2011 Italian Grand Prix The Italian Grand Prix

Tifosi

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• Who will get the jump at the lights - Vettel or Hamilton?

• Can Alonso finish on the podium to give the fans something to cheer about?

• Will the Sauber drivers take a risk on tyres this afternoon? They start from 15th and 17th on the grid.

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Plenty of intrigue on the grid, with drivers opting for different gear ratios and downforce levels to take into the race today.

A packed crowd of loyal tifosi rise in unison for the Italian national anthem, as it is played out over Monza's public address system.

The pitlane is now closed. Any driver not on the grid by now, will have to take the start from the pit exit, once the field has gone.

Michael Schumacher is now on his lap to the grid. He starts on the outside of row four today.

Button has taken up his third place grid slot and steps out of the McLaren for his usual pre-race preparations.

Here's how the grid will line up this afternoon: Pos Driver Team 1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 3. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 8. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 9. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 10. Bruno Senna Renault 11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 12. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 13. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 15. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 16. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 17. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 18. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 20. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 22. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 23. Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 24. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth

Vettel arrives on the grid and is pushed towards pole position by the Red Bull mechanics.

Senna heads out of the pits in his Renault to take up 10th place on the grid.

The Ferrari pair opt for yet another diversion through the pitlane and emerge via the practice start box.

Local media had been forecasting some scattered showers across northern Italy today, but thankfully conditions are dry, warm and mainly sunny once again.

The sunshine is a little more hazy than the last couple of days, but we expect a dry race with fine weather and a light easterly breeze. Air temperature will peak at around 28 degrees, translating into a maximum track temperature approaching 40 Celsius once again.

There is heavy traffic at the end of the pitlane as the drivers wait to test a launch and configure the clutch system ahead of a vital start

Both Ferrari drivers take the opportunity to pass through the pitlane before making a practice start and heading back around to the grid.

Fernando Alonso is carrying the tifosi's hopes for a strong result today. He heads out to check the condition of his car.

Here's a reminder of the standings ahead of the final European race of the year. World Championship standings, round 12: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Vettel 259 1. Red Bull-Renault 426 2. Webber 167 2. McLaren-Mercedes 295 3. Alonso 157 3. Ferrari 231 4. Button 149 4. Mercedes 88 5. Hamilton 146 5. Renault 68 6. Massa 74 6. Sauber-Ferrari 35

Kovalainen guides his Lotus T128 onto the racetrack, as he heads towards the grid.

Vettel rolls out of the Red Bull garage and takes his car round to check the basic functions.

The pitlane is now open, allowing drivers to make their checking and reconnaissance laps to the grid.