Formula One 2012

[Troy]

Good win in the end for Vettel with Button and Alonso finishing on the podium as well. Red Bull got some breathing space in the Constructors championship after Hamilton didn't finish and Alonso keeps a large gap in the Drivers championship. Seems like after each race there is a new driver in second position in the championship.

 

[AZUCAR!]

Webber also got a 20 second penalty for something (forgot what he did) so he ended up losing 10th.

I was laughing when Lewis went out, but it would've been even better had Button crashed into the back of Seb on that restart. Then Alonso would've no doubt gone on to win the race and increase the lead over Vettel. Still, a good result for Alonso and for Ferrari getting 3rd. It's a shame the new rear wing didn't work out as planned, as that would've hopefully made the car a bit faster. Ferrari still don't have the fastest car on the track and Alonso is still managing to gain points on his adversaries. Vettel is now 29 points behind Alonso with 6 races to go, Seb has been in this position before, when he first came from behind to win his first Drivers Championship. So he's a dark horse still. Lewis is now 52 points behind, it's still possible for him to win the title, but it's going to be tough for him, even though it seems McLaren have the fastest car on track.

The next race is Suzuka in Japan, and hopefully Ferrari will be bringing some new parts which will work this time. Because if Fernando is going to win the Drivers Championship he needs a fast car and most certainly another win or two, and some more luck on his side with Vettel and Hamilton retiring.

 

[Troy]

Damn I didn't realise that Webber was penalised for that pass on Kobayashi, not like he was left with any option other than going off track and right after Kobayashi was involved in a crash anyway so he couldn't give the position back.

It is down to Vettel and Alosno now, I just can't see anyone else catching those two. Alonso continues to pull out great drives during the race even when his qualifying isn't the best due to the car, he is such a talented driver. I wish that Webber had the overtaking skills that Alonso has.

Schumacher has been given a ten place grid penalty for Japan for his incident with Vernge. Fair penalty in the end although I wonder when he will get a ban like Grosjean had because this isn't Schumacher's first incident of the season.

 

[AZUCAR!]

Lewis Hamilton is leaving McLaren at the end of this season and will be driving for Mercedes next year, replacing Michael Schumacher and also teaming with his former karting buddy Nico Rosberg. McLaren have acted quickly to replace Lewis, and have signed Sergio Perez from Sauber. Plus it seems Lewis is already looking ahead to the 2014 season, when teams will switch to a V6 engine and Mercedes are already putting in the work there.

 

[Troy]

Massive news. I was actually more shocked that Perez signed for McLaren, I thought that he would be a shoe in for Massa's spot at Ferrari. Good signing by McLaren though as Perez has showed a lot of talent in a midrange car. I am struggling to think of who Ferrari could sign to replace Massa with guys like Webber, Hamilton and Perez now off the radar. Could Maldonado be a darkhorse? He has shown this year that he is a very quick driver but can be very inconsistent, maybe with some top support he can iron out that side of his driving.

 

[Derrick]

What's next for Schumi though.. Will he end his career again.. or perhaps replace Massa in Ferrari? Idk, but next season will surely be VERY interesting.

 

[Troy]

That would bring everything full circle if he did go back to Ferrari but I can't see it happening unless Ross Brawn suddenly heads back there. I think that this should be it for Schumacher he has had quite a few crashes this year, most of them his fault, and it is time to retire for good. Move into a different role in F1.

 

[AZUCAR!]

Schumi will likely retire, again. Don't see him going to Sauber to replace Perez, because Sauber are more like Torro Rosso, a young team. What will probably happen is Ferrari will send another one of their young drivers to Sauber for next season to partner Kobayashi, since Sauber do use Ferrari engines. I would've preferred to see Perez at Ferrari next season but for whatever reason, Luca Di Montezemolo, who is the Ferrari president is insistent on the fact that Perez isn't ready yet to drive for them. So now, you have a driver who Ferrari sent to Sauber, going to Ferrari's main rivals next season and will no doubt challenge for the World Title in a quick car.

Where this leaves Massa IMO is he'll now stay at Ferrari. I'll be very surprised if they now decide not to renew his contract.

 

[Troy]

It probably is the best option now as there aren't that many drivers available. I hope that Jamie Alguesuari manages to pick up a drive somewhere next year, I thought that he showed plenty of potential at Torro Rosso and was unlucky to get dropped by them for this season. He is still very young and I think that he can become a good driver. I definitely don't expect him at Ferrari but maybe Sauber will take a look at him.

The 2013 F1 calender has been released

The full 2013 F1 calendar is as follows:
17 March - Australia (Melbourne)
24 March - Malaysia (Sepang)
14 April - China (Shanghai)
21 April - Bahrain (Sakhir)
12 May - Spain (Barcelona)
26 May - Monaco
9 June - Canada (Montreal)
16 June - America (New Jersey) *
30 June - Britain (Silverstone)
14 July - Germany (Nurburgring/Hockenheim)
28 July - Hungary (Hungaroring)
25 August - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
8 September - Italy (Monza)
22 September - Singapore (Marina Bay)
6 October - Korea (Yeongam)
13 October - Japan (Suzuka)
27 October - India (Buddh International)
3 November - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
17 November - United States (Austin)
24 November - Brazil (Interlagos)
* Subject to confirmation

The New Jersey race is still up in the air as they don't yet have a contract but I expect it to happen. Would be a great race since it is a street track so the sights they would go around would be fantastic. Very happy that Australia opens the season again, I was quite annoyed when we were dropped for a couple of seasons but now are back in our rightful spot as the opening race.

 

[Doink]

US gets 2 grands prix? Other than that nice calender, nice to see the Aussies opening again, always liked Melbourne's race. I'd like to see Schumi back at Ferrari and maybe Massa back at Sauber. Suprised that Perez has went to McLaren but even more so that Lewis is off to Mercedes.

 

[Troy]

It is a pretty big jump to go from nothing for the past four seasons to two races next year, Bernie clearly wants to try to get the US dollars again. Spain dropping back to one race per season because of the financial crisis helped open up a spot.

 

[AZUCAR!]

There's talk of a Grand Prix being held in Thailand in a few years. From what I read it would be a night race the same as the Singapore race is. If that gets the go ahead, then obviously we're going to be seeing more than 20 races a season, which i'd be happy with. But I don't think other F1 teams would be. Russia are also meant to be holding a GP in a few years too.

I'd like to see the NJ race go ahead next year, but I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[Troy]

That would be pretty interesting to have another night race in Asia. I definitely see Russia getting one in a couple of years, they will easily pay whatever price Bernie asks. I can't see the teams agreeing to a long season so I assume that they will start getting some countries to alternate spots, rather than running each year they will run every second year.

 

[AZUCAR!]

From what I remember Spa and another race are meant to be alternating (forgot the other GP). Plus you have the German GP, where Hockenheim and the Nurburgring are meant to alternate, but i've been hearing next years German GP is going to be at Hockenheim again.

 

[Troy]

Valencia is the other one. Maybe they will alternate the US races in future years if they get too many events. I can't see them making any of the Asian races alternate years because of how powerful those countries have become but they will probably look to cut down in Europe yet again. I wonder if the teams will agree to a 22 race season to accomodate a couple more races into the equation. They can cut back on one of the mid season breaks to ensure that the drivers and teams get a decent break at the end of the season.