• Italian Grand Prix

Ferrari performance pleases Alonso

Fernando Alonso leads early in the race © Getty Images

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• Report:
• Vettel cruises to Monza victory to close on title
  

• Race:
• Italian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Fernando Alonso praised his Ferrari team for the way it performed under pressure after he finished third in the Italian Grand Prix.

Ferrari's home race at Monza came with added expectation from the Tifosi as the Italian fans looked for a repeat of Alonso's victory in 2010. Following qualifying it appeared that Ferrari had the third quickest car, however, and Alonso described his podium as "a great achievement" as the team made no mistakes to capitalise on its opportunities.

"Well done to the whole team," Alonso said. "It was a stressful weekend with a lot of pressure here in Italy for them and we managed the race in the best situation possible. No mistakes, and I think being on the podium with Mark retiring from the race and Lewis behind us, so one Red Bull and one McLaren behind us I think is a great achievement."

Alonso said that his start has been crucial in allowing him to fight for third, and that he was pleased to stand on the podium at Monza once again.

"We've been doing some good starts in the last couple of grands prix but always starting fifth or sixth there's not enough room to overtake. But here in Monza we knew that if the car was the same then here in Monza you have enough space and enough run in to the first corner to overtake people.

"So we maximise the potential in our start and we were leading the race for a couple of laps but obviously we were not competitive enough to fight for victory so we tried to manage the podium possibility. It was very close at the end with Lewis but it was a fantastic race, a fantastic feeling on the podium, here in Monza is very passionate with the fans on the podium giving you big emotions."

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