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Formula 1

Christopher Bruce2013-10-13 14:26:11

Vettel Takes Hard-Fought Win in Japanese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso still has a chance at the championship

 
 
Slideshow
The push by Red Bull came late in the race, but it was enough to take first and second

It seems nothing can stop Sebastian Vettel. Even starting from second was not enough to keep the German down. This victory is his fourth Japanese Grand Prix win. However, the win was not enough to give Vettel the championship; Fernando Alonso finished in fourth, which still technically makes it mathematically possible for him to win the championship. Alonso’s title chances are certainly dwindling quickly, though.

The race started exciting with Mark Webber and Vettel both having a slow start. That allowed Romain Grosjean to rocket to the lead. Vettel eventually passed him on lap 41 while Grosjean was in the pits, but Grosjean held second place up until the final two laps when Webber finally got around him.

Also at the start of the race, Lewis Hamilton took damage that eventually forced him to retire from the race. Hamilton started in third and was clipped by Vettel to cause a right-rear tire puncture. He made it back to the pits but retired when the body damage to the car was slowing him too much.

Giedo van der Garde and Jules Bianchi also came together on the first lap and knocked each other out of the race.

To score fourth place, Alonso had to put in a hard fight. He was behind teammate Felipe Massa for much of the race but got around him in the final part of the race, but that was only enough for fifth. He also had to take on Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen to get to fourth.

Esteban Gutierrez finished seventh to score the first points of his F1 career.

In the drivers' championship, Vettel has a 90-point lead over Alonso. Kimi Raikkonen overtakes Lewis Hamilton for third in the championship Nico Hulkenberg moves from 13th to 10th thanks to his strong performance. Gutierrez six points put him in 16th place.

Red BullRed BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
1049 photos
3 videos
continues to lead the constructors' championship with a 148-point lead over FerrariFerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
. SauberSauberSauberSwitzerland, 1970 > present21 models
166 photos
4 videos
overtakes Toro RossoToro RossoToro RossoItaly, 2006 > present10 models
110 photos
1 video
thanks to Gutierrez's good performance.

Japanese Grand Prix Results
Position Driver Team
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
4 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
6 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari
7 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
9 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
10 Felipe Massa Ferrari
11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari
13 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari
14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
15 Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes
16 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
17 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault
18 Charles Pic Caterham-Renault
19 Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth
20 Retire Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
21 Retire Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault
22 Retire Jules Bianchi Marussia Cosworth
World Drivers' Championship Points
Position Driver Team Points
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 297
2 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 207
3 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 177
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 161
5 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 148
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 126
7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 90
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 87
9 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 60
10 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 39
11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 36
12 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 26
13 Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 23
14 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 18
15 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 13
16 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 6
17 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1
World Constructors' Championship Point Standings
Position Team Points
1 Red Bull-Renault 445
2 Ferrari 297
3 Mercedes 287
4 Lotus-Renault 264
5 McLaren-Mercedes 83
6 Force India-Mercedes 62
7 Sauber-Ferrari 45
8 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 31
9 Williams-Renault 1

 

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