2013 Korean Grand Prix

The 2013 Korean Grand Prix (formally the 2013 Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix) was the fourteenth round of the 2013 Formula One Season. It was the fourth Korean Grand Prix, and the fourth at the Korea International Circuit. It took place over the weekend of 4–6 October 2013.
Polesitter Sebastian Vettel won the race, taking the fastest lap. Kimi Räikkönen finished second, with Romain Grosjean third. Nico Hülkenberg had a fantastic race to finish in fourth place.
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==Background==
After three consecutive victories, Sebastian Vettel takes a lead of 60 points over Fernando Alonso to Korea. His team, , have a lead of 103 points over Alonso's team, .
As a result of obtaining his third reprimand of the season at the previous race, Mark Webber will be penalized ten places on the grid.
Some changes to the circuit had been implemented since the last race. The pit lane exit was the most noticeable change. Previously, it joined the track at Turn 1, but now rejoins the track at Turn 2 where is it much safer. Other changes included replaced artificial grass and new kerbs to prevent cars from cutting corners.
==Entry list==
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	Infiniti Red Bull Racing 	 	RB9 	 	RS27-2013 	
2 	Mark Webber 	Infiniti Red Bull Racing 	 	RB9 	 	RS27-2013 	
3 	Fernando Alonso 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F138 	 	056 	
4 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F138 	 	056 	
5 	Jenson Button 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-28 	 	FO 108Z 	
6 	Sergio Pérez 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-28 	 	FO 108Z 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Lotus F1 Team 	 	E21 	 	RS27-2013 	
8 	Romain Grosjean 	Lotus F1 Team 	 	E21 	 	RS27-2013 	
9 	Nico Rosberg 	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	 	W04 	 	FO 108Z 	
10 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	 	W04 	 	FO 108Z 	
11 	Nico Hülkenberg 	Sauber F1 Team 	 	C32 	 	056 	
12 	Esteban Gutiérrez 	Sauber F1 Team 	 	C32 	 	056 	
14 	Paul di Resta 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM06 	 	FO 108Z 	
15 	Adrian Sutil 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM06 	 	FO 108Z 	
16 	Pastor Maldonado 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW35 	 	RS27-2013 	
17 	Valtteri Bottas 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW35 	 	RS27-2013 	
18 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR8 	 	056 	
19 	Daniel Ricciardo 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR8 	 	056 	
20 	Charles Pic 	Caterham F1 Team 	 	CT03 	 	RS27-2013 	
21 	Giedo van der Garde 	Caterham F1 Team 	 	CT03 	 	RS27-2013 	
22 	Jules Bianchi 	Marussia F1 Team 	 	MR02 	 	CA2013 	
23 	Max Chilton 	Marussia F1 Team 	 	MR02 	 	CA2013 	
Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only 	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only
14 	James Calado 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM06 	 	FO 108Z 	
22 	Rodolfo González 	Marussia F1 Team 	 	MR02 	 	CA2013 	
==Practice Overview==
===FP1===
===FP2===
===FP3===
===Practice Results===
No	Driver 	Team	FP1 	 	FP2 	 	FP3 	
No	Driver 	Team	Time 	Pos	Time 	Pos	Time 	Pos
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	1:39.667	2 	1:38.781	2 	1:37.881	1
2 	Mark Webber 	 	1:39.816	3 	1:38.844	4 	1:38.018	2
3 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:40.374	6 	1:39.444	7 	1:38.486	5
4 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:40.880	10 	1:39.114	5 	1:38.816	7
5 	Jenson Button 	 	1:40.215	5 	1:39.774	9 	1:39.114	10
6 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:40.860	9 	1:40.152	12 	1:39.274	14
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:40.677	8 	1:39.757	8 	1:38.857	8
8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	1:40.396	7 	1:39.226	6 	1:38.701	6
9 	Nico Rosberg 	 	1:40.117	4 	1:38.797	3 	1:38.318	3
10	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:39.630	1 	1:38.673	1 	1:38.332	4
11	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:40.899	11 	1:40.210	14 	1:38.961	9
