Ferrari believe Fernando Alonso was lucky to finish the Italian Grand Prix in the position he did, after the team revealed that his car suffered heavy damage during his clash with Sebastian Vettel.
Alonso and Vettel were battling for fifth position when the Spaniard had to take to the grass as a result of Vettel running him wide. The Red Bull driver later received a drive-through penalty and then retired with an alternator failure.
Whilst Alonso looked to have escaped the frightening ordeal unscathed, Ferrari confirmed his car in fact suffered heavy damage which could have ended his race.
“We had a problem with the car and if you see, it has big damage on the left rear and also there was something broken from a mechanical point of view,” confirmed team principal Stefano Domenicali.
“We told him at the end not to go on the kerbs because he could have had a bigger problem.
“I am pleased that he finished the race.”
