Formula 1 - 2012 season

[peter]

Final results :


1 Alonso Ferrari
2 Perez Sauber
3 Hamilton McLaren
4 Webber Red Bull
5 Räikkönen Lotus
6 Senna Williams
7 di Resta Force India
8 Vergne Toro Rosso
9 Hülkenberg Force India
10 Schumacher Mercedes
11 Vettel Red Bull
12 Ricciardo Toro Rosso
13 Button McLaren
14 Rosberg Mercedes
15 Massa Ferrari
16 Petrov Caterham
18 Glock Marussia
19 Kovalainen Caterham
20 Pic Marussia
21 Karthikeyan HRT
22 de la Rosa HRT
DNF Maldonado Williams
DNF Kobayashi Sauber
DNF Grosjean Lotus


Constructors :

1. McLaren / Mercedes 55
2. Red Bull / Renault 42
3. Ferrari 35
4. Sauber / Ferrari 30
5. Lotus / Renault 16
6. Force India / Mercedes 9
7. Williams / Renault 8
8. Toro Rosso / Ferrari 6
9. Mercedes 1



Drivers :


1. Fernando Alonso 35
2. Lewis Hamilton 30
3. Jenson Button 25
4. Mark Webber 24
5. Sergio Perez 22
6. Sebastian Vettel 18
7. Kimi Räikkönen 16
8. Bruno Senna 8
9. Kamui Kobayashi 8
10. Paul di Resta 7
11. Jean-Éric Vergne 4
12. Daniel Ricciardo 2
13. Nico Hülkenberg 2
14. Michael Schumacher 1

[Brian and Helen]

Don't worry - those conditions won't be replicated again - flash in the pan. We have a miserable year in prospect.

Interesting of course is Perez, who is lined up as replacement for Massa - possibly as early as Monaco (Ferrari have a "one week" break clause in Perez's Sauber contract! I wonder how they managed that? )

Brian

[peter]

BMW ditched Sauber and they were desperate for an engine. Ferrari stepped in at short notice - so they are probably owed a few favours ?

[serge]

Ben Edwards = Rubbish!

[Brian and Helen]

BMW ditched Sauber and they were desperate for an engine. Ferrari stepped in at short notice - so they are probably owed a few favours ?

Just a few, Peter!

Brian

[Brian and Helen]

Ben Edwards = Rubbish!

Give the guy a chance (but he's not really that shit-hot, is he?)

[catalanglais]

(but he's not really that shit-hot, is he?)

He is DIRE! Worse than the other d**khead they used to have!!!

I think you may be right about Ferrari, Brian. Things aren't looking too bright for them this year. Perez was a delight to watch - that's interesting what you say about Ferrari, I didn't know that. I was also delighted by the performance from Senna and Raikkonen's Lotus too. Sad for JB but these things happen. It was also good to see Webber have a reasonable run.

Should be an exciting season - there are already nine different teams with points.

[peter]

France could confirm its return to the F1 circus as early as Friday when Prime Minister Francois Fillon visits the Le Castellet circuit.

Le Parisien newspaper is reporting that ministry sources claim that Fillon will give details about France's return, confirming that the country will alternate with Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps.

The newspaper added that the new French deal is set to cost less than 20 million euros per grand prix.

France last hosted a Formula One grand prix in 2008 with Magny-Cours the venue.

However, should France get the go-ahead for the grand prix, it is the Le Castellet circuit in southern France that will play host to the race.

A return of the French GP continues to be under discussion.

PlanetF1 say :

France's sports minister David Douillet insists that plans for the country to host a grand prix in the near future are very much alive.

There were suggestions earlier in the year that the Paul Ricard circuit could welcome back F1 for the first time since 1990. However, the rumour mill soon ran out of gas and it appeared that the plans would not materialise.

Douillet refutes this, asserting that a deal to alternate the hosting of a race with Belgium is still a possibility.

"I met Bernie Ecclestone, he is totally willing to share just what Formula 1 Grand Prix between Belgium and France," Douillet told TF1.

"It has been mobilized and motivated by local governments struggling to finance this type of event. The cost will be divided by the two as we will share it with Belgium.

