use of the F-duct and high downforce did pay off in the end. “I think it was the right choice. For me the start was very good and we calculated down to the first corner that I should not lose ground because of the distance and the effect you get from the F-duct and the braking.”
Felipe Massa gave an account of the incident with Hamilton, who tried to overtake the Brazilian but caught the back of Massa’s car and broke his suspension. “I saw Fernando a little bit wide, so I tried to go to the outside and then on the exit of the second corner he had a little bit better traction, so he was able to be slightly in front of me and then he was on a good side for turn four. I was completely on the left, so when I saw him go into the corner I went as well and then I felt something on my back and that was Lewis. He was just behind Fernando on the inside. I was a little bit on the outside, so we touched. I didn’t see to be honest what happened but just felt something on my back.” Though Massa was unscathed, the accident forced Hamilton to retire and lose several crucial points in the championship race, though he is still in good contention with second overall place.
The race results have boosted Alonso’s title hopes tremendously, as well as Button’s. Alonso is currently in third place in the Driver’s Championship at 166 points; Button sits in fourth with 166 pts, respectively. Yet not only was the finish important for the numbers, but for the sentiment, as well. Ferrari’s first home victory at the track since 2006, Alonso’s greeting by thousands of gleeful tifosi (Ferrari fans) made the win that much more special. “Well, something only we can compare with the feeling I had in 2006 winning in Barcelona my home Grand Prix,” an emotional Alonso reflects. “It was a very special moment that one and this is a very special moment this one as well. Fantastic feeling.”
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