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15:03 Here we go. One light, two, three, four, five ... GO! 15:02 Vettel leads the field round on to the grid and rolls in to the pole position slot. He's having to wait a little while for the grid to form... 15:00 We're away on the formation lap and Ricciardo is the only man on medium tyres - the other 21 drivers all opting to start on the supersoft 14:59 Yash asks: "I would just like to know one thing. Is there any answer to Adrian Newey brilliance in Formula 1?" Some would say no, but having the right driver makes a big difference and the new engines will have a much bigger influence next season. He'll be tested to his fullest in 2014 (and he knows it - he's not here this weekend as he works on next year's car) 14:58 I have a bad omen for Kathleen though - the Korean Grand Prix has never been won from pole position in any of its three runnings so far 14:57 Kathleen emails in: "We all like a good race but because of the jealousy and bad sportsmanship by f1 fans and drivers alike towards Vettel, I would like him to win comfortably, this guy does not deserve the flak he is taking, good luck Seb" 14:56 Of course, I haven't even mentioned Webber's chances today. He's set his car up for overtaking yet was a close P3 in qualifying before his penalty, so could be coming through the field quickly. He has to get through the first lap cleanly, though... 14:55 Even if Vettel does lead away, I'm confident we'll see a close race today as both Mercedes and Lotus looked strong on race pace on Friday. Grosjean has been very impressive recently; is he going to be able to challenge for his first ever grand prix victory? 14:53 I say the fast-starting Alonso because he seems to be pulling off awesome starts on a fortnightly basis, but that's probably put the mockers on it. 14:50 Let's turn our attentions to the start of the race shall we? Vettel will be keen to hold on to his lead throughout the first sector, but there will be opportunities for those behind in to Turn 1, Turn 3 and Turn 4 with the long straights available. While Hamilton is first in line to make an attack, keep an eye out for Grosjean in P3 and the fast-starting Alonso in P5 14:45 Funny scenes as Ross Brawn is staring at the Red Bull for a while and when asked by Sky what had caught his eye he smiles and says "Partly to annoy them..." 14:44 Senthil emails in to ask: "Webber now going to start outside top 10 can start on his choice of tyre or he have to start on the tyre in which he set the Q3 time?" Webber has to start on the tyre he set his time on in Q3. Those rules still apply as the penalty is only added after qualifying. The biggest bonus is to Sergio Perez, who now starts inside the top 10 but with a free choice of tyres 14:43 Felipe Massa is quite late to the grid as he's only in the first sector as I type. I'd assume he's the last one to join the fun 14:40 With 20 minutes to go to the race we would love to hear from you with any questions, comments or predictions you have. You can get in touch in two ways; either use the link above to email us or get in touch via Twitter @ESPNF1 14:36 The tail of the typhoon that had threatened to hit South Korea did bring a bit of rain this morning but it abated a few hours ago and the track is bone dry now 14:33 The end of the pit lane is very busy as drivers perform practice starts and head out on track. They're performing those starts on slick tyres as the track is dry after earlier rain this morning 14:30 Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Korean Grand Prix. The pit lane is open and cars are streaming out towards the grid |
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Lap 1 |
Vettel with a very good start and gets away at the front. Grosjean beats Hamilton in to Turn 3 and holds him off in to 4 - A Ferrari spins! It's Massa, and he almost collects Alonso who is back in sixth now behind Hulkenberg. Gutierrez made a great start but the spinning Ferrari has forced him back to 14th place |
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Lap 2 |
Vettel leads by 2.1s at the end of the first lap - that Red Bull is lightning at the start of the race. Don't discount Grosjean though behind him. Ricciardo is up to P7 on those medium tyres ahead of Raikkonen. Webber P12 and Massa is recovering from the back after passing Chilton |
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Lap 3 |
DRS gets enabled as Vettel goes another 0.5s quicker than Grosjean at the front. Webber with a good move on Perez around the outside of Turn 4 for P11. Raikkonen is close behind Ricciardo for seventh while Alonso sets the fastest first sector but then drops back in the middle |
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Lap 4 |
