Race review—2013 Korean Grand Prix

The Korean Grand Prix was a complete package of a Formula One race. We watched a dominant leader, a car catching fire, an amazing drive of a racer who did not belong to Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes, the best drivers struggling and nowadays a very common sight, Paul Di Resta hitting his car into the barriers.

It was the 14^th race of the season and just the fourth race held in the International Korean Circuit. The start of the race was very chaotic with five cars battling for position five six seven eight and nine which saw Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso dropping to sixth position and his teammate Felipe Massa’s car spun but luckily he had no damages to worry for. The pole setter Sebastian Vettel who has started the last three races from P1 blasted off in his Red Bull well ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso fails again

Even though Alonso started from his usual fifth position, he failed to make the podium position; for the sixth time in 2013. In order to stop Vettel in nearing his fourth straight title, he has to win almost all the remaining races. But this fact will not be applied any more if Vettel manages another win at Suzuka, Japan next weekend. He is just one win away in joining Michel Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio’s legendary group who held the record of winning four consecutive Driver’s Titles.

He finished sixth which is no good for his chance in this year’s Championship. His 2014’s teammate Kimi Raikkonen came up again with a splendid performance overtook his current Lotus partner Roman Grosjean in lap 38 at turn one of the circuit. This was the third time in the season when both the Lotus drivers finished on the podium and again the senior Lotus driver was at par when compared to the Frenchman.

McLaren’s bad form phase continues with its drivers starting on P10 and P11. To make things worse, Jenson Button was forced to pit in lap four because he damaged his front wing thereby resuming the race from the back. Following his pit stop, with his new medium tires he sets the fastest lap in lap six. This might have bettered the environment in the garage of the British F1 team. Button finished eighth with the very important four Championship points.

Mercedes once again showed an example of a great fighting team but unfortunately they had to face some difficulties with both the racers. In lap 28, when Nico Rosberg was catching up with Hamilton sparks flew out of his car’s underneath of the front wing which made him pit and therefore delayed his British teammate’s pit stop. Hamilton was losing pace in regular intervals so it was necessary for him to pit but was forced to continue the race. Hamilton and Rosberg managed only fifth and seventh positions at the end of the race.

“Sebastian Vettel’s dominance will bore fans,” Lewis Hamilton said after the race. But he insisted that Vettel deserves the title as he has done well all year. “I have looked his points; he was first-second, first-second all year. He has done a perfect job so deserves to win.”

Mark Webber’s last days in his racing career are only getting worsened. After his engine gave up on the last lap of Singapore Grand Prix in September, he had to retire in Korea after his car caught fire after the collision with the Sahara Force India driver Adrian Sutil. It was very disappointing for the Veteran for not completing the Korean GP even after having decent records of finishing second and third in 2012 and 2011 respectively.

The surprise of Korean GP

Surprisingly, in the closing laps of the race, the whole show was stolen by the Sauber Ferrari driver Nico Hulkenberg. His unbelievable fourth position came by restricting the two giants, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to fifth and sixth positions. He showed superb defensive skills when he was attacked by three former World Champions, Hamilton, Alonso and Button for the most- wanted fourth position. He might be one of the choices the Lotus can consider for filling Raikkonen’s place.

And of course the lime light was once again following Sebastian Vettel. He had a Grand Chelem win, i.e. getting the pole position, fastest lap and the victory. It was his career’s 34^th win and third Grand Chelem. The prediction for the next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix is obviously watching him getting crowned as 2013’s World Champion. It would be interesting if someone delays his victory by a Grand Prix or two.