Vettel edges out Webberposted in F124 | 11 | 2013

FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMP Sebastian Vettel led home a Red Bull 1-2 in the season finale, the Brazilian Grand Prix. With team-mate Mark Webber (pictured) signing-off his F1 career with second place, before moving to Porsche and sportscars next year, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took third.

Vettel's win was his ninth in succession — setting a new modern-day record, and equalling that of Alberto Ascari in the Fifties — and 13th of the season. That figures equalled that set by his fellow countryman Michael Schumacher.

Vettel, who started from pole, as second into the first corner behind Nico Rosberg, but once he eased passed the Mercedes, he was again uncatchable.

Related: Paul di Resta's "best ever" year in F1

Behind him, close friends Webber and Alonso battled it out for second, with the likeable Aussie eventually finishing eight-seconds ahead of the Spaniard.

Alonso's Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa — in his final race for the Maranello team, received a drive-through penalty for crossing the pit entry line when he was lying fourth.

Furious with the stewards' call, the Brazilian fought back to finish seventh: he switches to Williams in 2014.

The penalty elevated Lewis Hamilton to fourth, but the Mercedes driver suffered a puncture when he collided with the Williams of Valtteri Bottas. To compound his problems, he then also received a drive-through penalty and eventually finished ninth.

With team-mate Rosberg fifth, the result was enough to ensure Mercedes finished second in the Constructors' Championship, just six points ahead of Ferrari.

DRIVERS' QUOTES:

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull:

“I don’t want to compare the record what we have got today; it’s not fair as it was a different time when Ascari was driving. Cars broke down more often then and teams were less consistent, so therefore it’s a different type of record that we have got today. For all of us in the whole team we love coming to work and giving it all we have. There’s a great spirit and it’s sad in a way that the year comes to an end, but that’s how it is. I’m sure everyone’s looking forward to a break to get the batteries charged and to look forward to next year.

"My start wasn’t so good today, but I was able to get past Rosberg. It was hard to know what was going to happen in today’s race. When we came for the second pit stop, it was a late call and then we had to wait for the tyres. We managed to recover with some laps to go.

"Today was of course Mark’s last race. We didn’t have the best relationship, but nevertheless we always had respect for each other on a professional level and whatever was going on off-track, didn’t make a difference to us on track and we both pushed each other very hard. I certainly learned a lot from Mark. I learned to become a better driver, due to his impressive skills; that’s why I consider him one of the best drivers on the grid.”

Mark Webber, Red Bull:

“It was nice to take the helmet off for the final lap. In this sport it’s not always possible to give things a personal touch. We have the helmets on all the time, so they fans don’t always see a Formula One driver in a car without a helmet. It was nice to get it off and see the marshals and the fans; it was just a really nice thing to experience. I heard a lot of noises that I don’t normally hear.

"The difficult part for me today was actually getting in to the car for the final time. I was overcome with some emotion then to be honest. That moment of the helmet going on and stepping into the car was actually the strongest emotion I’ve had all day. Then crossing the line and seeing all the guys was great. Christian radioed me and said enjoy the last lap, which I did. I did it as slow as I could; it was a very special day.

"Seb and I have had our challenges over time and it’s easier to have a relationship with Fernando, as he’s in another team, but to finish on the podium with those two guys – well, they have been the best of this generation. I have raced them a lot and to finish with those guys was nice for me because it meant a lot, showing that I can drive well at the end of my career and that I got the timing right.

"Formula One is a sport which I’ve loved. I could never have dreamt of the career that I’ve had, the tremendous highs, the tough lows – you know they have to happen and you learn from adversity. The biggest and strongest memories you have are from when you are in the car; it’s what we were tuned and trained to do. Driving on the limit is what I was paid to do and what I enjoyed doing. They are the strongest memories you have as an individual at this level.”

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari:

“A podium is the best way to end this long season and finishing behind two Red Bulls almost tastes like a victory, as well as being the maximum we could have done today. It’s a real shame that the much awaited rain didn’t arrive in the end, because in the wet, we would definitely have been more competitive.

"I did not get away well at the start and I found myself blocked on the outside and then the inside. However, after catching Hamilton and Rosberg, I began to push and my race was all on the attack. Even if we cannot be fully satisfied with this result, because our aim is always to win, I would view the season in a positive light: we did win and get podiums, as well as finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship and these are figures we can be proud of, both myself and Felipe. He’s been a fantastic team-mate and even if we continue to see one another in the paddock, I will miss the relationship we have had. I wish him all the best for the future.”

