As the Brazilian Grand Prix brought the 2013 season to a close, it also dominated the news for the past week, just as the USGP did last week.
Sebastian Vettel Wins Fairly Dry but Exciting Brazilian Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel won his ninth straight race, with Mark Webber closing out his F1 career on the podium in second. Though Fernando Alonso was, it turned out, prepared to gift Felipe Massa a podium in his final race for Ferrari, the Spaniard finished third after his Brazilian teammate suffered a drive-through penalty.
Vettel’s domination did not look so certain on the start, with Nico Rosberg leading into Turn 1, but the German’s Mercedes did not settle into the race. Instead, Vettel attacked early and passed for the lead as they began the second lap. Webber and Alonso had their own scrap over second after Alonso dispatched early. Even as rain fell lightly, drivers continued to use their dry tyres, with Jenson Button moving up from his fourteenth starting position to finish fourth. Rosberg dropped to finish fifth.
Lewis Hamilton also suffered a drive through penalty, after the stewards determined he caused a collision with Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton would finish ninth, as Sergio Perez, Massa, and Nico Hulkenberg separated the Mercedes teammates. Daniel Ricciardo scored a single point in his final race at Toro Rosso.
Find out everything that happened in the race in the Grand Prix Redux. Vettel won pole during Saturday’s partially delayed qualifying sessions, which were as rained out as the rest of the action to that point on the weekend. Find out what the drivers had to say after the race, after qualifying, and after the practice sessions.
Don’t forget to participate in the season recapping #F1Chat later today on Twitter. Read the discussion questions here.
Shell & Ferrari Explain How Race Weekends Work
At the USGP, Shell & Ferrari took some time out to explain the mechanics of a race weekend between the two companies to Formula1Blog and, by extension, to you.
