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Formula 1
Monaco GP
2011 Monaco Grand Prix The Monaco Grand Prix
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Lap 56: Alonso has Vettel in his sights now as they come up to lap D'Ambrosio in the Virgin.
Lap 56: Maldonado rejoins in eighth, just a couple of seconds clear of Hamilton.
Lap 56: Alonso is now two seconds off the lead, with Button now closing to under 10 seconds behind Vettel.
Lap 55: Maldonado pits from seventh place, promoting Petrov.
Lap 55: Button is by far the fastest man on track, lapping in 1m17s. Alonso and Button are sure to be on Vettel's gearbox soon if he does stay out.
Lap 55: Kovalainen pits from 16th place in the Lotus, for the second time this afternoon.
Lap 54: Alonso and Button continue to close down on leader Vettel.
Lap 54: Maldonado is still seventh with Petrov now less than two seconds behind him in eighth. Hamilton is 24.7s behind Petrov in ninth.
Lap 53: Sutil is 22.9s behind Button in fourth and still has Kobayashi and Webber on his gearbox. This is a disaster for the Australian.
Lap 53: But there is no sign of Vettel pitting as Button clocks a storming pace on his fresh rubber.
Lap 53: Vettel could potentially go for an epic stint from lap 16 to the flag, but that would surely be an adventure for the closing stages.
Lap 51: Button sets a rapid 1m17.894s as he pushes on in clear air.
Lap 51: Hamilton rejoins still in ninth and some distance ahead of the lapped Heidfeld.
Lap 51: Alonso is now just 5.9 seconds behind leader Vettel and looks to be the man to beat if he doesn't plan to stop again.
Lap 50: Sutil is holding on well to that fourth spot, as Hamilton pits from ninth. He takes on the prime tyre and rejoins.
Lap 50: If Button now pumps in some rapid pace, he's very likely to be ahead of Vettel when the Red Bull makes his final stop.
Lap 50: Vettel does not respond to Button's stop and stays out on old rubber.
Lap 50: Trulli's stop releases Rosberg up to 14th but he has no chance of points this afternoon, unless there is some chaos ahead of him.
Lap 50: Button makes it past the Toro Rosso on the run down to Mirabeau, and this is not an ideal first flyer for the McLaren man.
Lap 49: Button resumes behind Buemi on the run up the hill.
Lap 49: It's a gamble for Button and he now needs a rapid lap to try and undercut Vettel for track position.
Lap 49: Trulli pits from 14th place. He had been holding on well to the back of Alguersuari - their fight continuing since the first lap of the race.
Lap 49: Button opts to pit for a set of fresh softs for his run to the flag.
Lap 48: Maldonado in seventh is just 1.6s behind the squabbling trio, with Petrov eighth and Hamilton now eighth seconds behind the Russian in ninth.
Lap 48: Alonso is still slowly closing on the lead battle.
Lap 47: Sutil is holding onto fourth in the other VJM04. He is now 24.5s behind Alonso, with Kobayashi and Webber still on his tail.
Lap 47: Button is being told by the McLaren team that he must pass Vettel on the road.
Lap 47: Paul di Resta is now 18th and has damage to the Force India. Replays show that he nudged the back of d'Ambrosio's Virgin at the hairpin.
Lap 46: Vettel's tyres are getting old at this stage, with this set being the prime rubber he took in that messy stop on lap 16.
Lap 45: Alonso is faster than Vettel at the moment and it is looking very good for the Spaniard if he can go the distance without another stop.
Lap 45: Webber tries to make a move on Kobayashi entering Ste. Devote but thinks better of it. This is the fight for fifth.
Lap 45: Hamilton rejoins in ninth, because the rest of the field is one lap down. He stays on the lead lap and will charge after Petrov.
Lap 44: Alonso has cleared the lapped Heidfeld and is now just 7.5 seconds off the lead pair.
Lap 44: Hamilton is seventh currently, but will only fall to ninth place. He comes in now and tours through the lane.
Lap 44: Lewis Hamilton has been given a drive through penalty for causing a collision (with Massa).
Lap 43: Sutil is fourth but already 13.7s behind Alonso. Kobayashi, Webber and Hamilton are right on his tail. Maldonado is eighth.
Lap 43: Button will have to use the harder tyre for the final stint, while Vettel will be switching to the softer rubber.
Lap 43: Button will be keen to get by Vettel as he needs to pull a gap on Alonso with the benefit of the super soft rubber.
Lap 42: Button flashes across the line right on the gearbox of Vettel's Red Bull.
Lap 42: D'Ambrosio is frightened off the road by that group fighting for fourth and he moves off track to the inside of Ste. Devote and lets them all through.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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