I told you not to discount Grosjean yet - he's quicker than Vettel by 0.1s on the third lap. Raikkonen dives around the outside of Ricciardo using DRS in to Turn 3 and then holds him off before Turn 4. Button with a damaged front wing and he's told to pit so will be out of Webber's way quickly. A replay of the start shows Gutierrez getting up to sixth off the line but then is forced wide as Massa spins all on his own in to Turn 3 |
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Lap 5 |
Vettel extends his lead to 2.8s but Grosjean looking quicker on this lap. Button has pitted and changed to medium tyres. That's Webber up to P10 behind Maldonado who did will at the start. Maldonado goes too deep at Turn 4 and Webber's up to ninth. Button's front wing was damaged by hitting the back of Alonso who took great avoiding action as Massa spun at the start. Grosjean was also very strong in to Turn 3 at the start, muscling his way up the inside of Hamilton |
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Lap 6 |
Massa pits at the end of the fifth lap while the gap at the front remains below three seconds. Grosjean has dropped Hamilton by 1.5s while Alonso has Hulkenberg in DRS range and Raikkonen 0.7s behind him. Button with the fastest lap of the race on new mediums |
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Lap 7 |
Hamilton with a very good final sector and he's closed the gap to Grosjean by 0.2s. Grosjean matching Vettel's time. Maldonado, di Resta and Gutierrez all pit for medium tyres. |
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Lap 8 |
Webber uses DRS to steam past Ricciardo in to Turn 3 - he's up to eighth now. Raikkonen hustling Alonso who has dropped off the back of Hulkenberg. Van der Garde and Bianchi under investigation for forcing another driver off track |
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Lap 9 |
And Raikkonen passes Alonso using DRS in to Turn 3. Alonso tries to fight back in to Turn 4 but his tyres seem to have gone. Vettel has pushed on and opened up his lead to 3.4s. Hamilton is told to push and then pits for mediums. Van der Garde gets a drive-through penalty for forcing Bianchi off-track. I haven't seen the incident so can't really comment on that one. |
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Lap 10 |
Alonso also on to medium tyres at the same time as Hamilton. Lotus will have to respond. Grosjean is in to the pits as Vettel continues, and Grosjean runs a touch wide in the pit lane entry on to the dirt. Where will Hamilton be when he rejoins? Right behind him and he has DRS... |
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Lap 11 |
Grosjean with some robust defence and he just holds on ahead of Hamilton. Good, clean, hard driving. Here's Vettel in to the pits and like Grosjean he runs a touch wide on entry in to the pits. Webber continues so he leads now. |
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Lap 12 |
Vettel rejoins ahead of Ricciardo, with Grosjean right behind and he uses DRS to pass the Toro Rosso. He's definitely closer to Vettel now... Webber pits to release Vettel back in to the lead. Vettel's got a 2.3s lead having pumped in some quick sectors on his out-lap. Perez pushes di Resta wide at Turn 4 in the fight over 13th place |
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Lap 13 |
Webber rejoins behind Raikkonen, while Alonso is ahead of the Lotus again after those pit stops. Hulkenberg has held station but with Ricciardo ahead yet to pit. The incident between Perez and di Resta is under investigation - Perez could be penalised for pushing the Force India off the track |
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Lap 14 |
Ricciardo is up in fourth but three seconds per lap slower than Vettel. Vettel leads by 2.7s from Grosjean now and was 0.8s quicker than Hamilton. Alonso right behind Hulkenberg but runs a touch wide at Turn 2 and loses the momentum he would have had using DRS. Hamilton seems to be struggling a bit int he middle sector at present |
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Lap 15 |
This is far from the dominance he displayed in Singapore, but Vettel seems to have the pace to cover those behind at present. He's now 3.2s ahead of Grosjean, but the question is with the Red Bull be able to two-stop? You'd assume Grosjean can... Hulkenberg holding off Alonso and that's allowing Raikkonen and Webber to catch them both up. I haven't really mentioned Rosberg in P5 but he's over 3s clear of Hulkenberg and 9s behind his team-mate |
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Lap 16 |
Replays show Maldonado passing Perez in to Turn 3 but then losing that place in to Turn 4 again. Looks strong today Maldonado. We now have a full-on train of Hulkenberg-Alonso-Raikkonen-Webber. This should be fun. |
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Lap 17 |