12	Esteban Gutiérrez 	 	1:41.626	14 	1:40.186	13 	1:39.128	11
14	Paul di Resta 	 	DNP 	DNP	1:40.007	11 	1:39.371	16
14	James Calado 	 	1:43.008	18 	DNP 	DNP	DNP 	DNP
15	Adrian Sutil 	 	1:41.432	12 	1:40.006	10 	1:39.204	13
16	Pastor Maldonado 	 	1:41.482	13 	1:41.117	17 	1:39.196	12
17	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:42.002	16 	1:41.289	18 	1:40.128	18
18	Jean-Éric Vergne 	 	1:41.924	15 	1:40.446	15 	1:39.665	17
19	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	1:42.043	17 	1:40.552	16 	1:39.327	15
20	Charles Pic 	 	1:43.660	19 	1:42.798	20 	1:41.360	19
21	Giedo van der Garde	 	1:43.883	20 	1:42.461	19 	1:41.614	20
22	Jules Bianchi 	 	DNP 	DNP	1:43.108	21 	1:41.646	21
22	Rodolfo González 	 	1:46.810	22 	DNP 	DNP	DNP 	DNP
23	Max Chilton 	 	1:44.100	21 	1:43.441	22 	1:42.267	22
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
===Grid===
Notes:
* * Mark Webber was given a ten-place grid penalty after incurring his third reprimand of the season at the previous race for walking on track without permission from marshals.
* † Jules Bianchi was given a three-place grid penalty after impeding Paul di Resta during qualifying.
==Race==
Although Sebastian Vettel led every lap on his way to victory, it was not as dominant as previous races. The drivers got off cleanly up until turn 4, when Felipe Massa spun under braking, almost taking out teammate Alonso in the process. This caused many drivers to take avoiding action, including Esteban Gutiérrez, who dropped from 6th to 14th.
Graining on the right-front tyre was an issue for most drivers, which led to many complaints from drivers and messages of caution from their engineers. Hülkenberg was able to fend of Alonso for 5th place, with the Ferrari driver constantly under pressure from future teammate Kimi Räikkönen. 
Paul di Resta was the first retirement of the race on lap 26, with the Force India driver hit the kerb at turn 12 before spinning around and tapping the barrier. Two laps later Rosberg attempted a simple DRS overtake on teammate Lewis Hamilton, but his nose cone dropped off unusually during the pass, causing sparks to fly from the front of the car. This meant Mercedes had to pit the German over Hamilton, who was struggling with grip.
Sergio Pérez caused the first of two safety cars in quick succession, with the Mexican's front-right tyre delaminating on the main straight following a heavy lock-up into turn 1. This caused Mark Webber to take avoiding action but still managed to pick up a puncture, frustrating the driver since he had just exited the pits.
Vettel made another rapid restart ahead of Romain Grosjean. Hülkenberg was able to pass Hamilton on the main straight on lap 37 to take the Sauber driver into p4. Just behind, Adrian Sutil spun under braking, similar to Massa earlier in the race and t-boned Mark Webber. This subsequently set Mark Webber's car alight, for the second consecutive race, with the Aussie fortunately okay. As the safety car had not yet been deployed, Kimi Räikkönen was able to pass his teammate on the pit straight, following an error by Grosjean exiting the final few corners. Grosjean may have been able to attack Kimi on the DRS straight, but was denied by the presence of the fire Jeep on the straight, before the safety car had been deployed.
Räikkönen was able to make a better restart than Grosjean did several laps before, but could not attack Vettel. The remaining fifteen laps saw tight battle for fourth and tenth position, in particular skirmishes between Hülkenberg and Hamilton, and Hamilton and Alonso. There was a five-car battle for the final points position, with Gutiérrez passing Pastor Maldonado for tenth, only to be repassed immediately. Massa was tapped by Pérez into turn 11, but this surprisingly helped the Brazilian and he overtook both Gutiérrez and Maldonado after turn 12. Gutiérrez made a surprise overtake in turn 12, but was offline so defenceless to Massa. Maldonado was also seriously offline, so passed by both Mexicans, and teammate Valtteri Bottas. The Venezuelan lost four positions in one corner.
