9 Things You Might Have Missed From The Japanese GP

Image source: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

The iconic Suzuka circuit hosted the 15th round of the 2013 Formula 1 season. The challenging track provided loads of action both on and off-track. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Crash-tastic Friday

The Suzuka circuit takes no prisoners and this showed on the weekend, with plenty of drivers crashing out big time.

Crashes kicked off early when Jules Bianchi ran out of talent on Friday morning. The Marussia driver lost the rear of his car exiting the formidable Degner Curve and got his elbow got stuck between his seat and the chassis, meaning he couldn't correct the opposite lock. Giedo van der Garde was also caught out at this turn, although on this occasion he had both hands free to control the car.

Video: Bianchi crashes

Meanwhile, Pastor Maldonado crashed out at the same corner in the afternoon session. He was joined on the side-lines shortly after by Sergio Perez after a high-speed crash at the Spoon Curve. Even experienced Alonso span at Degner and Raikkonen beached his car in the gravel. although we doubt he was too bothered by it all.

Video: Perez crashes at Spoon

2. Awkward handshake

After qualifying third, Lewis Hamilton lined up for the post-session top three photos. That came after this slightly awkward handshake with Vettel, however.

3. Grosjean paid the price

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

When Romain Grosjean made a driving mistake and lost second place to Kimi Raikkonen, the Frenchman then asked the team that he be let back past the Finn.

Raikkonen was typically blunt on the subject, telling reporters in the Suzuka paddock: "Well, he made a mistake so he paid the price. It's as simple as that, there is no point crying about it. I don't really care what he said and I don't really know, I've only heard some stories but as far as I know, everything went to plan."

4. Where did my wheel go?

Pastor Maldonado's Williams team were fined 60,000 euros after stewards deemed that they released his car onto the track unsafely. This was due to a wheel falling off as he circulated the Suzuka circuit during first practice.

His left-rear wheel went walkies through the long Spoon Curve, which caused Maldonado's car to spin out of the session.

5. Relight my fire

Image source: BBC Sport

Esteban Gutierrez was left hot under the collar on Saturday's quali session when unburnt fuel in his Sauber C32 caught fire. Luckily, the car was undamaged and he returned to the track a few minutes later.

The first session was disrupted shortly after when Jean-Eric Vergne's rear brakes became stuck and caught fire too. The marshals were on hand with extinguishers but it clouded the track in smoke and brought out the red flag.

6. Oh, the enthusiasm

Image source: Red Bull Racing

The Japanese fans are, well, fanatical. They love Formula 1 and so much that the drivers refer to them as "crazy but fun."

Image source: @MercedesAMGF1

7. Naughty Pic plays up again

Image source: Caterham F1 Team

Charles Pic hasn't had the greatest week. He was handed two reprimands over the Korean Grand Prix weekend and then misbehaved during qualifying at the Suzuka circuit after joining the track when the red light at the end of the pit lane was still on.

He committed the same offense in Korea and so the stewards, for the first time ever, handed him a drive-through penalty before the race had even started. He had to serve it within the first five laps of the race. When will Pic learn...

8. Fact of the weekend

Image source: Pirelli Media

Here's a fact for you: Fernando Alonso is now the most successful points scorer in Formula 1.

The Spaniard finished fourth during the Japanese Grand Prix, leap-frogging Michael Schumacher in the all-time list. He currently stands on 1571 points, five ahead of seven time champion Michael Schumacher and 220 ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Of course, the changed points system that was introduced in 2010 has helped considerably with seven current drivers occupying the top 10.

9. Williams drivers fall out

The two Williams drivers have had a slight falling out. Valtteri Bottas was noticeably glum post-race after being overtaken by his team-mate on the last lap. Maldonado said that it was a "clean" move, although it didn't really look that way...

With no room left on track, Bottas was forced across the grass at the last chicane. He said after the race: "There was no space on the track. It was not fair. If I hadn't gone straight on we'd have crashed. Racing shouldn't be like that."