Vettel pulls the lead out to 4.1s but Grosjean has been asked to look after his tyres in the middle sector to ensure it can do a two-stop. Grosjean could be in a really strong position here later in the race. Hulkenberg starting to edge away from Alonso again and that's left Raikkonen right on his tail. Ricciardo holding off Rosberg at the moment but doing a good job having yet to pit |
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Lap 18 |
Grosjean matches Vettel's pace and Hamilton is 0.1s quicker. 6.8s covers the top three at the moment. Rosberg passes Ricciardo using DRS in to Turn 3, and Ricciardo pits at the end of the lap. Alonso gaining on Hulkenberg again |
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Lap 19 |
Vettel's front right doesn't look too pretty, but then nor does Grosjean's. Hamilton in better shape and he takes 0.4s out of Vettel. 6.4s for the top three now. Alonso has half a look at Hulkenberg but decides against it, causing the Sauber to lock up slightly in to Turn 3. |
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Lap 20 |
Vettel again struggles a touch. Grosjean takes another 0.2s out of his lead and Hamilton is 0.7s quicker. That field spread now just 5.7s. Alonso attacks Hulkenberg in to Turn 3 but well defended from the Sauber
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Lap 21 |
Grosjean continues to close on Vettel and is now 3.8s behind. Webber is struggling with graining but is still able to hang on to the three cars ahead. Graining is when the tyre surface rips open but it's a phase which you can get through. Hulkenberg complains his tyres aren't holding on but he's told it could be graining too |
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Lap 22 |
Vettel responds to the pace from behind with the fastest lap of the race. Perhaps he had a phase of graining too. The gap is back up to 4.1s with Hamilton 6.3s behind the leader. Alonso's hopes of a podium seem to be out the window as he's still behind Hulkenberg and is now 27s off the lead. The incident between Perez and di Resta will be investigated after the race. Speaking of di Resta, Ricciardo just used DRS to pass him for P12 |
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Lap 23 |
Red Bull really concerned about grip, with Vettel told to be careful when overtaking backmarkers. Button pits for a second time but has a slow stop as he stops after leaving the box and then continues Massa passes Gutierrez around the outside of Turn 4 with a good move |
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Lap 24 |
Hamilton's pace has suddenly dropped right off and he's 8.2s off the lead and 4s behind Grosjean. He radios in "right front is destroyed" and is told it could be graining, but Hamilton replies "I've been through the graining phase, and it's dead". He's VERY slow now - 2.4s he lost to Vettel on that last lap. Still Hulkenberg holds up Alonso, Raikkonen and Webber. Perez is 12s behind that fight in ninth and Ricciardo another 9s back in 10th. |
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Lap 25 |
Vettel starting to push his tyres again now - he's 4.8s clear of Grosjean and on another quick lap. He'll know Hamilton's challenge is fading. Raikkonen pits at the end of the lap and sticks on another set of medium tyres. Lotus looking for the undercut on Alonso and Hulkenberg |
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Lap 26 |
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Lap 27 |
Alonso's had a problem - really slow lap and Webber is ahead of him. Hulkenberg pits too so Webber is up to P5. Hamilton has Rosberg right behind him now, terrible pace for Hamilton but he's stuck between strategies and can't pit |
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Lap 28 |
Rosberg's got a problem! He passes Hamilton using DRS but his nose comes loose and the front wing is dragging along the floor sparking everywhere! That looks potentially very dangerous |
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Lap 29 |
Webber is pushing and sets the fastest lap. Rosberg pits at the end of the lap and did well to push on with a loose wing. Such an odd failure. At the front, Vettel leads by 5.1s from Grosjean. Long, slow stop for Rosberg and he's back out behind Button. Hamilton complains he needs to pit and is told he'll be in on the next lap |
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Lap 30 |
Hamilton finally pits and he lost six seconds behind his stricken team-mate. Webber is now up to third place and having a great race. Grosjean maintaining the gap at the front. Hamilton rejoins behind Raikkonen, who has already made a second stop and has jumped Hulkenberg too. Webber is 30s off the lead in third place but lapping quickly. |
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Lap 31 |
Vettel caught behind some backmarkers but he's extended his lead to 5.4s.
