Red Bull have the run of Yas Marina - Abu Dhabi 2013

A look at team performance from the weekend's racing action

05/11/2013 by Christine

I don't think anyone was anticipating a fantastic race in Abu Dhabi. Although there is a brief fascination with the lowering sun and sometimes the brightly lit hotel, the race track itself doesn't deliver. Given the way the latter half of the 2013 season, it was no surprise to find Red Bull dominating the entire weekend, and even with the championship battles ongoing behind, the two hour race on Sunday struggled to remain interesting.

Red Bull blitz the Buddh International Circuit - India 2013

The championship hunt is over, as there are split strategies throughout

28/10/2013 by Christine

India's final race (until 2015, anyway) was a different beast to that which we have grown to love over the past season and a bit. Rather than the chaotic all-out action that DRS and KERS and the Pirelli tyres provide, this one was all about the strategic thinking. Those that describe F1 as a high-speed chess match could use the Indian Grand Prix as their example. Team had to choose the optimum strategy, and with two drivers that meant splitting the difference in a lot of cases. It worked out for some and not for others, and of course the title was decided along the way.

Red Bull showcase stylish success at Suzuka - Japan 2013

Lotus challenge the top team, as Mercedes have a tough weekend

16/10/2013 by Christine

The racing in Suzuka tends to deliver better than at other tracks, and this year didn't disappoint. Although Red Bull took another dominant win - actually securing themselves a 1-2 on the podium - it wasn't as straightforward as they have experienced lately. Meanwhile, Lotus were the next best team, rather than Mercedes who were having a shocking weekend. Ferrari also clung on to their mathematical championship challenge but weren't on the pace when they needed to be. It could all be over soon but in Japan, there was still life left in the season.

Lotus double up as half of Red Bull go down in flames - Korea 2013

Team analysis from the racing action at Yeongam

09/10/2013 by Christine

The Korean Grand Prix was a surprisingly good race, considering how little it seemed we would have in store after qualifying. Although Sebastian Vettel was on his usual top form to secure pole position and the race win, there was a lot else to take in all the way down the field. From double DNFs, to defensive drives, to spectacular sparks and flames, the race had a little bit of everything.

Mercedes miss out to Red Bull at Marina Bay - Singapore 2013

Vettel dominates the night race, as Mercedes drop back

26/09/2013 by Christine

Singapore didn't deliver on the championship front, and unfortunately left quite a lot to the imagination in terms of racing. But as always, some of the teams made the best of it, and some found luck just wasn't going their way. Red Bull continue to be the dominant force in qualifying and the race, although it was a closer run thing than they may have liked. Meanwhile in the midfield there were some teams who found the street circuit worked well with their cars, whilst there were a few upgrades up and down the field that had mixed results.

Sauber surprise as Red Bull reign at Monza - Italy 2013

Another weekend dominated by Vettel, as the midfield make their move

10/09/2013 by Christine

For the second race weekend in a row, we were left wondering just what has gone wrong with our incredible season. Where the early racing has us on the edge of our seats, the last few events have been less impressive. As ever, there are still things to take note of from the five sessions completed in Monza, and it was interesting to see which teams did well and which struggled. But the competition at the top is not what it could be and the racing left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, here's my team by team review of the Italian Grand Prix.

Significant show of strength from Red Bull at Spa - Belgium 2013

Vettel takes another dominant victory as Red Bull increase their lead

27/08/2013 by Christine

The Belgian Grand Prix didn't deliver the corker of a race that we were hoping for, and it saw one team dominant above the rest, but even so, there was a lot to come out of the weekend's action at Spa-Francorchamps. From backmarker teams making a fine display in qualifying, to yet more penalty problems on Sunday, there was a lot going on. Here we'll look at how each of the teams performed on the first weekend after the summer break, starting with the winners.

Hungaroring heatwave hoists Mercedes - Hungary 2013

A surprising pole position turns into a masterful victory

31/07/2013 by Christine

I think it's safe to say that fans and teams both approached the Hungarian Grand Prix with apprehension. We know it can sometimes fail to deliver in terms of action, overtaking and entertainment, whilst they had an awful lot of unknowns to deal with. New tyres, higher temperatures and all the bonuses from that Silverstone test.

Red Bull upswing at the Nürburgring - Germany 2013

Sebastian Vettel is right at home, as the team recover their winning ways

10/07/2013 by Christine

With the tyre troubles solved at least temporarily, we could turn our attention back to the track action proper, and the ongoing battle between Red Bull and Mercedes. For another week, it seemed as though they were the only two that were going to have any pace to fight over the weekend, but in Germany, we saw another player throw their hat back into the ring.

