| 2013 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 15 of 19 in the2013 Formula One World Championship
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 Suzuka Circuit | |||||
| Race details | |||||
| Date | 13 October 2013 | ||||
| Official name | 2013 Formula 1Japanese Grand Prix[1] | ||||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit Suzuka,Japan | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.807 km (3.608 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 53 laps, 307.471 km (191.054 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Warm and sunny | ||||
| Attendance | 171,000[2] | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Red Bull-Renault | ||||
| Time | 1:30.915 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver |  Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | |||
| Time | 1:34.587 on lap 44 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Red Bull-Renault | ||||
| Second | Red Bull-Renault | ||||
| Third | Lotus-Renault | ||||
Lap leaders | |||||
The2013 Japanese Grand Prix (formally known as the2013 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix)[1] was aFormula Onemotor race that was held on 13 October 2013 at theSuzuka Circuit inSuzuka,Japan.[3] The race was the fifteenth round of the2013 season, and marked the 39th running of theJapanese Grand Prix. The race, contested over 53 laps, was won bySebastian Vettel, driving aRed Bull after starting from second on the grid.Mark Webber, who started onpole position, settled for second after being forced to switch to a three stop strategy, which in the end was not successful.Romain Grosjean took his second podium in succession in third position forLotus F1. This was Red Bull's 14th one-two finish in Formula One.[4]
The result meant that the title was not sealed at Suzuka but Vettel could win the title with fifth place at the next race in India. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso stretched his lead to 30 points over Kimi Räikkönen but was still 90 behind Vettel's total.[5]Räikkönen in turn also increased his lead over Lewis Hamilton to 16 points after the Briton retired from puncture damage after colliding with Vettel on lap one. The result also meant that only Alonso could deprive Vettel of becoming world champion as Hamilton and Räikkönen fell out of contention.[6][7]
Tyre supplierPirelli brought its Orange-banded hard compound tyre as the harder "prime" tyre and the White-banded Medium compound tyre as the softer "option" tyre, as opposed to the previous year where hard and soft selection were provided.Jules Bianchi andCharles Pic were each given ten-place grid penalties after stewards found they had been speeding behind the safety car at the previous round in Korea. Both drivers were reprimanded for their actions, and automatically received a ten-place grid penalty as it was their third reprimand of the season.
Free Practice 1 sawHeikki Kovalainen drive forCaterham, in place ofCharles Pic. The session was not without incident, as bothJules Bianchi (Marussia),Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) both went off at the exit of the second Degner corner. As a result of his accident, Bianchi was forced to sit out of Free Practice 2, while his car was repaired.Pastor Maldonado suffered a loose wheel up at Spoon Curve. Williams were later fined €60,000 for failing to attach the wheel properly.Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap of the session, with teammateNico Rosberg behind him.
Free Practice 2 saw Pastor Maldonado also going off at the second Degner corner, where he became stuck in the gravel.Sergio Pérez lost control of his McLaren going into Spoon, and slid backwards and made heavy contact with the tyre barrier.Fernando Alonso spun at the second Degner corner, but he was able to continue.Kimi Räikkönen spun into the gravel trap at the Dunlop corner and was forced to end his session. This time championship leaderSebastian Vettel finished the session fastest, with teammateMark Webber behind him.
In a first,Charles Pic was given a drive-through penalty for leaving the pits when the red light was displayed at the pit exit during qualifying. The penalty was to be served during the first five laps of the race.[8]
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At the start,Romain Grosjean made a superb start to lead into the first corner, behind him there was drama withSebastian Vettel making contact withLewis Hamilton causing the latter to have a puncture, also there was a collision between theMarussia ofJules Bianchi and theCaterham ofGiedo van der Garde sending both cars into the barriers at the first corner, fortunately both cars were removed quickly so nosafety car was needed. Hamilton pitted to change his punctured tyre but retired on lap 7 with floor damage. Grosjean led until the pit stops but careful tyre management from Vettel during the second phase of the race meant he was able to pass Grosjean and go on to win the race. On the penultimate lapMark Webber then caught and passed Grosjean to make it aRed Bull 1-2, with Grosjean having to settle for 3rd.Fernando Alonso claimed 4th withNico Hülkenberg in fifth.Kimi Räikkönen managed 6th although he was some 40 seconds behind his teammate Grosjean.Esteban Gutierrez had the strongest race of his career with 7th beatingNico Rosberg who had to serve adrive through penalty for an unsafe release in the pits.[9]
Notes:
^1 —Adrian Sutil received a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change. However, he chose to be demoted two-five places for causing a deliberate accident at theprevious race.[10]
^2 —Charles Pic andJules Bianchi received ten-place grid penalties for receiving three reprimands over the season. However, due to Sutil's grid penalty Pic and Bianchi were promoted to 20th and 21st respectively.[10]
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| Previous race: 2013 Korean Grand Prix | FIA Formula One World Championship 2013 season | Next race: 2013 Indian Grand Prix |
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