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Lap 32 |
Vetetl and Grosjean both put and this has put Raikkonen up in to third place Webber pits again and is a long way down the field now - he was following Perez closely and may have hit some of the debris. It was a pretty dramatic failure for Perez but his lock-up in to Turn 1 had already caused a lot of damage to the front right and appeared to have caused the failure |
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Lap 33 |
Anton emails in: "I know they're trying to two-stop, but when your tyres hit the cliff like that... Jesus Christ, Mercedes just completely destroyed Hamilton's race with the decision to keep him out when he was losing so much time on track anyways!" It's a fair point, although this safety car has saved him somewhat. Webber is down to P11 after his stop while Rosberg is down to 8th after his slow stop before the safety car. We've had marshals on to the track to try and pick up the debris from Perez's tyre. |
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Lap 34 |
Webber had a puncture so had to pit again. Annoyingly, lapped cars have been allowed to overtake and now we have to wait for them to catch the pack up again. If we'd gone racing immediately then 22 laps would have potentially on the limit of the mediums life again. Instead, we have to wait a few more laps. Perez, incidentally, is still in the race and in 15th place after getting a new front wing and tyres. |
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Lap 35 |
Raikkonen was first to stop for a second time so might struggle to make the end of the race on that set of tyres. Webber is on supersofts but told on the radio Red Bull wants him to go to the end of the race. Webber: "So why did we fit options?" RBR: "Err, we didn't have any more primes, mate" |
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Lap 36 |
19 laps to go and we've finally got the Caterhams and Marussias on the back of the pack. Let's go racing again. Good - SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP. Vettel is told that he had no margin left on his previous stint and his front right tyre was gone. He backs up the two Lotuses and drops the hammer. |
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Lap 37 |
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Lap 38 |
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Lap 39 |
That was such a mess. Cameras looking straight down from Turn 3 showed the fire truck heading down the long straight and only waved white flags for warning as Vettel approached. The safety car was quickly deployed and disaster averted. Sutil pits for a new rear wing as Webber's car is removed from the scene of the fire. Sutil dropped it all on his own, while Webber sat in his car which was ablaze for some time before standing next to it and staring in disbelief at his luck |
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Lap 40 |
Anton emails in: "Well, that may have just sealed the deal regarding any future running of the Korean Grand Prix. What a clowny race this is turning out to be." Charlie Whiting will want answers. It took much too long to put that fire out too. 15 laps to go and we're still behind the safety car. Now it's Raikkonen right behind Vettel, with Grosjean third ahead of Hulkenberg and Hamilton (who had to hold off Alonso at Turn 4 on the last restart). A big hole in the side of Webber's car - that's expensive especially with a race next weekend. Safety car in this lap again... |
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Lap 41 |
Vettel gets the hammer down in sector two and Grosjean starts to catch his team-mate again. |
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Lap 42 |
Vettel leads by 1.4s. Webber returns to the paddock as Sutil is given a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Hamilton's dropped Alonso again and is now close behind Hulkenberg. Alonso has Button and Rosberg for close company |
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Lap 43 |
Vettel now two seconds clear with another fastest lap. The two Lotuses will hope to push him in to overusing his tyres. Hamilton almost runs in to the back of Hulkenberg at Turn 3 - Alonso now two seconds behind those two. |
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Lap 44 |
Vettel's lead up to 2.4s. You sense Grosjean is the better bet of the two cars behind with Raikkonen on older tyres. Grosjean pit at the same time as Vettel for these tyres. Ricciardo holding up Maldonado, Gutierrez, Mass, Perez and Bottas for P9 |
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Lap 45 |
Vettel with another fastest lap and he leads by 2.8s. Hamilton right behind Hulkenberg in to Turn 1 but decides against a move and Hulkenberg parks it on the apex before disappearing up towards Turn 3. Great racing further back as Gutierrez, Maldonado, Perez and Massa scrap for P10. Gutierrez does very well but having passed Maldonado at Turn 10 he sees Massa come by. Maldonado drops four places. |
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Lap 46 |
Vettel eases off a touch and the gap only extends by 0.1s. Hamilton closer to Hulkenberg but can't make a move stick. Gutierrez defending robustly against Perez but it's a losing battle and the McLaren is through |
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Lap 47 |
Hamilton gets his nose alongside Hulkenberg at Turn 1 but backs out to try again at Turn 3. DRS open but Hulkenberg defends the inside well. Alonso has caught them all now and Button and Rosberg gaining too. This is a really good scrap. |
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Lap 48 |