Mercedes see Silverstone success despite tyre troubles - Britain 2013

The race cycles through several leaders before Rosberg scoops victory

30/06/2013 by Christine

It was a difficult race in the depths of the British countryside, and for once it wasn't because of the weather. The tyres played a massive part in what happened during the weekend, but it's also key to see how the teams reacted to the hands they were dealt. Mercedes managed to win the race despite their polesitter missing out on the victory, and it is to them we turn our attention first.

Canada 2013 - Red Bull are the cream of the crop in Canada

Vettel sweeps away the competition, as the midfield shine

15/06/2013 by Christine

We expect great things from Canada and the anticipation to the 2013 race was just as high as ever. Whereas Monaco is incident-filled but the racing is less exciting, Canada usually provides a good sprinkling of both unusual events and good racing. We looked forward to the changeable conditions which were set to mix things up, the possibility of a safety car interfering with strategies was higher than normal, and it seemed as though it was a weekend where anything could happen.

Monaco 2013 - Magnificent Mercedes master Monte Carlo

Red Bull are beaten to the punch as Ferrari suffer setbacks

27/05/2013 by Christine

The Monaco Grand Prix provides a unique challenge for teams, and coming straight from the high speed power-hungry Barcelona, it's a complete turnaround in the principality. The oppressive streets, the almost impossible corners, and, of course, the appearance of a safety car or two. This year's race was stacked with incidents and each team goes away with a lot to learn.

Spain 2013 - Ferrari on form in front of Fernando's fans

The Scuderia double up on the podium, as Mercedes fight for race pace

14/05/2013 by Christine

The Formula One paddock was swirling with discussions about the shape the Spanish Grand Prix took, with its average of four pit stops per driver, tyre de-laminations aplenty, and the occasional focus on conservation. The ongoing debate over F1 2013-style could drag on for weeks or months, but here and now, we know that all the teams had the same fair playing field, and some of them did better than others.

Bahrain 2013 - Red Bull dominate in the desert

Vettel wins another race, as Lotus take two steps on the podium

22/04/2013 by Christine

We've complained endlessly in the past about the lack of racing action provided in Bahrain, and although it is by no means the worst track on the calendar, it has failed to deliver. That was all swept under the carpet for 2013, with an incredible race with action from lights to flag - overtaking, incidents, teammate rivalries, and just the one retirement.

China 2013 - Ferrari find form in Shanghai show of strength

Alonso's victory shows Ferrari pace, as Red Bull falter

14/04/2013 by Christine

Going into the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, most of the attention was on Red Bull, with a desire to see how the team coped after their public fallout in Sepang. Unfortunately for them, the weekend didn't deliver on the results front, so that we were busy watching other drivers instead. By the time it came to race day on Sunday, all eyes were on Lewis Hamilton, sitting pretty in pole position, and the Lotus and Ferrari drivers that surrounded him.

Malaysia 2013 - Red Bull make a scene in Sepang

Vettel's victory is overshadowed by inter-team politics

27/03/2013 by Christine

The Malaysian Grand Prix was on the verge of being a predictable procession, before the final third of the race. Although most of the drama came from the controversy surrounding team orders rather than any specific on track exhiliration, it was still enough to spice up the second race of the year.

Australia 2013 - Lotus race to early victory in absorbing Albert Park

Lotus and Ferrari shine, as McLaren and Williams have work to do

19/03/2013 by Christine

Last year, Formula One left off with a chaotic but exhilarating race to finish the championship off nicely. Just four short months later, the sport is back with more of the same. The Australian Grand Prix kicked off the brand new season in style, with drama from the outset of qualifying to the very moment the chequered flag fell. Finally we got a chance to see how all the teams’ winter preparation has served them and who has made a great start to the new year.

Brazil 2012 - McLaren shine in show-stopping São Paulo finale

Button clings on to victory as the championship is decided behind him

27/11/2012 by Christine

It was the epitome of chaos in Brazil as the final race of 2012 unfolded before our eyes. 71 laps of non-stop action, with rain on and off, and a Safety Car for good measure. All eyes were on Vettel and Alonso, but there were great battles throughout the field and plenty to wrap the season up nicely.

United States 2012 - McLaren topple Red Bull to triumph in Texas

Hamilton wins the race that Vettel looked set to dominate

19/11/2012 by Christine

The first race at the Circuit of the Americas came under close scrutiny throughout, from the early moments pondering how the grip would be, to seeing that turn one hill climb in action, to the final moments on the podium. It was McLaren’s moment to shine, though, as they adapted to the circuit quickly, and took a convincing victory.

Abu Dhabi 2012 - The long-awaited victory for Lotus

Kimi Räikkönen puts stamp on impressive comeback with Yas Marina win

06/11/2012 by Christine

We've had two relatively dull races in a row, and expectations weren't high going into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It's hard to fathom whether the racing underneath was any good, but Sunday afternoon at Yas Marina delivered incident after incident to keep things interesting. There was a lot to untangle from each team - including drivers crashing into their teammates, odd retirements peppering the grid, plus a brand new winner on the top step of the podium!