2013 Singapore Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Sebastian Vettel took his most dominant victory statistically. He took pole position, led every lap, scored the fastest lap, and won by more than 32.6 seconds; his third Grand Slam. Fernando Alonso took second from seventh on the grid. Kimi Räikkönen, despite a back injury and a start from 13th, climbed to the final podium position. Nico Rosberg finished fourth, Lewis Hamilton fifth. Felipe Massa took sixth, Jenson Button seventh, with Sergio Pérez, Nico Hülkenberg and Adrian Sutil picking up the final points places. Vettel increased his championship lead to 60 points over Alonso, with Hamilton a further 36 points behind and Räikkönen two behind Hamilton.

In Their Own Story

The humidity hung heavy over the Singapore skyline as the E21 glided through Turn 15. Inside the cockpit, Kimi focused on the rhythm of the night, the track lights reflecting off the green nose cone. It wasn't just about speed; it was about survival in the heat, preserving the tires for a final push that would secure history.

Reader's Guide

The circuit layout was revised for 2013 with the removal of the 'Singapore Sling' chicane at Turn 10, condensed to a single change in direction. Pirelli brought the medium compound as the prime tyre and the supersoft as the option tyre. In qualifying, Vettel took pole with a time of 1:42.841, ahead of Rosberg and Grosjean. Webber took fourth, Hamilton fifth. The Ferrari duo managed sixth and seventh (Massa ahead of Alonso), Button eighth, Ricciardo ninth, and Gutiérrez tenth after not posting a lap time to save tyres. In the race, Vettel led from start to finish. Rosberg got a better start but ran wide, allowing Vettel back through. Alonso moved up to third. Webber overtook Grosjean early. Hamilton had a bad start and later gave back a position after an illegal overtake. Räikkönen moved up from 13th. The safety car was deployed after Ricciardo crashed. Grosjean retired with pneumatic problems. Di Resta crashed into the barriers. Webber's car had a water leak and caught fire on the final lap. Alonso stopped to pick up Webber; both received reprimands, and Webber earned a 10-place grid penalty for the next race. Some spectators booed Vettel during the podium ceremony, drawing condemnation from Christian Horner, Lewis Hamilton and Niki Lauda.

Did You Know?

• Sebastian Vettel achieved his third Grand Slam at this race, leading every lap from pole and setting the fastest lap.
• Kimi Räikkönen started 13th and finished on the podium despite a back injury.
• The safety car was used in every Singapore Grand Prix up to and including 2013.
• Mark Webber's car caught fire on the final lap, and he was given a lift back by Fernando Alonso.