The only time Hamilton could make it past the Hülkenberg was on lap 48, but was immediately repassed with assistance from DRS. Nico's amazing first sector speed and traction out of turns 1 and 2 enabled him to hold the Mercedes back. Button and Rosberg were close behind the trio, but after Rosberg passed Button for seventh, both drivers back off for the rest of the race.
Vettel finished the race, only four seconds ahead of the Lotuses, with Romain told on the radio to smile on the podium despite his frustration at losing to Räikkönen. Hülkenberg held off Hamilton and Alonso to record his best position of the year, with Pérez rounding out the points after Daniel Ricciardo's retirement on lap 52.
Tim Malyon Red Bull team joined on the podium to receive the winning manufacturer’s award.
===Results===
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired 	Grid	Points
1 	1 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	55 	1:43:13.701 	1 	25
2 	7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	55 	+4.224 	9 	18
3 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	55 	+4.927 	3 	15
4 	11 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	55 	+24.114 	7 	12
5 	10 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	55 	+25.255 	2 	10
6 	3 	Fernando Alonso 	 	55 	+26.189 	5 	8
7 	9 	Nico Rosberg 	 	55 	+26.698 	4 	6
8 	5 	Jenson Button 	 	55 	+32.262 	11 	4
9 	4 	Felipe Massa 	 	55 	+34.390 	6 	2
10 	6 	Sergio Pérez 	 	55 	+35.155 	10 	1
11 	12 	Esteban Gutiérrez 	 	55 	+35.990 	8 	
12 	17 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	55 	+47.049 	17 	
13 	16 	Pastor Maldonado 	 	55 	+50.013 	18 	
14 	20 	Charles Pic 	 	55 	+1:03.578 	19 	
15 	21 	Giedo van der Garde	 	55 	+1:04.501 	20 	
16 	22 	Jules Bianchi 	 	55 	+1:07.970 	22 	
17 	23 	Max Chilton 	 	55 	+1:12.898 	21 	
18 	18 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	 	53 	Brakes 	16 	
19 	19 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	52 	Brakes 	12 	
20 	15 	Adrian Sutil 	 	50 	Collision damage	14 	
Ret 	2 	Mark Webber 	 	36 	Collision 	13 	
Ret 	14 	Paul di Resta 	 	24 	Accident 	15 	
;Notes:
*Jean-Éric Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo and Adrian Sutil failed to finish the race but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race.
==Milestones==
*The final Korean Grand Prix in Formula One
*: 208th pole as an engine supplier, equaling the pole count of -powered cars.
*Sebastian Vettel: 4th Grand Chelem (win from pole, leading every lap and setting the fastest lap).
*Sebastian Vettel: 2nd consecutive Grand Chelem, only the third driver to do so in F1 history (after Alberto Ascari in and Jim Clark in ) and the first to get two in a row in over 50 years.
*Kimi Raikkonen's last podium finish in a Lotus.
==Standings after race==
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	272
2 	Fernando Alonso 	195
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	167
4 	Lewis Hamilton 	161
5 	Mark Webber 	130
6 	Nico Rosberg 	122
7 	Felipe Massa 	89
8 	Romain Grosjean 	72
9 	Jenson Button 	58
10 	Paul di Resta 	36
11 	Nico Hülkenberg 	31
12 	Adrian Sutil 	26
13 	Sergio Pérez 	23
14 	Daniel Ricciardo 	18
15 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	13
16 	Pastor Maldonado 	1
17 	Esteban Gutiérrez 	0
18 	Valtteri Bottas 	0
19 	Jules Bianchi 	0
20 	Charles Pic 	0
21 	Giedo van der Garde 	0
22 	Max Chilton 	0
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts
1 	 	402
2 	 	284
3 	 	283
4 	 	239
5 	 	81
6 	 	62
7 	 	31
8 	 	31
9 	 	1
10 	 	0
11 	 	0
==Notes==
Category:2013 Grands Prix
Category:Korean Grand Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles