Italy hails Ferrari triumph in wide open F1 title race

By John Bagratuni Sep 13, 2010, 10:37 GMT

Monza, Italy - Monza was a sea of red after Fernando Alonso rounded off a 50-points-week for himself and Ferrari with a triumph at the team's Italian home Grand Prix.

Alonso pipped British McLaren driver Jenson Button thanks to a superfast pit stop on Sunday, four days after he was not stripped of last month's German Grand Prix win by the ruling body FIA over a team-order incident.

The perfect end to the week was welcomed throughout Italy on Monday in a season which has seen plenty of ups and downs for Ferrari.

'Super Ferrari. A master piece in the pits. Delirious Monza. Alonso re-opens the title race with his pit magicians,' said la Gazzetta Dello Sport.

'This was a real team victory, a success Made in Italy.'

Alonso said it was 'very, very special win this one - and very special feelings right now.' He said he now hopes for consistency in the final five races of a dramatic season.

'I think any good result gives you extra confidence and some good motivation for the whole team to keep working hard and try not to give up at any point in the championship. We know that one race, good race or bad race, can change the positions in the championship a lot.

'We need to remain calm. This was a good weekend for us. In Spa (two weeks ago) it was a bad weekend for us. We need to try to find some consistency in the last five races and we need to be fighting for the podium. That will be the key,' said Alonso.

While Ferrari delighted in Alonso's win and Felipe Massa's third place, Red Bull were successful in a damage control effort on a track not suited so well for their cars.

There was speculation of a hidden team order effort when Sebastian vettel complained briefly about engine troubles and team-mate Mark Webber flew past him. But Vettel finally finished fourth thanks a last-lap pit stop while Webber came sixth.

'we got very valuable points. Our objective prior to the weekend was to try to limit the damage, so to come out of the weekend back in the lead of the drivers9 championship with Mark ... is more than we could have expected,' said team boss Christian Horner.

Webber went top again in the standings because this time around McLaren were the ones to lick their wounds. Lewis Hamilton lost the championship lead when he had contact with Massa and had to retire in the first lap.

In addition, Button lamented that a too early pit stop cost him a race victory after he stole the lead from the pole sitter Alonso at the start.

'Today was a shame, and I want to say sorry to the team. But the championship certainly isn't over - although I have to admit that days like today don't help,' said Hamilton.

The Australian Webber leads the way with 187 points, Hamilton has 182, Alonso 166, Button 165 and Vettel 163. The five are separated by a mere 24 points, with a victory worth 25 points.