2012 Formula One World Championship

[purch]

Here we go again! Can hardly wait for the season opener!


Red Bull / Renault
1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber
R. Sebastien Buemi

Seb seems confident as ever, but with the Pirelli compounds being closer in comparable lap time than in 2011, and the banning of blown diffusers, I reckon Webbo will be closer to Seb….like 2010 perhaps? Well, almost but not quite..This is pre-testing and all, but I’ve got a feeling that Red Bull aren’t going to be the ones to beat come the start of the season. Time will tell I guess.


McLaren / Mercedes
3. Jenson Button
4. Lewis Hamilton
R. Gary Paffett

Button v Hamilton…hard to pick. Hammy in quail and Button in the race if form continues on from last year. I've got a sneaking suspicion that the fight for the WDC will involve this team and both drivers, but I could be wrong.


Ferrari
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa
R. TBC

I’m surprised that Massa got a drive at Ferrari this year…just goes to show the loyalty of Italians perhaps? I can’t see Massa being there in 2013 if he doesn’t get closer to Fernando…to think that Felipe beat Kimi fair and square once upon a time. If the car is decent, Alonso is a WDC contender as always. That’s a big IF…but they (Ferrari) are suggesting that they could be just 0.3 sec of Red Bull’s pace at the beginning of the season – compared to the 0.7+secs of 2011. If that's the case then Alonso will win races, plural.


Mercedes
7. Michael Schumacher
8. Nico Rosberg
R. TBC

Nico to beat Michael again and Schumi to retire for good…at last


Lotus / Renault
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Romain Grosjean
R. Jerome D’Ambrosio

I have no idea what to think of this team anymore. Their engineering dept seems to have a preparedness to innovate, which means the new car could be a stunner or a dog, but their management has also shown they’re prepared to sack drivers mid season and post season in the same year. And Kimi being Kimi…he could deliver anything, depending on whether he is in it for the pocket money to buy extra icecreams or not..


Force India / Mercedes
11. Paul di Resta
12. Nico Hulkenburg
R. Jules Bianchi

Di Resta is over rated I fear. 2011 driver, Adrian Sutil, has been in court and got handed a suspended jail sentence. The Hulk is back and I reckon he’ll give Paul a decent run for his money. Or maybe he’ll blitz him..


Sauber / Ferrari
14. Kamui Kobayashi
15. Sergio Perez
R. Esteban Gutierrez

Kobayashi has sights set for taking this team forward for a change. Perez has his eyes on a Ferrari seat in 2013.


Toro Rosso / Ferrari
16. Daniel Ricciardo
17. Jean-Eric Vergne
R. Sebastien Buemi

Out of all the F1 drivers who have spoken to the press before their first event, I’ve never found one to come across more arrogant than JEV. I hope Daniel whips his a55.


Williams / Renault
18. Pastor Maldonado
19. Bruno Senna
R. Valtteri Bottas

Whilst some may have preferred to see Rubens…or Sutil…or one of the dumped STR drivers to be in Senna’s seat, I’m glad that he’s getting a chance to complete a full season in a team that has a new engine deal and some history behind it. Mind you, Senna + Williams + Renault does bring back some awful memories.


Caterham / Renault
20. Heikki Kovalainen
21. Jarno Trulli
R. TBC

Heikki will destroy Jarno


HRT / Cosworth
22. Pedro de la Rosa
23. TBC
R. TBC

De la Rosa? Seriously? I'd prefer to see some young blood!


Maurussia / Cosworth
24. Timo Glock
25. Charles Pic
R. TBC

[purch]

Meet some of the cars of F1 2012:


The new Caterham CT01 - Renault(formerly Lotus):











The new Ferrari F2012:














McLaren MP4/27 - Mercedes:














Lotus E20 - Renault:














Force India VJM05 - Mercedes:

[RustyCage]

Sauber - Ferrari C31

[RustyCage]

Red Bull - Renault RB8

[purch]

Toro Rosso STR7 - Ferrari

[purch]

Testing commenced at Jerez yesterday.

