Korean F1 Grand Prix 2013: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The world's best Formula 1 racers have convened in South Korea for the fourth annual Korean F1 Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel won this race the past two years, and he appears destined for a three-peat after securing pole position on Saturday, as noted by the Associated Press:
Though the Korean International Circuit is a fantastic venue, this race has been beset by financial difficulties since its inception, having lost upwards of $142 million, as noted by SkySports.com.
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This year's race could be beset by a different sort of trouble, as Typhoon Fitow is hovering off the coast of China and could pose a threat.
Assuming the worst of the storm skirts off to the north as expected, the race should commence without incident, however.
Here's a look at when and where you can catch the action, followed by a full list of the contestants and a closer look at the top storylines heading into the race.
When: Sunday, Oct. 6, at 2 a.m. ET
Where: Korean International Circuit, South Korea
Watch: NBCSN
Lineup (via BBC.co.uk)
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | 1 | Red Bull | 1:37.881 |
| 2 | Mark Webber | 2 | Red Bull | 1:38.018 |
| 3 | Nico Rosberg | 9 | Mercedes | 1:38.318 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | 10 | Mercedes | 1:38.332 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | 3 | Ferrari | 1:38.486 |
| 6 | Romain Grosjean | 8 | Lotus | 1:38.701 |
| 7 | Felipe Massa | 4 | Ferrari | 1:38.816 |
| 8 | Kimi Raikkonen | 7 | Lotus | 1:38.857 |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | 11 | Sauber | 1:38.961 |
| 10 | Jenson Button | 5 | McLaren | 1:39.114 |
| 11 | Esteban Gutierrez | 12 | Sauber | 1:39.128 |
| 12 | Pastor Maldonado | 16 | Williams | 1:39.196 |
| 13 | Adrian Sutil | 15 | Force India | 1:39.204 |
| 14 | Sergio Perez | 6 | McLaren | 1:39.274 |
| 15 | Daniel Ricciardo | 19 | Toro Rosso | 1:39.327 |
| 16 | Paul Di Resta | 14 | Force India | 1:39.371 |
| 17 | Jean-Eric Vergne | 18 | Toro Rosso | 1:39.665 |
| 18 | Valtteri Bottas | 17 | Williams | 1:40.128 |
| 19 | Charles Pic | 20 | Caterham | 1:41.360 |
| 20 | Giedo van der Garde | 21 | Caterham | 1:41.614 |
| 21 | Jules Bianchi | 22 | Marussia | 1:41.646 |
| 22 | Max Chilton | 23 | Marussia | 1:42.267 |
Will Anyone Stop Sebastian Vettel?
At the age of 26, Vettel is already a racing legend.
He's won the F1 Championship three years running and is currently 60 points ahead of Fernando Alonso in this year's standings with just six races left in the season, having won seven of 13 races so far.
As noted by Sky Sports F1, he appears to be unstoppable right now—especially after smoking his competition during qualifying in South Korea this weekend:
The German racer won three races in a row before this race. His car has proven to be superior to those of his competitors all year long, and he knows how to get every bit out of it.
How Will Kimi Raikkonen's Back Hold Up?
Raikkonen has been dealing with a painful back injury this season, and he's dealt with back issues for years.
The 2007 F1 champ was able to get through the race in Singapore a couple of weeks ago, but he wouldn't have made it without the aid of painkillers and physiotherapy, as noted by the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).
Jon Noble of Autosport recently reported that Raikkonen would be seeking treatment for a permanent solution to his back problems after the season, but that won't help him with the pain he's dealing with right now:
He made it through qualifying and is expected to race on Sunday, but it remains to be seen how effective he'll be.
Final Prediction
Every driver who participates in these extreme races is capable of winning.
Alonso, Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton are just a few of the worthy competitors standing in Vettel's way this weekend.
That said, it's hard to bet against the German triple champion. Vettel is on an absolute tear right now, and he was clearly the top racer during qualifying.
Vettel will win his fourth race in a row this weekend at the 2013 Korean F1 Grand Prix.
Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78
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