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Italian GP review: Fortress Hamilton withstands Hurricane Perez

Hamilton produced an inch-perfect display at Monza to take his third win of an incredible 2012 season, but it was Sergio Perez who starred with a stirring drive to second. Here's the complete story of an absorbing Italian Grand Prix

Andrew van Leeuwen Simon Strang Sep 9, 2012, 12:38 PM

PRACTICE

Practice one - Friday am

You could have been forgiven for not noticing that the Italian Grand Prix weekend had begun in earnest, such was the din from the speculating paddock over the futures of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. But at least the sun was shining, which was certainly not the case seven days previously at Spa.

On track there were no signs of an imminent Schumacher retirement as the great man used the straightline potential of the Mercedes to full effect at Formula 1's fastest layout. His 1m25.422s was 0.3s quicker than anything Jenson Button could manage. And as if to emphasise the Merc's early weekend pace, Nico Rosberg was third fastest.

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Author Andrew van Leeuwen

Andrew van Leeuwen is Motorsport.com's Australian Editor and provides award-winning coverage of Supercars. He started his career working for Australasian Motorsport News in Melbourne, working his way into the top digital editor role before relocating to Mainz, Germany, in 2012. During his three-year stint in Europe he covered a number of series, including the DTM, while working for Autosport, before returning to Australia as part of Motorsport.com's global expansion in early 2015. Alongside his Motorsport.com commitments Andrew is one-third of the successful Below the Bonnet podcast. He lives in Perth with his wife Anne, kids Nico and Billie and chihuahua Coco.