2013 Team Reviews: Red Bull

The Team Review series draws to a close, but not before the World Champions, Infiniti Red Bull Racing are placed under the microscope. 2013 was an incredible year for the Milton Keynes based team, as the now four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, notched up 13 victories, wrapping up the title in India and claiming an unprecedented nine consecutive wins. With long-time servant of the team Mark Webber announcing his retirement and a dramatic team orders fiasco, 2013 was a year to remember for the Red Bull juggernaut.

2013 Team Reviews: Mercedes

2013 for Mercedes has been tale of trials and tribulations, but the sprinkling of success has softened the blow of the damaging tyre-test gate and the brake down of relationships in the team's hierarchy. With Ross Brawn departing the team, you could suggest that the future could look bleak for the team from Brackley, however, with the likes of Paddy Lowe, Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton successfully integrating themselves into the team over the course of 2013, this coming season could be even better than the last. The three victories in 2013 somewhat made up for the turmoil faced off the circuit.

2013 Team Reviews: Ferrari

A team with the prestige and history of Ferrari always have high hopes of success when heading into any season. Unfortunately for the passionate Tifosi, 2013 was yet another trophy-less season - the last championship success came courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Appropriately dubbed, "The Bull Fighter" Fernando Alonso once again finished second to Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers Championship, yet the Spaniard was once again Mr.Dependable, picking up two victories and a further seven podium finishes. Meanwhile, teammate Felipe Massa suffered another disappointing season claiming just one season. However, Maranello will be a hive of excitement as their Finnish son returns to partner the chosen one. It could be explosive!

2013 Team Reviews: Lotus

Next to come under the microscope is Lotus and what a crazy season it has been for the team from Enstone. Kimi Raikkonen has proved to be a highly valuable asset to the team - too valuable in fact, while Romain Grosjean enjoyed a magnificent turn in form after the summer break as he claimed four podiums post Hungary to add to his two prior to the shutdown. While Lotus were at times, the closest challengers to Red Bull, the team struggled with inconsistencies during the early part of the year which meant that they were unable to catch Ferrari and Mercedes, despite their better form at the end of the year.

2013 Team Reviews: McLaren

The 2013 Team Review series has run into 2014 and there is still plenty more to come. Today it is McLaren who are up for examination after a year of disappointment and despair for the team as they suffered their first season without a podium finish since 1980. Despite the best efforts of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, the season was condemned to failure from the start as McLaren were yet another team to take the wrong approach to what should have been an evolutionary winter.

2013 Team Reviews: Force India

The midway point of the Team Review series has seen the spotlight set on Force India, a team who experienced a mirrored season compared to rivals Sauber - Force India were significantly disadvantaged by the tyre construction changes which derailed their challenge at the head of the field and refocused their campaign on defending from a fast charging Sauber who were catching fast. While they managed to hold on to P6 in the constructors, it was certainly a rocky ride, especially when Paul Di Resta's form took a turn for the worst during the Asian leg of the season.

2013 Team Reviews: Sauber

2013 was a year of mixed emotions for Sauber. While the campaign failed to live up to the lofty heights of 2012, which produced no less than four podium appearances, 2013 eventually developed into a promising year for the team. The change in fortunes was fundamentally down to the change in tyre construction which took place prior to the summer break. Nico Hulkenberg immediately improved and Esteban Gutierrez soon followed suit. Sauber's season went from a dire start to an acceptable finish and they will hope to carry the momentum forward into 2014.

  

2013 Team Reviews: Toro Rosso

It is difficult to judge how Toro Rosso will assess their season and I would be willing to suggest that the conclusions would vary depending on who you speak to. For Jean Eric Vergne, 2013 was a year of midfield obscurity, where the Frenchman rarely made the headlines. Meanwhile, for Daniel Ricciardo, it was mission accomplished as he made a successful graduation to Red Bull to take the place of Mark Webber, while scoring a rather modest 20 points. However, with a graduate from the junior team to the top, should 2013 be considered a success for the team regardless of the disappointing points tally?

2013 Team Reviews: Marussia

The second of the 2013 Team Reviews sees Marussia placed under the microscope. Marussia's 2013 season was a story of mission accomplished, as they managed to claim the lucrative P10 in the constructors championship which had evaded them since their formation in 2010. Jules Bianchi sparkled throughout the season, earning the status of being one of Formula One's hottest properties. Meanwhile, Max Chilton became the first rookie in history to finish every race his début season. However, it was not a perfect season for Banbury squad...

2013 Team Reviews: Caterham

Its that time of year again. The nights are drawing in and the critical eye is out once again, as we begin to analyse the successes and failures up and down the field in 2013. Each and every day leading up to Christmas, a team will be reviewed on the blog, ending with the 2013 double Champions Red Bull on the 24th December. However, there is plenty of analysis to come before then, starting with a review of Caterham's season...

