Italian Grand Prix 2012 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton delivered a commanding victory at the Italian Grand Prix, dominating at Monza from pole position to claim his fourth win of the season while Sergio Perez produced a sensational drive to finish second for Sauber ahead of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari. The race unfolded on a weekend of high emotion as the Tifosi mourned the passing of technical director Aldo Costa, while the championship battle intensified with Sebastian Vettel recovering from a poor start to finish outside the podium positions.

Hamilton's pole lap had been exceptional, and he converted that advantage into a perfect start down Monza's long run to the first chicane. The McLaren driver then proceeded to control the race with authority, managing his tires expertly on the high-speed Temple of Speed where slipstreaming and DRS made defending positions treacherous. His pace was relentless, building a comfortable gap that allowed him to cruise home despite late pressure. The victory demonstrated McLaren's underlying pace when reliability didn't sabotage their weekends, though it came too late to salvage Hamilton's championship campaign.

Perez drove brilliantly to claim his fourth podium of the season, outpacing the Ferraris on their home soil with a combination of speed and strategic brilliance. The young Mexican's performance cemented his reputation as one of F1's rising stars and secured his move to McLaren for 2013 to replace Hamilton. Alonso salvaged crucial third place for Ferrari in front of the passionate Tifosi, limiting the championship damage on a weekend where Red Bull had struggled. Vettel's difficult race - finishing outside the points initially before being promoted - meant Alonso maintained his championship lead, but the margin was shrinking rapidly as the season entered its crucial Asian phase.