Alonso makes flying start

Michael Schumacher survived an early scare when the Italian Grand Prix got underway at Monza as Fernando Alonso scythed through the field.

Kimi Raikkonen led away from pole position but Schumacher slipped to third briefly before battling past Nick Heidfeld.

BMW-Sauber driver Heidfeld slipped down the order and lost sixth to Alonso, who started 10th due to a penalty.

Robert Kubica, in the other BMW-Sauber, rocketed up from sixth to third on the opening lap while Jenson Button retained fifth.

Schumacher upped the pressure on Raikkonen with the fastest lap as the pair comfortably streaked clear of Kubica.

Schumacher had reduced the gap to just a second by lap seven while his team-mate Felipe Massa was badgering Kubica for third.

Alonso’s charge through the field was checked by Button, who was resolute in his defence of fifth.

Williams’ awful reliability record continued when Nico Rosberg slowed to a halt on lap nine on his way to a fourth consecutive retirement.