Formula One Features — September 2010

As a classic title finale nears, the simmering furore over team orders will surely boil over again as McLaren and Red Bull opt if and when to follow Ferrari's lead. But the Monza duel between Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button showed one honourable aspect of F1 teamwork could yet prove more important than ever: the pit stop.

Jarno Trulli won his only Grand Prix at Monaco six years ago. Although an F1 veteran of 14 seasons, he took the Lotus Racing drive with a view to the long term. At Monza, his home race, he gave his views on the season and his hopes for the team.

Monza imposes great demands on engines, and Cosworth had a highly encouraging showing with Nico Hulkenberg finishing seventh after spending his day racing with the championship-contending Red Bulls. Group chief executive Tim Routsis was on hand in Monza to give his thoughts on the company's return to F1 and on discussions about greener 2013 F1 engines.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner admitted before the weekend that the team viewed Monza as its weakest remaining circuit on the 2010 F1 calendar. And so, with Sebastian Vettel fourth in the Italian GP and Mark Webber sixth, he was able to look back on a final race of the European season in which Red Bull unexpectedly outscored major championship rivals McLaren.

If there remains any doubt that grand prix motor racing is primarily a mental contest, the Belgian Grand Prix provided the perfect illustration. In the most trying of circumstances - a mixture of wet and drying conditions round Spa's legendary mix of corners - not one of the protagonists made it through the race without some kind of hiccup.