2013 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

After Korea, Vettel has extended his lead to 77 points over Alonso. Räikkönen moved to third in the championship, 28 points behind Alonso, with Hamilton sixth points behind Räikkönen.

Previous race

Sebastian Vettel won in Korea for his fourth consecutive victory, achieving a grand slam — pole, every lap led, fastest lap, and win — for the second consecutive race. He became the first driver since Jim Clark in 1963 to achieve that feat in back-to-back races. Räikkönen and Grosjean completed the podium for Lotus, though the finish was clouded by minor controversy after Grosjean asked for team orders late in the race having lost position to Räikkönen on a safety car restart. Nico Hülkenberg finished a career-best fourth for Sauber. Mark Webber retired after his car caught fire following a collision with Adrian Sutil; a fire truck appeared on track under its own initiative during the ensuing safety car period.

Between-race developments

Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic each receive ten-place grid penalties after stewards found they had been speeding behind the safety car at the Korean Grand Prix. Both drivers received reprimands, and the penalties are automatic as each has now collected three reprimands in the season.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the hard (prime) and medium (option) compounds, compared with hard and soft at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.

Practice

Heikki Kovalainen drove for Caterham in FP1, standing in for Charles Pic. In the session, both Bianchi and van der Garde went off at the exit of the second Degner corner. Bianchi’s accident was significant enough to require car repairs, keeping him out of FP2. Maldonado also suffered a loose wheel at Spoon Curve; Williams were later fined €60,000 for failing to attach the wheel correctly.

In FP2, Maldonado went off at the second Degner corner and became stranded in the gravel. Sergio Pérez lost control of his McLaren approaching Spoon, sliding backwards into heavy contact with the tyre barrier. Alonso spun at the second Degner corner but continued. Räikkönen spun into the gravel at the Dunlop corner and ended his session early.