Felipe Massa, Ferrari:

“My race began perfectly, with a great start and then a strong pace that allowed me to immediately pull of some nice passing moves and I was having a really great race up until the moment I was given a penalty for crossing the white line. I don’t think I deserved a drive-through and I believe it was very unfair.

"I am very disappointed because today I could have finished fourth or third. I am sure that if I had found myself behind Fernando, he’d have let me pass. However, I don’t want this incident to ruin such a special weekend for me and all my team. In their eyes, I am a world champion and I will never forget them, nor anything about my time with Ferrari.

"I want to thank everyone who gave me this opportunity and maximum support all the time, including President Montezemolo, Stefano Domenicali and all the mechanics and engineers who work at the track and back home, as well as all the Ferrari fans who, over the years, have rejoiced with me and also suffered with me during the most difficult moments. Thank you!”

Jenson Button, McLaren:

“For Checo, myself and the whole Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, today was an incredible day.I’m pleased to have finished fourth: it’s almost the podium position that I came here aiming for. We really needed today’s result.

“The 2013 season hasn’t been an easy one – it’s been tough for all of us at the circuits, but it’s probably been even tougher for the guys back at the factory, working flat-out to make parts. They’re a really amazing bunch of totally passionate and utterly dedicated people, and they richly deserve the ‘lift’ that today’s result will have given them.

“I’m also pleased for Checo. He won’t be with us next year, but he drove a great race today. Well done, mate.

“I also want to say a big ‘thank you’ to Vodafone. Vodafone has been an absolutely incredible title partner, and we’ve also had a lot of fun together – both on and off the track. Some of the videos they made with us have been truly brilliant. I’m sad to see them leave, but I guess nothing lasts for ever.

“This is a great way to end the year, and now our focus turns squarely to 2014. McLaren is an incredibly strong and powerful organisation – and, believe me, we will fight back.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes:

"Firstly, congratulations to the team today for achieving second place in the Constructors' Championship. That result means so much to everyone and I'm so grateful to have been a part of it this year. From my side, it was a tough race today. I don't know what happened exactly with Valtteri and will have to have a look at the replay. I thought that I had moved to the left, he outbraked me and then we touched, but it happened so quickly and it was obviously judged that I did something wrong.

"I was having a good race until that point in fourth place and a podium might have been possible as I was closing on Fernando. That's why I'm so disappointed with my own race but of course I'm delighted for the team. They have done an incredible job this year and really deserve this result.

"It's the reward for what I know has been many years of hard work and my thoughts are with everyone here at the track and back at our factories at Brackley and Brixworth. We've got so much to look forward to next season so I'll put today behind me quickly and focus on what should be a great year in 2014."

Paul Di Resta, Sahara Force India:

“The light rain made for quite a tricky race, but it was also enjoyable with lots of overtaking. Losing six places off the line with too much wheelspin was a key moment and really put us on the backfoot, but the performance of the car in the race was consistent and we achieved the two-stop race.

"We chose to extend each stint but I struggled for performance on the hard tyre at the end and I wasn’t able to challenge Ricciardo for the final point. However, I think we can go away from here quite satisfied with what we achieved today and with the year as a whole.

"Although I missed out on a top 10 position in the championship, it’s been a successful season, an incredible journey and I want to say a massive thanks to the team for the job they’ve done this year.”

F1 Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos — Result:

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h32m36.300s

2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault +10.452s

3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari +18.913s

4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes +37.360s

5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes +39.048s

6. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes +44.051s

7. Felipe Massa Ferrari +49.110s

8. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari +1m04.252s

9. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1m12.903s

10. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari +1 lap

11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes +1 lap

12. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari +1 lap

13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes +1 lap

14. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault +1 lap

15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari +1 lap

16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault +1 lap

17. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth +2 laps

18. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault +2 laps

19. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth +2 laps

Retirements:

Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 58 laps

Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 45 laps

Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 2 laps

World Championship standings (After 19 of 19 races):

Drivers:

1. Vettel 397

2. Alonso 242

3. Webber 199

4. Hamilton 189

5. Raikkonen 183

6. Rosberg 171

7. Grosjean 132

8. Massa 112

9. Button 73

10. Hulkenberg 51

11. Perez 49

12. Di Resta 48

13. Sutil 29

14. Ricciardo 20

15. Vergne 13

16. Gutierrez 6

17. Bottas 4

18. Maldonado 1

Constructors:

1. Red Bull-Renault 596

2. Mercedes 360

3. Ferrari 354

4. Lotus-Renault 315

5. McLaren-Mercedes 122

6. Force India-Mercedes 77

7. Sauber-Ferrari 57

8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 33

9. Williams-Renault 5

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Jim McGill