Race Notes - Vettel cruises to Italian GP win

Sebastian Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza today, in his Red Bull-Renault. Jenson Button finished in second in the McLaren-Mercedes 9.5 seconds behind, followed by Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari, 16.9 seconds behind - his eighth win of the season.

Vettel took the lead on lap 4 from a fast-starting Alonso and was never headed for the rest of the afternoon. Vettel takes his 18th career victory, winning his second Italian Grand Prix, three years since his first win at Monza in the Toro Rosso. With Webber going out early in the race, it is the first race that Red Bull has not scored points with both cars since the Korean GP last season.

Lewis Hamilton (17.4s) finished close behind in fourth place in his McLaren-Mercedes, followed by Michael Schumacher (32.5s) in the Mercedes GP in fifth, Felipe Massa (42.9s) in the second Ferrari in sixth, Jaime Alguersuari (1 lap) in the Toro Rosso-Ferrari was seventh, Paul di Resta (1 lap) in the Force India-Mercedes was eighth, Bruno Senna (1 lap) scoring his first points for Renault in ninth and Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso-Ferrari finished in the final points position was tenth.

Before the start, Rosberg, Senna, Perez, Kobayashi and Sutil opt to start on the harder Pirelli tyre.

At the start, Alonso goes side-by-side with Vettel and Hamilton. Alonso takes the lead from fourth, Vettel second, Hamilton third.

Liuzzi spins and slids into the first chicane hitting the cars in the corner. Liuzzi, Rosberg, and Petrov are out. Barrichello and Kobayashi pis for damage. The safety car comes out while the corner i cleared.

On lap 3 the race resumes, Alonso leading Vettel, who challenges Alonso into the second chicane, but can't take the position.

On lap 4 Webber and Massa touch in the first chicane, Webber losses his front wing, spinning Massa. Vettel gets a run and passes Alonso on the outside of Curva Biassono and takes the lead. Webber, without a nose ends his day in the barriers.

Vettel leads Alonso, Schumacher, Hamilton, Button, Maldonado, Perez and Di Resta. A recovering Mass passes Di Resta for eighth place.

Hamilton right on he tail of Schumacher. Massa passes Perez.

On lap 10 Massa passes Maldonado for sixth into the first chicane. Sutil pulls his Force India off the track and retires.

At lap 11, Vettel leads Alonso by 6.8 seconds, followed by Schumacher (9.1s), Hamilton (9.3s), Button (10.7s), Massa (21.5s), Maldonado (24.4s), Perez (26.7s), Di Resta (27.7s) and Alguersuari (28.3s) in tenth.

On lap 13 Hamilton passes Schumacher into the first chicane - in the DRS zone afterward Schumacher repasses Hamilton. Button closes up behind Hamilton.

The McLaren's hound Schumacher.

On lap 16 Button passes Hamilton after he is forced to the grass looking for a way past Schumacher.

Schumacher complains that his rear tyres are going off. Button passes Schumacher. Schumacher pits. Button pits the next lap.

On lap 19 Hamilton pits, rejoining behind Schumacher. Maldonado and Perez chase Alguersuari.

On lap 20 Alonso pits from second place - rejoining in third. Maldonado and Senna pit as well.

On lap 21 Vettel pits from the lead coming out still in front. Alguersuari pits. Hamilton complains that Schumacher is making more than one move to block the McLaren, which is against the rules. Massa pits.

At lap 22 Vettel leads Alonso by 11.7 seconds, followed by Button (13.4s), Schumacher (17.8s), Hamilton (17.9s), Perez (31.8s), Massa (31.8s), Di Resta (47.5s), Alguersuari (50.3s) and Maldonado (53;3s) is in tenth.

Ross Brawn reminds Schumacher to "leave room at Ascari".

On lap 24 Kobayashi retires on the side of the track. Massa passes Perez for sixth place. Button is closing in on Alonso and sets fastest lap a 1m27.6s. Buemi passes Maldonado for tenth. Brawn reminds Schumacher against to leave space when he makes a move. Hamilton continues to chase the German.

On lap 28 Hamilton passes Schumacher for fourth place at Ascari.

On lap 29 Vettel sets fastest lap at 1m27.4s. Button challenges Alonso, but can't get past.

At lap 30, Vettel leads Alonso by 13.8 seconds, followed by Button (15.2s), Hamilton (23.3s), Schumacher (25.3s), Massa (38.4s), Perez (50.5s), Di Resta (64.3s), Alguersuari (54.6s) and Buemi (68.4s) in tenth place.

Senna passes Maldonado for 11th place.

On lap 44 Di Resta pits.

Vettel resets fastest lap at 1m27.0s.

On lap 34 BUtton pits from third.Perez retires on the side of the track with a gearbox problem.

On lap 35 Alonso and Hamilton both pit. Vettel pits from the lead the next lap.Button passes Alonso between the chicanes to take third place. Schumacher, yet to pit, runs second.

On lap 38 Schumacher pits, and rejoins in sixth behind Hamilton. Alonso starts to close back up on Button.

Vettel sets fastest lap at 1m27.0s.

At lap 40, Vettel leads BUtton by 15.9 seconds, followed by Alonso (17.4s), Massa (20.6s), Hamilton (25.3s), Schumacher (25.3s), Alguersuari (56.5s), Buemi (68.4s), Senna (73.5s) and Di Resta (84.2s) in tenth place.

On lap 43 Hamilton sets fastest lap at 1m26.7s.

Buemi and Senna pit. Massa pits from fourth place and rejoins in sixth. Senna hounds Buemi for ninth place.

On lap 48 Senna passes Buemi for ninth into the first chicane.

On lap 49 Hamilton sets fastest lap at 1m26.6s. Vettel resets it the next lap at 1n26.5s.

At lap 50, Vettel leads Button by 14.7 seconds followed by Alonso (20.1s), Hamilton (22.8s), Schumacher (34.0s), Massa (48.5s), Alguersuari (1 lap), Di Resta, Senna and Buemi in tenth place.

Hamilton lapping faster than Alonso closes on the Ferrari.

Vettel continued in the lead to the flag, with Button second and Alonso third.. Hamilton can not get close enough to pass and finishes fourth.