Five themes to watch for in the Italian GP

AUTOSPORT's Formula 1 editor Edd Straw picks the five key storylines to watch out for going into the Italian Grand Prix

Alonso seeks perfection

For all his prodigious ability, even the most committed Fernando Alonso acolyte would have to admit that he has made a few costly mistakes this year that have undermined his title bid. That jump-start in China, the practice crash in Monaco that relegated him to the back of the grid, expecting to get away with passing Robert Kubica on the grass at Silverstone and pranging in the wet at Spa have left him lagging in the title fight.

Questions have been asked in the Italian media about his mistakes, but this is Alonso's chance to silence the doubters among the tifosi and slash Lewis Hamilton's 41-point championship lead. It sounds a lot, but he's within two unanswered victories of getting back in front and the pressure will be on to convert his immaculate pole position lap into a third win of the year.

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