Formula 1 - 2012 season

[peter]

Nurburgring kaput ?

According to reports in the German press, the Nürburgring may have hosted its last grand prix and could be closed.

Nürburgring GmbH, the circuit's holding company, is said to be on the verge of insolvency and the European Union has refused to bail out the circuit as was hoped by the Rhineland Palatinate, according to the Rhein Zeitung.

The firm is believed to be in debt to the tune of €413 million, while a report from Ernst & Young has valued the the facility at just €126 million.

Reports suggest that the current season of events at the circuit will continue as planned, but that it is likely that administrators will have the final say beyond that.

The Nürburgring is not playing host to the German Grand Prix this year as it rotates with Hockenheim where the GP will take place on Sunday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring

[ringlefield]

Very sad news, indeed ! A truly iconic circuit. Visions of the big old W 125 Mercs on The Carousel.

Ron.

[Brian and Helen]

A huge loss to our heritage, some things are just so iconic.

If you can find some good news, it might mean that the German car makers might not in future set up their suspensions to be quite so hard, as the Ring was their ideal testing ground. Our spines are still suffering!

Brian

[peter]

Results

Pos Driver Team Pts
1 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 25
2 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 18
3 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 15
4 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 12
*5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 10
6 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 8
7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 6
8 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 4
9 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 2
10 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1
11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12 Felipe Massa Ferrari
13 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari
14 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari
15 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
16 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
17 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
18 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
19 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
20 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth
21 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
22 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
Ret Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes

* Finished P2 but had 20secs penalty awarded


Teams :


Pos Team Points
1 Red Bull Racing-Renault 230
2 Ferrari 177
3 McLaren-Mercedes 160
4 Lotus-Renault 159
5 Mercedes 105
6 Sauber-Ferrari 80
7 Williams-Renault 47
8 Force India-Mercedes 46
9 STR-Ferrari 6
10 Caterham-Renault 0
11 Marussia-Cosworth 0
12 HRT-Cosworth 0

Drivers :

Pos Driver Nationality Team Points
1 Fernando Alonso Spanish Ferrari 154
2 Mark Webber Australian Red Bull Racing-Renault 120
3 Sebastian Vettel German Red Bull Racing-Renault 110
4 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish Lotus-Renault 98
5 Lewis Hamilton British McLaren-Mercedes 92
6 Nico Rosberg German Mercedes 76
7 Jenson Button British McLaren-Mercedes 68
8 Romain Grosjean French Lotus-Renault 61
9 Sergio Perez Mexican Sauber-Ferrari 47
10 Kamui Kobayashi Japanese Sauber-Ferrari 33
11 Pastor Maldonado Venezuelan Williams-Renault 29
12 Michael Schumacher German Mercedes 29
13 Paul di Resta British Force India-Mercedes 27
14 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 23
15 Nico Hulkenberg German Force India-Mercedes 19
16 Bruno Senna Brazilian Williams-Renault 18
17 Jean-Eric Vergne French STR-Ferrari 4
18 Daniel Ricciardo Australian STR-Ferrari 2
19 Heikki Kovalainen Finnish Caterham-Renault 0
20 Vitaly Petrov Russian Caterham-Renault 0
21 Timo Glock German Marussia-Cosworth 0
22 Charles Pic French Marussia-Cosworth 0
23 Narain Karthikeyan Indian HRT-Cosworth 0
24 Pedro de la Rosa Spanish HRT-Cosworth 0

[Brian and Helen]

I don't think a 20 secs penalty is fair to Seb. I am no fan of his, but I think it would have been appropriate to reverse the positions of him and Jensen. Seb didn't interfere with anyone else so 3rd place would have been a sensible decision.

Of course, I'm just applying the rules we horse-racing folk are used to!

Brin

[peter]

Hungarian GP



All times are local (Hungary is GMT +2)

Friday 27 July
10:00 - 11:30: First free practice
14:00 - 15:30: Second free practice

Saturday 28 July
11:00 - 12:00: Third free practice
14:00 - 15:00: Qualifying

Sunday 29 July
14:00 - 16:00: Hungarian GP
16:00: FIA post race press conference

Hungarian GP Info
No of Laps: 70
Race Distance: 306.630 km
Lap Record: 1:19.071 - M Schumacher (2004)
2011 Winner: J Button (McLaren)

[peter]

Results after Hungary ...

