When you have to put a word on what happened in the
2013 formula one season, it can only come down to one word: domination.
For the first time since 2004, no driver has broken or tied records so much as Sebastian Vettel. Considering in comparison with Michael Schumacher, who clinched that championship by winning the French Grand Prix midway through the year, Vettel took a little longer to win his fourth consecutive world title by winning in India, and took the last nine races, tying the record set in 1952-53 by Alberto Ascari. He also tied Schumacher’s 2004 record of 13 wins in a single
season.
So what does this leave the others on the rest of the grid? It seems that Vettel himself did everything he could. In addition to winning grands prix in Malaysia, Bahrain, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Korea, Japan, India and Brazil, he added additional first time win on his home track in Germany, and won the United States Grand Prix weeks ago in Texas. Is there one race he has never won? Would you believe that there is and that is at the Hungaroring in Hungary, where 1st year Mercedes driver Lewis
Hamilton took his only win in what was a disappointing season for the Briton.
However, considering Hamilton had a difficult season as a driver, his team edged Ferrari out for second in the world constructor’s championship and together with Hamilton’s victory; teammate Nico Rosberg went one step further, with wins in Monaco and Great Britain, when Vettel
experienced the only technical failure of the season, laps from the end.
Ferrari also experienced one of its toughest years on memory despite Fernando Alonso taking two wins in China and a very impressive victory at his home race in Spain. The only other race winner of the season was Kimi Raikkonen, who triumphed in the opening race in Australia, only to end up at the finish of the season’s having back surgery; perhaps an excuse to not being paid by Lotus on time, which led to the Finn opting for a drive at Ferrari in
2014.
Mark Webber wrapped up his F1 career at the last race in Brazil, and with it probably no regrets knowing that he no longer has to be a teammate to Vettel especially after their controversial race in Malaysia. But the Australian’s replacement is a driver of a strong personality, who is Webber’s countryman Daniel Riccardo, who leaves Toro Rosso to now become Vettel co-driver next season. Also in addition are the end of the V-8 engines, which have been around for years now. Many questioned how this engine would be like when it first appeared, but now it will be replaced by the Turbo V-6
models, which now makes those questions come back again.
Certain teams are still looking for drivers for next season, and this could be the most movable driver market in years. Lotus, Force India, and Sauber still have not finalized their line-ups, and the off-season should be very exciting. So now that there is a break, F1 fans can now look forward to a little rest. But be aware that a whole new season waits next March with plenty of different changes that could make 2014 the most interesting
season in years.
Mark Gero has written formula one racing stories since 2002 on the Internet for such sites as Motorsport.com, Racing Information Service News and for a brief time at the Munich Eye newspaper in Munich, Germany along with Autoweek online. Mark also has a diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism in London, England and in addition a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.