"We have three new French drivers in Formula 1 and so we have to have a Grand Prix de France. That is my job."

Former world champion Alain Prost - the last man to win a GP at the Paul Ricard circuit - admits that a race in France every year would be ideal but if that is not possible a race every second year is better than no race at all.

"Obviously the best thing would be for France and Belgium to have their own Grands Prix each year," the four time champion told Russian website F1News.

"But unfortunately you have to admit that Europe is facing great difficulties, so if this is the only way for the race to happen, then why not? It's better than nothing."

France has its biggest presence in F1 for some time, with Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne, Charles Pic of Virgin and Lotus' Romain Grosjean all flying the Tricolour.

Provided it is a profitable project, I can not imagine that Bernie Ecclestone will vote against it. He owns the circuit through Excelis, a company he owns.

http://g.co/maps/z53fq

[serge]

Changes going on at Williams ..

[peter]

The Bahrain GP is under threat with protest groups such as The Coalition of the Youth of the 14 Feb Revolution and Bahrain Centre for Human Rights saying they will use the race for demonstrations in their bid for democracy in the country.

Bernie Ecclestone says "Nonsense, it will go ahead", but many of the teams are making alternative plans in case of last minute changes.

[peter]

15 April 2012



Circuit name : Shanghai International Circuit
Location : Shanghai
Laps: 56
Circuit Length : 5.451 km
Lap Record : 1:32.238 - M Schumacher (2004)

Fri 13 April 2012

Practice 1 04:00 - 05:30
Practice 2 08:00 - 09:30

Sat 14 April 2012
Practice 3 05:00 - 06:00
Qualifying 08:00

Sun 15 April 2012
Race 09:00


The adventurous circuit is designed by renowned specialist Hermann Tilke, who was also responsible for the new circuits in Bahrain and Malaysia and carried out modifications to the Nurburgring and Hockenheim's circuit.
The track is shaped like the Chinese character 'shang' standing for 'high' or 'above'.
There is accommodation for up to 200,000 spectators with main grandstand holding 29,500 and overlooking almost 80 per cent of the track.
There are two opposing stands on the north-east part of the circuit holding more than 10,000 each with roofs shaped like lotus leaves and 150,000 people can be housed on the rest of the enclosure in temporary stands or on the surrounding banking.
The team buildings are constructed on a special island on a lake on the infield.
The technical track and seven left-hand and seven right-hand bends place enormous emphasis on the car's aerodynamics and the driver's stamina and concentration.

[catalanglais]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17633414

Interesting stuff

[Brian and Helen]

And Auntie Beeb is showing it live (not that I'm going to be up at 7.00 in the morning - 8.00 for you Foreigners)

Brian

[catalanglais]

yeehaaa!!!

Keep me away

[Brian and Helen]

Enthusiast or what?

No, I shall set it to record on my PVR, the when I'm nicely fettled, I shall sit down and watch it. (I'll just have to remember not to switch the radio on when I'm shaving!)

Brian

[catalanglais]

Absolutely!

I've been getting up at silly o'clock to watch races for years.

A female in an F1 car.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17682392

[catalanglais]

Bahrain.

Is it on? Is it off?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17686829

[catalanglais]

Hamilton has a grid penalty of five places for the Chinese GP, due to a gearbox change.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17686441

[Brian and Helen]

Hamilton has a grid penalty of five places for the Chinese GP, due to a gearbox change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17686441

Oh what a shame

Brian

[serge]

Hamilton is going to be sulking before he turns a wheel this weekend .........

[catalanglais]

You rotters!

As long as Jenson doesn't suffer the same fate!!

[catalanglais]

I'm liking Jaime Alguesuari in the commentary box during first practice on the Beeb.

[catalanglais]

Bahrain to go ahead!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17698721

[catalanglais]

Come on Brian, where are you? 05h35 and final practice is on the Beeb!

Interesting stuff. And, once again, young Alguesuari is doing a great job in the commentary box.

[catalanglais]

Interesting qualifying session!

2 Mercedes, 2 McLaren, 2 Lotus, 2 SAUBER!!! and a RB and a Ferrari in the top ten!!!

Rosberg takes his first ever pole!