Hungary GP

Pos Driver Team Pts
1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 25
2 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 18
3 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 15
4 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 12
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 10
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 8
7 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 6
8 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 4
9 Felipe Massa Ferrari 2
10 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1
11 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
12 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
13 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
14 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
15 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari
16 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari
17 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
18 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
19 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
20 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth
21 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
Ret Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
Ret Michael Schumacher Mercedes


Driver Pts
1. F. Alonso 164
2. M. Webber 124
3. S. Vettel 122
4. L. Hamilton 117
5. K. Raikkonen 116
6. N. Rosberg 77
7. J. Button 76
8. R. Grosjean 76
9. S. Perez 47
10. K. Kobayashi 33
11. P. Maldonado 29
12. M. Schumacher 29
13. P. di Resta 27
14. F. Massa 25
15. B. Senna 24
16. N. Hulkenberg 19
17. J. Vergne 4
18. D. Ricciardo 2
19. H. Kovalainen 0
20. V. Petrov 0
21. T. Glock 0
22. C. Pic 0
23. N. Karthikeyan 0
24. P. de la Rosa 0

Team Pts
1 Red Bull 246
2 McLaren 193
3 Lotus 192
4 Ferrari 189
5 Mercedes 106
6 Sauber 80
7 Williams 53
8 Force India 46
9 Toro Rosso 6
10 Caterham 0
11 Marussia 0
12 HRT 0

[peter]

Silly season rumours ...


Already Jenson Button has been rumoured to be talking to Ferrari, while Sergio Perez is rumoured to be heading there too. Lewis Hamilton is obviously staying at McLaren but is rumoured to have had talks with Lotus, while it's rumoured there won't be enough new engines to go round in 2014.

So to keep the pages stocked with 'news' items for the summer, Off on F1 has been talking to a host of "pitlane insiders" to get some more news for the front pages.

10. Danny Boyle, the film director in charge of the mega successful opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympics, has been commissioned by Bernie Ecclestone to work out a new opening sequence to grand prix races. The politically correct Boyle has decided to banish the grid girls forever. Instead we'll get a series of lumpy ginger kids in ancient Greek clothing, walking round the track holding bits of each car that they'll symbolically bolt together to form the Safety Car.*

9. Bernie Ecclestone has banned his personal jet from ever entering German airspace just in case they encounter a mechanical problem and have to make an unscheduled landing. After a nasty experience with a Frankfurter, Bernie has decided to give the country a miss at all costs... or about $30m costs.

8. Mercedes engineer Jock Clear has admitted that he is a shareholder in the family firm Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, currently sponsoring the Lotus team. Clear said it was slightly embarrassing having his name on a rival car...but not as embarrassing as selling hair products while having absolutely no hair.

7. Britain is to lobby the International Olympic Committee to have F1 included in the 2020 games. At present golf and rugby are due to join the sports featured in Rio in 2016, but because Britain only excels at sitting-down sports - rowing, cycling, sailing and equestrian - they're keen to have F1 included.

6. Mr. Pussycat Doll, Lewis Hamilton is to record an album in November. He's going to record a host of Country and Western Classics with uncle George Hamilton IV.

5. Following his outburst in Hungary, Red Bull have hired Supernanny Jo Frost to administer a bit of discipline on Sebastian Vettel's side of the garage for the remainder of the season. Sebastian will learn to say please and thank-you and crayon his own helmet designs.

4. Jeremy Clarkson is set to join the BBC F1 punditry team for the rest of the season. Clarkson has admitted that he knows very little about F1, which will still put him at an advantage with Eddie Jordan.

3. In a tribute to Jamaican sprint start Usain Bolt, Caterham will alter the colour balance of their car for the next trace in Spa to represent the Jamaican flag. The yellow and green has been flying around the track in London and it's hoped that this latest move will be a spur to the team. They've tried everything else.

2. In a bid to break the 'sameyness' of F1 qualifying the FIA are to trial a new qualifying format in Abu Dhabi. Instead of the drivers qualifying the cars themselves, they will hand over to their wives and girlfriends to settle the grid places. Corrinna Schumacher has already told Michael that he'll be starting from P.24 whether he likes it or not.

1. Pastor Maldonado has said he is keen to be the ambassador for the new Venezuelan Grand Prix. Pastor, whose motorsport inspiration was based on playing with a Scalextric set as a child, says the Venezuelan track will be unique. It will contain a cross-over, a chicane, a bit that's so narrow only onecarcan fit down it, a jump and a loop-the-loop. Hermann Tilke believes it will suit Pastor's style of driving.

[Brian and Helen]

OK, Peter, we know one of them is a joke - which one is it?

Brian

[peter]

Belgian GP ...



Spa-Francorchamps
Race Date: 02 Sep 2012
Circuit Name: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Number of Laps: 44
Circuit Length: 7.004 km
Race Distance: 308.052 km
Lap Record: 1:45.108 - K Raikkonen (2004)


The Belgian GP, which takes place around the Spa Francorchamps circuit, marks the 12th round of the 2012 F1 World Championship.