Hulkenberg Returns To Force India

It's another sideways step in Nico Hulkenberg's career as the German returns to Force India - A team who the German turned his back on just twelve months ago. The relationship between Sauber and Hulkenberg was somewhat of a non-starter, after Nico openly expressed his regret towards leaving his former team at the start of 2013 when his C32 failed to even make the grid in Australia. While the Lotus seat was Hulkenberg's target this winter, returning to a team where he enjoyed relative success in 2012 is by far from a disastrous result - especially since just a few weeks ago there was a possibility that Hulkenberg could be out of a drive next season.

Maldonado Heading To Lotus

The chips are beginning to fall in the driver market as Lotus have finally confirmed that Pastor Maldonado will partner returnee Romain Grosjean in 2014. The announcement concerning Kimi Raikkonen's replacement at Enstone has been eagerly anticipated ever since the Finn declared his departure back in October. However, the news of Maldonado's arrival has angered many fans as the pay driver debate rumbles on. Nico Hulkenberg has undoubtedly been beaten to the seat by Maldonado's pocket, yet the Venezuelan's appointment is not as dire a forecast for the future as some may perceive.

Brawn Departs From Mercedes

After months of speculation, it was today confirmed that Ross Brawn and Mercedes have parted company, with immediate effect. Brawn's exit was somewhat of an inevitability; the Brit has been disillusioned by the change in management structure at Mercedes and the relationship broke down in conjunction with Paddy Lowe's switch to the team from McLaren. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. However, what lies ahead for one of Formula One's highly regarded team personnel?
 

Brazilian Grand Prix: Race Anaysis

The 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix was never set to live up to the thrilling climax from 2012, yet the final race of this season was undoubtedly a special occasion for many reasons. Sebastian Vettel claimed his ninth consecutive win and his thirteenth of the season; equalling the respective records set by Ascari and Schumacher. It was an impressive drive once again, but it was teammate Mark Webber who stole the show. His final race ended with a well deserved podium in P2 making it yet another Red Bull 1-2, capping off another magical season for them.

Check out Sky Sports F1's photo gallery for the Brazilian Grand Prix

Brazilian Grand Prix: Saturday Analysis

It was echoes of qualifying back in March for the Australian Grand Prix, as rain delays caused chaos once again in Brazil. While Q3 was delayed due to heavy rain, the session did eventually resume and Sebastian Vettel once again rose to the top of the pile, claiming his 45th career Pole in sublime fashion. His massive margin of 0.7 seconds to Nico Rosberg in P2 was truly remarkable - His margin of 1.1 seconds to Mark Webber in P4, even more-so. A ninth consecutive victory is on the cards, yet rain at Interlagos can spring the biggest of surprises.

Perez Disinterested In Backmarker Drive

Following his late and frankly harsh dismissal by McLaren, Sergio Perez will be one of a number of talented drivers without a job come next Monday. It is a travesty, yet Sergio may struggle to find a seat in Formula One at all, considering the awkward timing of McLaren's announcement. While a move to a midfield team could be a possibility, (with a return to Sauber being suggested), Sergio has stated that he would not be interested in joining one of the lower constructors for 2014.

US Grand Prix: Race Analysis

COTA in Austin may well be one of the best modern circuits in the world, yet the 2013 US Grand Prix was undoubtedly short of action. Regardless, there were some interesting battles up and down the field behind Sebastian Vettel, who waltzed to his eighth successive win. The victory sees him seal the record of the most consecutive wins within one calendar year. If Vettel can triumph in the season finale next week, he will equal two more records. Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean equalled his best result in Formula One by finishing in second after withstanding considerable pressure from Mark Webber throughout the final stint.

US Grand Prix: Saturday Analysis

Qualifying for the second US Grand Prix to be held at the stunning COTA saw Red Bull dominate proceedings, with Sebastian Vettel pipping teammate Webber to a well deserved Pole Position. The remarkable fact was that Vettel pulled back a seemingly unassailable deficit of 0.4 seconds after a poor first and second sector to steal P1 with a flawless end to the lap. Best of the rest was Romain Grosjean in P3, while the Mercedes were disappointed and puzzled after an unexpectedly poor session.

US Grand Prix: Friday Analysis

After what was an unmistakably slow start to proceedings in Austin, Friday fans were delivered two very interesting sessions. While Sebastian Vettel unsurprisingly led the way with the fastest time of the day, the star of the show was Raikkonen's able replacement, Heikki Kovalainen. The Finn quickly adapted an excellent understanding of the car and finished in a highly commendable P5 on the timesheet in FP2. Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat put his newly acquired superlicence to good use as he made his practice debut for Toro Rosso in FP1, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind the Red Bull bound Ricciardo.

Raikkonen Checks Out Of Lotus

The Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus relationship has been steadily deteriorating in recent weeks. As Raikkonen is heading to Ferrari next season, he has not been shy in condemning the team for their poor finances, which have led to him not being paid. However, lack of payment is not the reason why Raikkonen's management team have announced that he will not race in the final two rounds of the season - instead, the Finn will undergo surgery on Thursday to cure the trapped nerve in his back which almost ruled him out of the Singapore Grand Prix back in early October.