The end of the 2013 Formula 1 Championship saw yet another utterly dominant display from the 'driver of the moment', Sebastian Vettel. Leading almost from start to finish, even a problematic pit-stop couldn't prevent him from winning easily, and for the 9th race in a row; only Alberto Ascari before him has ever achieved such a run.
Mark Webber, in his farewell to Formula 1, did what he's done for so much of the last few years and finished second to his team mate, while Fernando Alonso came home a creditable third in a car which was not really up to the job, and claimed the runner-up spot in the driver's championship. Penalties for both Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton somewhat cancelled each other out and Hamilton's Mercedes team clung on to second place in the Constructor's championship, while the challenge from Lotus faded away with Romain Grosjean's early blown engine.
The surprise package of the race was undoubtedly Jenson Button. After a really miserable time in qualifying, the 2009 champion started 14th on the grid but made rapid progress through the field. A storming drive saw him achieve his team's best finish of the season; even though this was a modest 4th, it was quite a result for the beleaguered McLaren firm.
Next year will see a raft of changes to cars and teams. New engines, limited fuel, narrower front wings and unlimited use of 'Kers', no Mark Webber and new driver line-ups for several teams. How will Alonso and Raikonnen get on ? Will Ricciardo prove much of a challenge to Vettel ? How will new boys Kevin Magnussen and Danil Kvyat do ? Will Paul DiResta have a drive at all ? So many questions to be answered and we have to wait until March to even start finding out most of the answers.
Roll on March.
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