2013 Indian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Sebastian Vettel leads the Drivers’ Championship with 297 points; Fernando Alonso is second on 207. With a maximum of 100 points remaining across the final four races, Alonso can still mathematically win the title. Vettel needs only a fifth-place finish or higher to become Drivers’ Champion, regardless of Alonso’s result. Kimi Räikkönen is third on 177 points, Lewis Hamilton fourth on 161, and Mark Webber fifth on 148. Red Bull leads the Constructors’ Championship with 445 points, ahead of Ferrari on 297 and Mercedes on 287.

Previous race

Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix from Mark Webber, with Romain Grosjean third for Lotus. It was Red Bull’s 14th one-two finish in Formula One. Lewis Hamilton retired after suffering puncture damage from contact with Vettel on the first lap. The collision ended Hamilton’s and Räikkönen’s mathematical title chances, leaving only Alonso as a challenger.

Between-race developments

Toro Rosso has confirmed GP3 Series driver Daniil Kvyat for the 2014 season alongside Jean-Éric Vergne.

A court hearing in a dispute over unpaid entertainment taxes from the previous Indian Grand Prix was held this week; a court official confirmed the case will be heard the week after the race, ending speculation that the event could be cancelled.

Practice

The first practice session ran in dry conditions with an ambient temperature of 30 °C. Vettel set the fastest time, almost two-tenths of a second ahead of Webber, with Rosberg third and Grosjean fourth. Alonso’s Ferrari suffered a gearbox problem that limited him to six timed laps.

The second session ran in similar conditions with a slightly higher peak track temperature of 40 °C. Vettel again set the fastest lap; Webber was second, Grosjean third. Alonso recovered to fifth, split by Hamilton and Rosberg.

Saturday practice was delayed by 20 minutes after the medical helicopter was unable to take off due to poor visibility from smog. Once underway in dry conditions, Vettel was again fastest, more than half a second clear of Webber. Alonso improved to third.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the medium (prime) and soft (option) compounds. Each driver is allocated eleven sets of dry tyres for the weekend, and all cars must use both compounds during the race.