Vettel leads by 3.3s. Hamilton dives up the inside of Hulkenberg in to Turn 1 but Hulkenberg comes back at him on the long straight. Hamilton and Alonso then scrap but Hamilton holds on. Great racing - Button even had a look at the Ferrari at one point. |
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Lap 49 |
Grosjean can't get within a second of Raikkonen at the moment but might get to later. These five cars from fourth to eighth are having some fun, and Hulkenberg is having a great race and holds on for now. Grosjean is told he's quicker than Kimi and can overtake. Grosjean replies that he can't at present, but Boullier jumps in with some encouragement. Interesting dynamic with Raikkonen leaving the team. |
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Lap 50 |
1.4s cover those five cars scrapping over P4. Massa and Perez under investigation for causing a collision after the race. Grosjean starting to catch Raikkonen now, while Vettel seems to have it covered but has been warned his front right is opening up and there's not a lot he can do about it |
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Lap 51 |
Alonso looks good under braking in to Turn 3 but nobody attacking each other for now. This scrap for P4 could be great in the final lap or two. Hamilton on Hulkenberg: "It's unbelievable how much traction he's got" |
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Lap 52 |
Araving emails in: "I hope the folks at McLaren are watching Hulkenberg and lamenting at what they lost by not signing him last year!" Raikkonen responds to hold Grosjean back at 1.3s, but he's 4.5s behind Vettel. Drivers complaining about tyres all through the field. Three laps to go after this one. Hamilton is right on the back of the Sauber in the final sector and Hamilton radios in: "Has anyone got any suggestions?" Brilliant. |
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Lap 53 |
Grosjean gets the gap to Raikkonen down to a second and he's flying in the middle sector. Rosberg passes Button in to Turn 3 and then defends in to Turn 4. That's P7 for him. |
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Lap 54 |
Vettel sets the fastest lap as we have Ricciardo stopped on the outside of the track and yellow flags are out. Grosjean is 0.7s behind Raikkonen with two to go. Hulkenberg has pulled away from Hamilton a bit and Alonso is close behind. |
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Lap 55 |
On to the final lap and Vettel has this one won. But can Grosjean get his team-mate? 0.7s remains the gap. Hamilton 0.3s behind Hulkenberg and he needs a do or die move really to get the move done on this final lap. Alonso right behind Hamilton and he attacks Turn 4 and 5 but good defending from Hamilton. Vettel cruising round...
Vettel might be walking away with the championship, but that was a great race behind him I feel for Grosjean as he had second place secure until that safety car, but I don't think he could have got Vettel. Ricciardo's retirement (along with Sutil parking it in the garage) almost gave Caterham P10 in the constructors' - Pic finished 14th and one place from leapfrogging Marussia. |
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Vettel stands on his car and salutes the crowd who respond with cheers. It was another clean sweep for Vettel - pole, fastest lap and the victory - and he won by 4.2s in the end. 4.9s covered the top three, so at least I was right that it wouldn't be as dominant as Singapore! While Massa and Perez are P9 and P10 they are both under investigation for an incident where they collided, and a time penalty for one would give Gutierrez his first point. Interestingly before they head out to the podium Grosjean is bemoaning the safety car to Vettel, saying he had a much longer final stint planned and thinks he could have got him. The national anthems ring out as Vettel makes it four wins in a row. He's potentially just one victory from the title now... Vettel: "Fortunately we had enough pace to always open up a little bit of a gap even though Kimi and Romain were very competitive the longer the stint was. I'm loving what I do" (No booing incidentally) Raikkonen: "The car was just understeering too much all weekend. That was really the limitation for how much I could push. We decided to stop much earlier and that was a good move" Grosjean: "It was pretty good fun. I think we had the chance to catch the Red Bull" With the end of the driver interviews it's time for us to sign off. Thanks for joining us and for all your questions and comments, it really was an exciting race if a predictable winner. Make sure you stick with ESPNF1.com for all the reaction, and we'll be back with live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend. |
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Di Resta is facing the wrong way and in the barrier. He loses the rear at the kerb of Turn 12 and is pitched in to a spin. Very odd, and another failure for di Resta to score. Lots of pit stops now but Hamilton still hasn't come in despite being so slow
Webber pits, while Perez has a tyre failure and the safety car is deployed. Perez had locked up in to Turn 1 and run wide and then the front right failed
Raikkonen is close behind Grosjean as Hulkenberg passes Hamilton. Sutil spins at Turn 3 and hits Webber in the sidepod and Webber is out and his car is on fire!
SEBASTIAN VETTEL WINS THE KOREAN GRAND PRIX. Raikkonen holds off Grosjean and it's a brilliant fourth place from Hulkenberg. Somebody give him the car he deserves. Hamilton's fifth ahead of Alonso, Rosberg, Button, Massa and Perez.
