2013 Chinese Grand Prix

Championship standings

After Malaysia, Sebastian Vettel leads the Drivers’ Championship with 40 points. Red Bull leads the Constructors’ Championship with 60 points, ahead of Lotus in second. There are 17 races remaining.

Previous race

Sebastian Vettel won in Malaysia in one of the most talked-about moments of the young season. Leading in the closing stages under team orders — code “Multi-Map 21” — to hold position and conserve tyres, Vettel defied the instruction and overtook teammate Mark Webber for the victory. Vettel won from Webber, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium in his first race for Mercedes. Webber cut across Vettel in anger on the slowdown lap. Kimi Räikkönen, who had led the championship into Malaysia, finished seventh.

Between-race developments

Vettel flew to the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes on 26 March to apologise to his colleagues. Team principal Christian Horner confirmed Vettel shook hands with Webber: “He can’t turn back the clock, but he’s accepted what he did was wrong.” Red Bull did not reprimand or punish Vettel because his lawyers threatened legal action. Webber, meanwhile, received a telephone call from Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz requesting a written account of events, and dismissed media speculation that reserve driver Sébastien Buemi might replace him.

Milestones

Fernando Alonso starts his 200th Formula One Grand Prix.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the medium (prime) and soft (option) compounds, the same allocation as the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix.