Mark’s 2013 Indian Grand Prix preview

on October 25, 2013 2013 Season with 11 comments

Round 16 of the 2013 World Championship sees the teams decamp on the outskirts of New Delhi for the third edition of the Indian Grand Prix. Mark finished on the podium at the Buddh International Circuit last year and if he finishes eighth or better on Sunday afternoon he will surpass 1000 career points in Formula One.

“It’s a nice number because you don’t get there without some degree of success,” says Mark. “But it doesn’t actually mean that much because the points allocation has changed over the years. It’s not like tennis or cricket, where the rules have remained pretty stable. A first class century is exactly that in any era. But if I were to get pole position on Saturday afternoon and equal Sir Jack’s [Brabham] record, that would mean a lot more.”

Mark has qualified on the front row at both of the previous runnings of the Indian Grand Prix, so he hopes to at least stand a chance of challenging for pole position. One thing’s for sure: he relishes the challenge of the 5.1km track.

“I like the rhythm of this place,” he says. “It’s quite a challenging layout, it’s quite quick and it has a little bit of undulation. Someone told me it rises 14m between turns one and three alone, which gives you some idea what it’s like. Of the new tracks it’s definitely one of the better ones, although it’s quite difficult to overtake; the only realistic chances are in the first sector.”

The need for a high top speed along the 1.2km back straight makes car set-up a compromise between straight-line speed and cornering grip, and due to the circuit being used infrequently during the year there is a lot of track evolution during the race weekend.

“You need speed along the straights here,” says Mark. “That’s the best way to ensure you’re not overtaken into Turn 4. I’ve been the fastest through the speed trap at the last two races, so we’ll need to make sure that we’re near the top of the list again here. However, you mustn’t compromise your cornering performance too much because the middle sector in particular has some fast corners and you need to have confidence in the car through there.”

Mark currently lies fifth in the points table, 13 behind Lewis Hamilton. Despite having only four races of his F1 career remaining, he’s 100 percent focused on the job at hand.

“My attitude towards driving hasn’t really changed all season,” says Mark. “I still love getting behind the wheel of an F1 car and there are some good tracks ahead of us, including this one. I’m going to enjoy myself and I’d love to get another win before the year’s out.”

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11 Comments

  • A. Helmink
    on October 25, 2013 Reply

    Enjoy this last rounds of this Year and Please kick some ….. Do enjoy it ! I will if you do kick some…..

  • Lara
    on October 25, 2013 Reply

    Hello Mark !
    We look forward your victory in India !
    I hope the team will not interfere with your victory as it was in Japan. Good luck in the race in India !
    With best regards from Russia

  • Susan fm Oz
    on October 25, 2013 Reply

    All the very best for the GP in India this weekend:)

  • Sukanta Pal
    on October 25, 2013 Reply

    Best of luck for Indian grand prix. I want to see you in front of everybody throughout the race.

  • psycho budgie
    on October 25, 2013 Reply

    Good luck this weekend mate. 😀

  • Kasia Przewlocka
    on October 27, 2013 Reply

    Best of luck Mark. I hope you can win before its season ends. Your fans hope that the team will not ruin your race or win as they did on many occasions.
    Your fans know you are the best.
    Go Mark, gooooo….

  • Hazel Roberts
    on October 27, 2013 Reply

    Best of luck tomorrow Mark. Your talent and professionalism are an inspiration to all. You make F1 so exciting!!

  • Ann
    on October 27, 2013 Reply

    Brilliant position to start from. Very good luck.

  • wassa
    on October 27, 2013 Reply

    stooged again by chsb re tyre choice eh mate. give them hell,

  • Carol
    on October 27, 2013 Reply

    Good luck Mark. Hopefully Red Bull will at least let you have one race before you finish without sabotaging your chances

  • susi
    on October 28, 2013 Reply

    pity that you always sitting in the broken vehicle…. not your good friend :-((( grrrrr….. dont be sad, the next time it gets better again! greetings from austria

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