2013 United States Grand Prix

Report

Background

Driver changes

Kimi Räikkönen announced a week before the Grand Prix that he would be missing the final two races of 2013, in order to have back surgery. He had wanted to delay the operation until the off-season, but suffered increasing discomfort over the previous races. Räikkönen's decision meant that the previous race was his last race competing for Lotus, having agreed to join Ferrari for the season. His place was taken by Heikki Kovalainen, who signed a two-race deal with the team.

Tyres

Like the previous United States Grand Prix, tyre supplier Pirelli will bring its orange-banded hard compound tyre as the harder "prime" tyre and the white-banded medium compound tyre as the softer "option" tyre.

Free practice

Jenson Button was given a three-place grid penalty for the race, after overtaking under red flags during the opening practice session. Charles Pic was given a five-place penalty for the race after Caterham changed the gearbox in his car.

Qualifying

Esteban Gutiérrez and Max Chilton were given penalties for impeding other drivers in the first qualifying session. Gutiérrez, who blocked Pastor Maldonado was handed a ten-place grid penalty; Chilton had served a drive-through penalty within the first five laps of the race after he impeded both Maldonado and Adrian Sutil.

Race

At the start, Sebastian Vettel led away but soon after the safety car was deployed after Pastor Maldonado and Adrian Sutil collided, sending the latter into the barriers. At the restart on lap 5, Vettel quickly built up his lead and was never challenged en route to his 8th consecutive victory, taking the fastest lap with two laps remaining. Behind him Lotus driver Romain Grosjean held off Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, for 2nd.

Post-race

Jean-Éric Vergne was given a 20-second penalty for a collision with Esteban Gutiérrez on the final lap of the race. He moved down from 12th to 16th as a result.

Classification

Qualifying

Notes:

: – Esteban Gutiérrez qualified 10th, but was given a ten-place grid penalty for the race after blocking Pastor Maldonado during qualifying. : – Jenson Button qualified 13th, but was given a three-place grid penalty for the race, after overtaking under red flags during the opening practice session. : – Charles Pic qualified 21st, but was given a five-place penalty for the race after a gearbox change.

Race

Notes:

– Jean-Éric Vergne was penalised 20 seconds post-race for colliding with Esteban Gutiérrez.

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings

;Constructors' Championship standings

• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
• Competitors in bold text are 2013 World Champions.}}

References

References

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5. Benson, Andrew. (17 November 2013). "Sebastian Vettel takes record eighth win in row at the US GP". [[BBC]].
6. Cary, Tom. (17 November 2013). "Sebastian Vettel completes eighth consecutive win at Austin's Circuit of The Americas". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
7. (10 November 2013). "Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen to have back surgery next week". [[BSkyB]].
8. Noble, Jonathan. (13 November 2013). "Lotus agrees deal with Heikki Kovalainen to replace Kimi Raikkonen". [[Haymarket Media Group.
9. Wise, Mike. (15 November 2013). "Jenson Button has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the United States GP". [[BSkyB]].
10. Straw, Edd. (16 November 2013). "Caterham's Charles Pic gets gearbox penalty". [[Haymarket Media Group.
11. (16 November 2013). "Gutierrez and Chilton handed penalties for impeding". [[Formula One Group.
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13. (17 November 2013). "Vergne penalised for Gutierrez clash". Crash Media Group.
14. (16 November 2013). "2013 United States Grand Prix Qualifying Results". [[Formula One Group.
15. (17 November 2013). "2013 United States Grand Prix Race Results". [[Formula One Group.
16. "United States 2013 - Championship • STATS F1".