2010 Italian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hamilton leads the Drivers’ Championship with Webber three points behind. Vettel, Button, and Alonso did not score in Belgium, leaving them over a race win’s gap behind the top two.

Previous race

Hamilton won in Belgium. Webber dropped from second to sixth at the safety car restart when his car went into anti-stall and he was passed by the field. Alonso and Barrichello collided at Les Combes when Barrichello was unable to stop in the greasy conditions; Barrichello retired with car damage and Alonso was classified outside the points. Schumacher gained 14 positions from 21st to 7th after a perfectly timed tyre strategy in changing conditions.

Between-race developments

Ferrari appeared before the FIA World Motor Sport Council on the Wednesday before the race to answer charges of fixing a race outcome through team orders — banned since 2003 — at the German Grand Prix and bringing the sport into disrepute. Ferrari had already been fined US$100,000 at the time. The tribunal decided against further punishment but promised to review the team orders ban. The decision was received negatively by fans.

The FIA has announced a second intensification of the flexible bodywork tests: following increased lateral load-bearing tests on front wings at Spa, scrutineers will now test the front section of the floor under the nose at Monza. McLaren has already changed the floor of the MP4-25 to comply with the anticipated stricter test.

Entrants

Sakon Yamamoto continues at Hispania in Chandhok’s place for the Italian Grand Prix.