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Eight on the trot for Vettel

Mark HallamNovember 17, 2013

Sebastian Vettel has won from pole position in Austin, Texas, beating Michael Schumacher's 2004 record for consecutive race victories. Romain Grosjean held onto second ahead of Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.

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Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany leads the pack during the Austin F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin November 17, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT MOTORSPORT F1)
Image: Reuters

Pole position, race win, and fastest lap; Sebastian Vettel swept the board at the US Grand Prix in Austin, even allowing himself a few "donuts" on his victory lap.

"Fantastic Seb! Record-breaking in a season, unbelievable," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told his lead driver on the in-car radio moments after Vettel claimed his eight win in a row. Michael Schumacher's seven in succession in 2004 was previously F1's longest winning streak.

"Speechless, I'm speechless," Vettel replied over the radio, before finding his voice again. "We have to remember these days, we have to remember these days, because there is no guarantee they will last forever."

Vettel's Red Bull team has emerged as an absolutely dominant force in the second half of this season, but with major regulation and engine changes in store for 2014, it is possible that the F1 pecking order might be shaken up next season.

Behind Vettel, Lotus' Romain Grosjean maintained second position despite a late charge from Mark Webber. The Australian, competing in his second-last Grand Prix, had to settle for the bottom step on the podium.

Hülkenberg and Bottas outdrive their machinery

Lewis Hamilton rolled in fourth for Mercedes, and Fernando Alonso maintained second place in the drivers' championship with a fifth place finish, after spending the final few laps fending off Sauber's German driver Nico Hülkenberg.

Outgoing McLaren driver Sergio Perez, competing in a "home" race of sorts not far from the Mexican border, claimed seventh position behind the impressive Hülkenberg.

Valtteri Bottas salvaged some points for the Williams team, enduring their second miserable season of the last three years. Prior to Bottas' three points for eighth position, Williams had secured just a solitary championship point all season

Germany's Adrian Sutil was the first and only car to retire from the race, getting caught up in a first-lap collision.

Vettel's victory in Austin on Sunday was his 38th career win in Formula One, moving him within three of the career tally for Brazilian three-time champion Ayrton Senna.

The US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas was the penultimate race of the 2013 season, the drivers will take to the grid one last time at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo next weekend.