All times are local (Belgium is GMT +2)

Thursday 30 August 2012
15:00: FIA press conference

Friday 31 August
10:00 - 11:30: First free practice
14:00 - 15:30: Second free practice
18:30: FIA press conference

Saturday 1 September
11:00 - 12:00: Third free practice
14:00 - 15:00: Qualifying
15h00: FIA post qualifying press conference

Sunday 2 September
14:00 - 16:00: Belgian GP
16:00: FIA post race press conference

Belgian GP Info
No of Laps: 44
Race Distance: 308.052 km
Lap Record: 1:45.108 - K Raikkonen (2004)
2011 Winner: S Vettel (Red Bull)

[peter]

Belgian GP revised grid:

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
3. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
4. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
7. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
8. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
9. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
10. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
11. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
12. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
13. Michael Schumacher Mercedes
14. Felipe Massa Ferrari
15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
21. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth
23. Nico Rosberg Mercedes
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth

[catalanglais]

Just loving Jaime Alguesuari explaining the tyre testing procedure on the Beeb.

Roll on the day that this talented and likeable young man gets another seat in an F1 team.

[catalanglais]

Great win for my favourite driver (Jenson Button) on one of my favourite circuits (Spa). Probably the best race of the season so far - exciting racing all the way down the field.

I LOVE F1 when it's like this!

[peter]

Spa results ...

1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
3 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
4 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
5 Felipe Massa Ferrari
6 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault
7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes
8 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari
9 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari
10 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
11 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
12 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
13 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
14 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
15 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
16 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth
17 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
18 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
DNF Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
DNF Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
DNF Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
DNF Fernando Alonso Ferrari
DNF Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
DNF Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault

Drivers

POS DRIVER TEAM PTS
1 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 164
2 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 140
3 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 132
4 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 131
5 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 117
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 101
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 77
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 76
9 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 47
10 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 35
11 Felipe Massa Ferrari 35
12 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 33
13 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 31
14 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 29
15 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 28
16 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 24
17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 8
18 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 4
19 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 0
20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 0
21 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 0
22 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 0
23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 0
24 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 0


Teams

TEAM PLACE POINTS
Red Bull 1 246
McLaren 2 193
Lotus 3 192
Ferrari 4 189
Mercedes 5 106
Sauber 6 80
Williams 7 53
Force India 8 46
Toro Rosso 9 6
Caterham 10 0
Marussia 11 0
HRT 12 0

[serge]

Looks like another incident involving the spolit brat (Hamilton) where it was everyone else's fault.

[Brian and Helen]

From what I saw (on BBC) for once Hamilton was a bystander - Grosjean swerved sharply to his right and banged wheels with Hamilton, causing all hell to break loose.
B

[catalanglais]

Yes he was, Brian. Grosjean was out of line and Hamilton was completely innocent.

Have to say, if it had been Hamilton who had made the manoeuvre you could probably bet there would have been a stewards enquiry, however Grosjean seems to have got away with it.

[Brian and Helen]

Nope, Grosjean has got a one-race ban. If it had been me it would have been at least three.

B

[catalanglais]

Ah, good. I hadn't heard that.

I agree, bloody dangerous!

[serge]

Sorry, don't agree!

Hamilton could have backed off and avoided it all (Grosjean was a good 3/4 car length in from of him anyway).

Lotus will appeal.

[Brian and Helen]

But, Serge, Hamilton had nowhere to go, and Grosjean moved across into him so sharply he couldn't back off - this was the start, remember, when all drivers are required to hold their line unless they can move without endangering others. It was a dangerous rookie manoeuvre which had very serious consequences - Alonso was taken out, and could have been killed or seriously injured. The stewards obviously agree with Cat and Moi.

Brian (an unrepentant Tifosi)

[catalanglais]

There doesn't appear to be many people who agree with you, Serge, including Grosjean himself.

"Lotus, who described the punishment as “severe” but decided not to appeal it,"

"Grosjean, who is the first driver to be banned from a race since Michael Schumacher in 1994, said: "I misjudged the gap to Lewis. I thought I was in front of him. It was a small mistake, but a big incident.

"I'm very sorry and I'm just glad nobody is hurt. That's the main thing."

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier added: "This is a severe penalty, but it's part of his learning curve.

"Part of the problem is that he wants to do well. He is somebody who is a perfectionist. He needs to understand he will deliver more if he doesn't put too much pressure on himself at the start of the race."

And it looks like Ferrari team principal Stefano Domencali also blames Grosjean.

I like Grosjean, I think he has potential. But I also think that seven first lap accidents out of twelve starts this season also says something about his temperament. A GP is not won on the first corner, but it can be lost on the first corner.

[serge]

Still think Hamilton could have prevented it all (if he wanted to).

[Brian and Helen]

One newspaper this morning described Grosjean's previous career as "a failed dodgem driver".

In view of his track record this season, seems a fair comment.

I see Maldonado gets a 10 place grid penalty for jumping the start - you only had to see Charlie Whiting shaking his head to know that was inevitable.

It's the usual story - these young hotheads need to curb their aggression in order to bring out the best of their talent - remember Ayrton Senna's early seasons? Or Schumacher? Villeneuve? Mansell? Hunt the shunt?

Brian

[catalanglais]

Former F1 driver Alex Zinardi, has won a gold medal in the handcycling at the Paralympics.

Appropriately, the event was held at Brands Hatch