Sebastian Vettel Wins World Championship for the Third Time

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	88	Robert Kubica		1:40.388	1:41.758
2	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:40.669	1:42.129	+0.281
3	20	Kevin Magnussen		1:41.382	1:43.071	+0.994
4	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:41.469	1:42.968	+1.081
5	63	George Russell		1:41.889	1:43.259	+1.501
6	47	Lando Norris		1:41.946	1:43.297	+1.558
7	7	Charles Leclerc		1:42.271	1:43.678	+1.883
8	57	Dean Stoneman		1:42.272	1:43.265	+1.884
9	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:42.276	1:43.581	+2.077
10	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:42.314	1:43.733	+1.926
11	23	Jules Bianchi		1:42.317	1:44.637	+1.929
12	1	Victoria Desai		1:42.978	1:44.923	+2.590
13	4	Robin Frijns		1:43.020	1:44.346	+2.632
14	60	Ritomo Miyata		1:43.024	1:44.195	+2.636
15	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:43.125	1:45.577	+2.737
16	10	Alessio Lorandi		1:44.392	1:46.759	+4.004
17	70	Pastor Maldonado		1:44.394	1:45.885	+4.006
18	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:44.522	1:44.643	+4.134
19	81	Malik Zidan		1:45.096	1:47.502	+4.708
20	29	Roger Ibe		1:45.191	1:46.947	+4.803
21	33	Max Verstappen		1:45.415	1:46.749	+4.588
22	95	Beitske Visser		1:45.514	1:47.047	+5.126
23	98	Colton Herta		1:45.899	1:48.159	+5.511
24	80	Raven Roth		1:46.266	1:48.380	+5.878
25	11	Terry Hawkin		1:48.063	1:49.376	+7.628
26	21	Théo Pourchaire		1:48.516	1:50.497	+8.128

Report:

Every driver’s world championship of the 2020s was decided at the final race of the season, so it was in hindsight pretty obvious that the intra-Caterham warfare would be decided at the Shanghai International Circuit.

The odds were in favour of Sebastian Vettel and while he and Lando Norris did try to beat themselves, eventually Sebastian Vettel managed to secure the podium finish that would guarantee his third championship.

However, the driver title was not the only relevant thing being fought for. The runners-up in the constructors championship was on the line and despite technical issues for Ármannsson, a good second place for Bianchi won MRT the spot.

This event was also the last Formula 1 world championship race for the time being for Mercedes-Benz. In a mixed farewell race, the company saw Carlos Sainz, Jr. retire with a motor failure, but also saw George Russell score points.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		59:23.089	6	20
2	23	Jules Bianchi		+7.643	11	16
3	18	Sebastian Vettel		+10.815	10	12
4	88	Robert Kubica		+22.526	1	12
5	56	Einar Ármannsson		+22.987	9	8
6	39	Sho Tsuboi		+25.198	2	6
7	20	Kevin Magnussen		+54.992	3	4
8	63	George Russell		+72.413	5	2
7	1	Victoria Desai		+90.855	11
8	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+110.683	8
9	26	Robert Shwartzman		1 Lap	18
10	7	Charles Leclerc		1 Lap	7
11	81	Malik Zidan		1 Lap	19
12	70	Pastor Maldonado		1 Lap	17
13	29	Roger Ibe		1 Lap	20
14	57	Dean Stoneman		1 Lap	8
15	95	Beitske Visser		1 Lap	22
16	33	Max Verstappen		1 Lap	21
17	60	Ritomo Miyata		1 Lap	60
18	98	Colton Herta		1 Lap	98
19	4	Robin Frijns		1 Lap	13
20	80	Raven Roth		1 Lap	24
21	10	Alessio Lorandi		Transmission	16
22	11	Terry Hawkin		Transmission	25
DNF	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		Motor	15
DNF	21	Théo Pourchaire		Motor	26

Fastest Lap:

Einar Ármannsson – 1:41.434

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

George Russell – scores the final points for Mercedes-Benz with an inspired effort.

Reject Of The Race:

Ritomo Miyata – being slow and interfering with the leaders is not a good advertisement for a 2024 drive.