[Official] Driver of the race : Italian GP

[strider]

I gave it to McLaren's No 1 driver, but the pass of the race was Vettel on Alonso, whose start was another highlight.

Good drives by Alguersuari and Bruno, who would have been higher if he hadn't been on the receiving end of the first corner carambolage this time.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by strider

.. Alonso, whose start was another highlight.

That's two crowd-pleasing starts this year, after Barcelona.

Well done to Schumacher too for a focused defensive drive. He's starting to actually look like a viable valuable Mercedes driver for next year too.

Although according to Eddie Jordan, "we" all know where Di Resta's driving next year. He seemed to be suggesting Mercedes.

[Mekola]

Vettel did a perfect race. Button did an extraordinary performance. Schumacher did his best ever stint since his comeback. Alguersuari gave a marvelous result to Cepsa Toro Rosso. But my vote goes to Bruno Senna, since he overtook all the expectations many people had to him, over all other notable drivers involved. And with a brilliant overtake over Buemi included.

[Lotusonpole]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Emerson Fittipaldi used to win 1970s Ten-Tenths DOTR polls mainly due to his humungous sideburns.

Were they not the inspiration for barge boards of recent times?

Can't think why they were never referred to as 'Emersons'.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by G.Walker

Michael Schumacher , defensive driving at its best

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

That is somewhat debatable..

It's a pretty short debate, Jeremy.
(With due acknowlegement to M Brundle)

[TrapezeArtist]

Another brilliant drive by JB, but this time I had to give it to Vettel.

Just on places gained, Alguersuari must have been something right, though we didn't really see enough to judge it.

Shame about Rosberg being taken out. I would like to have seen what he could do with that contrarian strategy.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Fox89

I wouldn't mind maybe changing my answer to Schumacher. I wish people would just shut up about it, analyzing every slight move across the track "was this 100% fair? Was that? Should he apologize?"

He was FINE. Sure, a couple of indiscretions here and there, but they're inches apart at 200mph, you can't be perfect.

Michael has always sailed close to the wind, Oz 1994, Jerez 1997, the move on Ruben's last year at Hungary to name but a few. His style sometimes causes people to question his driving style and ethics. Today was another example of this.

[stripedcat]

Has to be Vettel. The 'German Senna'? Well he is racking up some records at the moment. Plus, what an overtake. Yes, he mucked up his start, but taking Alonso and kicking up some dust as well. Kudos to Sebastian for that.

I would put Jenson as runner-up for DOTR. A classy overtake on his teammate and then just breezed by Schumi. Made it look easy. Especially compared to the trouble Hamilton was having.

A pretty decent fight between Hamilton and Schumi. To be fair, Schumi was a lot better than he has been in the past(Hungary last year, Jerez 1997, Australia 1994). I think Hamilton was caught asleep after the safety lap. Then he wasn't aggressive enough. Plus after doing the smooth overtake on the start/finish straight he didn't make his car wide enough to stop Schumi overtaking him. A good scrap that made the race worthwhile.

Special mentions to Alonso for that monster start. Plus Alguesuari had a good race as well.

[p261brm]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Vettel, Vettel and Vettel. He and his team are in a league apart.

With Mr.Newey yes they are, have not voted for a driver, too close to call.

[strider]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Michael has always sailed close to the wind, Oz 1994, Jerez 1997, the move on Ruben's last year at Hungary to name but a few. His style sometimes causes people to question his driving style and ethics. Today was another example of this.

He has always driven like that, even before he came into F1. If driving like that goes unpunished that, it encourages other people to think that is how they should drive. Why anyone should think he deserves the DOTR award is beyond me. Yes, it was exciting, but it was against the rules and if Hamilton had not been in a very restrained mood today there could have been a massive accident.

There's a good article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewben...09/post_2.html

[andy666]

Mr Vettel for that overtake on Alonso , was going to give dotr to Button for showing Hamilton how to get past TGF () I have not given Vettel dotr yet this season he earned it today !! Also mentions for TGF and Senna .

[Oldtony]

Some great drives but in the end SV is just a class ahead of anyone out there at present.

[jonboy1066]

Driver of the race ... without a doubt Button.

Overtake of the race ... Vettel

Liability of the race ...Schumacher ... AGAIN! The bloke's a danger and should be banned!

[aki13]

Driver of the Race: Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button.

They both drove brilliant races in different ways.

Other mentions:

Michael Schumacher: Superb hard racing
Lewis Hamilton: Pushed really hard and didn't lose his rag, could have passed Alonso in another lap or 2.

Alguersuari: A fine recovery drive.
Senna: For the first points of his F1 career.
Perez: I thought he drove really well until retiring

[Spritle]

DOTR - Vettel for making a mockery of the gear ratio theories, his great drive, pass of Alonso and his appreciation for where he was, what he is and what he and Red Bull have achieved.

