Sebastian Vettel went nine-for-nine after the Formula One summer break, winning every race from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps to the season finale Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. He ends the season with 397 points, a new record for points in a season, 13 wins in a season, tying the record set by Michael Schumacher in 2004, 16 podiums, good enough for the second most in a season. Top that off with 9 pole positions and 7 fastest laps to wrap-up his fourth championship season.
Not to forget mentioning the career totals. Vettel ends 2013 with 39 victories, two behind Ayrton Senna for third all-time. Forty-five pole positions has Vettel third all-time, twenty behind Senna for second and twenty-three back of Schumacher for the all-time record. He has 62 podiums, 22 fastest laps, 1,451 career points and he doesn't appear to be slowing down.
Second place was Mark Webber in his final start. Webber ends his career with nine wins, 42 podiums, 13 pole positions, 19 fastest laps and 1,047.5 career points. The Australian moves pass Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen in the final point standings to finish third on the season behind Vettel and Fernando Alonso who finished third in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Webber moves back to the top-flight of sports car racing and will be driving for Porsche as they enter LMP1 racing to take on the stalwarts Audi and join Toyota as they look to dethrone Audi at Le Mans and around the world.
Jenson Button finished fourth, McLaren's best finish of the 2013. It is the teams first season without a podium since 1980 when John Watson and Alain Prost were their drivers. Nico Rosberg finished fifth and in doing so earned enough for Mercedes to hold off Ferrari in the battle for second in the constructors' championship. Sergio Pérez finished sixth in his final start for McLaren. Danish driver and 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 champion Kevin Magnuseen will be replacing the Mexican in 2014. Pérez's plans for 2014 are still unknown. Felipe Massa's career at Ferrari ends with him taking home a seventh place finish in his home race. Massa will move to Williams F1 in 2014.
Nico Hülkenberg finished eighth in what appears to be his final race with Sauber. The German is rumored to be heading back to Force India where he would form an all-German pairing with Adrian Sutil. Lewis Hamilton recovered from a flat tire after contact with Valtteri Bottas and a drive-through penalty for said contact to finish ninth ahead of Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian Ricciardo will replace fellow Aussie Mark Webber at Red Bull in 2014.
As stated above, Sebastian Vettel ends the 2013 season with 397 points, a new record for most in a season. Fernando Alonso finished second, 155 points back of the German. Mark Webber finishes with 199 points, ten ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Räikkönen finished fifth in the standings despite missing the final two rounds after having back surgery. Nico Rosberg finishes sixth ahead of Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button and Nico Hülkenberg. Eight other drivers scored points in 2013: Sergio Pérez, Paul di Resta, Adrian Sutil, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Éric Vergne, Esteban Gutiérrez, Valtteri Bottas and Pastor Maldonado.
In the constructors' championship, Red Bull scored 596 points, defeating Mercedes by 236 points. Ferrari finishes third to the Silver Arrows by only six points. Lotus-Renault finish fourth with 315 points. McLaren-Mercedes finish fifth ahead of Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Williams. Marussia and Caterham both finished with zero points but Marussia finish tenth in the final standings thanks to a thirteenth place finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix by Jules Bianchi.
As we look to 2014, the calendar still needs to be finalized, driver line-ups still have to be finalized and the new 1.6 liter turbocharged engines still have to be tested. Vettel will enter another season as defending champion but now with a new teammate. Mercedes will look to continue on their successful 2013 season and look to make a dent into Red Bull's dominance. Ferrari will employ two world champions in Alonso and Räikkönen as they look to win their first constructors' title since 2008.
Lotus needs money as Grosjean appears likely to stay. McLaren will be in their final season with Mercedes in 2014 with Honda returning the Formula One and the famed constructor in 2015.
Williams looks to recover after only scoring five points in 2013. Toro Rosso brings in rookie Daniil Kvyat to join Jean-Éric Vergne. Sauber reportedly have their own Russian, Sergey Sirotkin but he still needs a Super License to be allowed to compete in 2014.
Meanwhile a great cast of drivers are on the outside looking in. Nico Hülkenberg appears to have a seat but nothing has been confirmed. Sergio Pérez looks to continue his Formula One career after a cup of tea at McLaren. Pastor Maldonado will be looking for a new home for his Venezuelan oil money.
Paul di Resta may be left without a ride and may be moving to IndyCar. Will Heikki Kovalainen return to Caterham? If he does, who is the second driver: Pic or van der Garde? Or does Caterham hire Swede Marcus Ericsson from GP2? Does Marussia keep Chilton or do the bring in someone new to join Bianchi?
Do any other new drivers enter Formula One? Does GP2 champion Fabio Leimer get promoted or will he be forced to look for a reserve role like 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi? Does Sam Bird finally move up or will he be stuck in GP2 for another year?
We haven't even mentioned the calendar in-depth. Does Korea return? Do New Jersey, Mexico and Russia happen? Does the season end in Abu Dhabi or does the season finale remain at Interlagos?
There are many questions as we enter the winter break and their is one answer for all of them: 2014 cannot come soon enough.
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