Day 1 Times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m19.670s 73
2. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m19.772s + 0.102 101
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m20.219s + 0.549 56
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m20.496s + 0.826 53
5. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m20.694s + 1.024 57
6. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m20.794s + 1.124 41
7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m21.353s + 1.683 106
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m21.530s + 1.860 60
9. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m22.815s + 3.145 69
10. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m23.178s + 3.508 28
11. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m23.371s + 3.701 25
11. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m23.676s + 4.006 44



Live timing for Day 2 of the Jerez test is here: http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on
Live Autosport commentary here: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/436

[lesthemechanic]

That Lotus looks almost like the old JPS cars. Looks good. Where did you see the JEV interview & is there a link ?

[RustyCage]

Trulli has been replaced by Petrov at Caterham

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97552

Vitaly Petrov will race with the Caterham team during the 2012 season, taking Jarno Trulli's place at the squad, it was confirmed on Friday.

The Russian had been linked with the outfit for several weeks despite the veteran Italian having a contract with the team he had raced for since the 2010 season.

Petrov was left without a racing drive after Renault - now Lotus - signed Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for the 2012 season.

The 27-year-old from Vyborg, Russia, will partner Heikki Kovalainen at Caterham.

[Jim05]

That Lotus looks almost like the old JPS cars. Looks good. Where did you see the JEV interview & is there a link ?

Agreed, they were always one of my favs

[RustyCage]

[purch]

That Lotus looks almost like the old JPS cars. Looks good. Where did you see the JEV interview & is there a link ?

Yep, love the look of the Lotus too. Pity they only got 7 laps in Day 1 of the second test @ Barcelona due to a crack in the chassis though!


Here are links to some of JEV's comments:

http://en.espnf1.com/redbull/motorsport/story/64863.html

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/24148/7465509/Vergne-wants-to-follow-Seb-s-path

He added: "Of course Toro Rosso is not a team with whom you can fight to win a grand prix or the Championship but it is part of the path already laid out when I entered the Red Bull junior programme.

Hmmm...Sounds a bit defeatist...Seb DID win a Grand Prix for STR...

[purch]

One more sleep!

Here's my crystal ball for 2012 - of course, this will be shown to be completely false soon enough:

1. RBR will be quickest in Melbourne, but McLaren will be on top by the time the Championship movies to Europe, or possibly before.
2. With no more EBD Webber will be much closer to Vettel
3. Big improvers will be Force India, Lotus (formerly Renault) and STR...gap to Macca and Red Bull to be closed...Ferrari to go backwards, Williams to stay uncompetitive, Mercedes to remain near the front of the midfield.
4. HRT to jump ahead of Marussia in the "who cares" race
5. New softer Pirellis to make Q3 interesting again...as well as the first stint..
6. FIA to review new overtaking rules by Race 3!
7. Webber to finish higher than 5th in Melbourne
8. Torro Rosso will score a podium
9. MSC to beat Rosberg in the Championship
10. Championship to be decided in Brazil..between Hamilton and Button

Scrutineering might be intersting in Melbourne too

[brod]

At the end of the first of three qualifying sessions, drivers eliminated (the bottom seven) are Narain Karthikeyan, Pedro de la Rosa, Charles Pic, Timo Glock, Vitaly Petrov, Heikki Kovalainen and Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa made it through to Q2 by just 0.1 seconds.

[brod]

Both Aussies are into Q3 with Webber eigth and Ricciardo just sneaking through in 10th. Alonso dropped to 12th by the end of the session, that's where he will start the grand prix. Drivers eliminated (17th to 11th): Sergio Perez, Felipe Massa, Paul Di Resta, Bruno Senna, Kamui Kobayashi, Fernando Alonso and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Lewis Hamilton has pole with Jenson Button joining him on the front row. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher will be on row two. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will be on row three. Aussie Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo conserved his tyres and didn't take part in the session, so he'll start 10th.