I also give kudos to the other finishers, especially that Button bloke who is quietly upstaging his larger sunglassed teammate, (much to my delight) and also to Alonso for that brilliant start and the great joking with Seb in the interview about not leaving him much room to pass.

All three World Champions seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and handled their respective drives like champions.

[Razzzor]

#1 Schumacher - not just for holding off Hamilton for half the race, but also passing him twice and going from 8th to 3rd at the start. He was blocking a fair bit, but at least when the McLarens did complete their moves he conceded. And did they ever touch? No.

#2 Button - for passing MS and Alonso. The Hamilton move doesn't really count because Hamilton had to back out of it. Not really sure that two passes really counts for driver of the race, especially as Hamilton was just as quick but was being safe-Hamilton.

#3 Vettel - THAT move (I totally had visions of Turkey 2010 again) but it worked and he stormed away, dominating a race he wasn't supposed to win. I think he was cruising after the first pit stop too.

Alguesuari looked great on paper coming in 7th, but it was all down to the first lap that he got there. After that he didn't really pass anyone. Didn't really watch much of Senna, but he took too long to get past Buemi if he was on the softer tyres.

[Marbot]

Alguersuari had a really good run today, so he gets my vote.

Special mentions for Button and Schumacher, but for different reasons.

Ace start by Teflonso, but wasn't to last too long because of ace/brave/gutsy pass by Vettel.

[JeremySmith]

I gave this to Jenson Button, who is doing a great job at McLaren..

Great pass on Michael after he was told to cool it with the weaving..

Still a very smooth pass none the less....Sebastian Vettel did a fantastic job with a storming pass on Fernando...

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Vettel, the new and better TGF.

what he said

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Spritle

I.......that Button bloke who is quietly upstaging his larger sunglassed teammate,

Might be interesting to re visit this thread.

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...+joins+mclaren

I think the two of them are pretty much equal although sometimes one will edge the other. What appears more interesting is that this season Jenson is performing better at the end, whereas he is percieved as tailing off after half way.

Still undecided re DoTR.

[HughGJohnson]

Originally Posted by stripedcat

Has to be Vettel. The 'German Senna'? Well he is racking up some records at the moment. Plus, what an overtake. Yes, he mucked up his start, but taking Alonso and kicking up some dust as well. Kudos to Sebastian for that.

I would put Jenson as runner-up for DOTR. A classy overtake on his teammate and then just breezed by Schumi. Made it look easy. Especially compared to the trouble Hamilton was having.

A pretty decent fight between Hamilton and Schumi. To be fair, Schumi was a lot better than he has been in the past(Hungary last year, Jerez 1997, Australia 1994). I think Hamilton was caught asleep after the safety lap. Then he wasn't aggressive enough. Plus after doing the smooth overtake on the start/finish straight he didn't make his car wide enough to stop Schumi overtaking him. A good scrap that made the race worthwhile.

Special mentions to Alonso for that monster start. Plus Alguesuari had a good race as well.

Originally Posted by andy666

Mr Vettel for that overtake on Alonso , was going to give dotr to Button for showing Hamilton how to get past TGF () I have not given Vettel dotr yet this season he earned it today !! Also mentions for TGF and Senna .

Finally a chance to vote for Vettel as DOTR. We've been waiting to see if he could actually pass a competitive car when it counted. Today he forced his way around Alonso in a Ferrari for the lead at the Italian Grand Prix without DRS and with great flair. When I saw the dust kick up I thought he was going to lose the car, instead he sailed by and made it stick. Epic.

Button now looks like the master of overtaking at McLaren. Honorable mention to him after a bad start. He got by Schumacher the very first chance he got and Hamilton mysteriously spent half the race behind Schumacher. I wonder if Hamilton hadn't have had so many incidents recently if he'd have been as patient behind...

[Neil22]

Vettel for me. Kudos to Button and Senna too.

[Wims]

Vettel thrashed the field and he even had a pass on the grass. On the outside of Curva Grande, wheel to wheel with Alonso. Yeah, that was exciting

[strider]

I've already given a mention to Bruno Senna, but it's worth adding that he set the 4th fastest lap of the race in 1m 26.895s. This was right at the end when everyone set their best times. He also recorded the fastest straight line speed at 346 km/h from memory, which is as close to 215mph as you're going to get.

Sympathy, too, for Sergio Perez, who was going very well on a clever Sauber one-stop strategy and looked set for good haul of points until the gearbox broke.

[3point0v8]

Voted for Button. He seems to be the in-form driver at the minute, doesn't do much wrong.