[purch]

What a great quali McLaren certainly look strong but Merc have a superior DRS system which might come in handy during the race..


My top 10 drivers of the weekend to date:

1. Grosjean: A good second quicker than his former World Champ teammate all weekend and really nailed his flyer, out-qualifying both Mercs.
2. Hamilton: Has looked strong since the start of the event and finished today with a stunning lap for pole.
3. Webber: Out-qualified his Double World Champ teammate without KERS, and with one less run in Q3.
4. Hulkenberg: Got into the Top 10 and has made his over-hyped teammate look second rate.
5. Button: Typically solid, without being spectacular all weekend...the biggest threat to Hamilton tomorrow.
6. Maldonado: Great to see a Williams back in the top 10!
7. Schumacher: Probably driving the second best car...just one small mistake cost him a possible front row.
8. Ricciardo: Top 10 first time out with Torro Rosso and claims an early "victory" over his teammate
9. Alonso: Continues to make Massa look rubbish, even in a dog of car.
10. Jean-Eric Vergne: Has showed good speed so far, never far behind Ricciardo..


And the teams in terms of speed in Melbourne:

1. McLaren
=2 Mercedes, Lotus
4. Red Bull
=5 Force India, Torro Rosso, Williams
=8. Sauber, Ferrari
....
10. Caterham (disappointing so far)
.....
11. Marussia
12 HRT

[lesthemechanic]

What a great quali McLaren certainly look strong but Merc have a superior DRS system which might come in handy during the race..


My top 10 drivers of the weekend to date:

1. Grosjean: A good second quicker than his former World Champ teammate all weekend and really nailed his flyer, out-qualifying both Mercs.
2. Hamilton: Has looked strong since the start of the event and finished today with a stunning lap for pole.
3. Webber: Out-qualified his Double World Champ teammate without KERS, and with one less run in Q3.
4. Hulkenberg: Got into the Top 10 and has made his over-hyped teammate look second rate.
5. Button: Typically solid, without being spectacular all weekend...the biggest threat to Hamilton tomorrow.
6. Maldonado: Great to see a Williams back in the top 10!
7. Schumacher: Probably driving the second best car...just one small mistake cost him a possible front row.
8. Ricciardo: Top 10 first time out with Torro Rosso and claims an early "victory" over his teammate
9. Alonso: Continues to make Massa look rubbish, even in a dog of car.
10. Jean-Eric Vergne: Has showed good speed so far, never far behind Ricciardo..


And the teams in terms of speed in Melbourne:

1. McLaren
=2 Mercedes, Lotus
4. Red Bull
=5 Force India, Torro Rosso, Williams
=8. Sauber, Ferrari
....
10. Caterham (disappointing so far)
.....
11. Marussia
12 HRT

Totally agree with all that. Can't see anyone but Hamilton or Button taking the choccies today.

[Q.]

Webber losing places off the grid...not much different to last year

[brod]

1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
7 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault
8 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
9 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari
10 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes

[brod]

Malaysian Grand Prix Grid

1. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/MLA)
2. Jenson Button (ENG/MLA)
3. Michael Schumacher (GER/MER)
4. Mark Webber (AUS/RBR)
5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/RBR)
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/LOT)
7. Nico Rosberg (GER/MER)
8. Fernando Alonso (ESP/FER)
9. Sergio Perez (MEX/SAU)
10. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/LOT)
11. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/WIL)
12. Felipe Massa (BRA/FER)
13. Bruno Senna (BRA/WIL)
14. Paul Di Resta (SCO/FOR)
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/TOR)
16. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/FOR)
17. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/SAU)
18. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/TOR)
19. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/CAT)
20 Vitaly Petrov (RUS/CAT)
21. Timo Glock (GER/MAR)
22. Charles Pic (FRA/MAR)
23. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT)
24. Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT)

[The Sleeping Giant]

Mexican? Mexicant.