Formula 1 - 2012 season

[peter]

McLaren's MD Jonathan Neale has rubbished rumours that the Woking outfit is set to team up with Honda in 2014.

More : http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/7330122/-Honda-rumours-wide-of-the-mark-

[serge]

LIVE RACES ON THE BBC
•15 April: China
•13 May: Spain
•27 May: Monaco
•24 June: Europe
•8 July: Britain
•2 September: Belgium
•23 September: Singapore
•14 October: Korea
•4 November: Abu Dhabi
•25 November: Brazil

So BBC have 3 good races and Sky a new F1 channel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula ... 893254.stm

What a **** up!

[catalanglais]

[peter]

Brazil qualifying ...




Pos Driver Team


1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault
2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault
3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
7 Felipe Massa Ferrari
8 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
9 Bruno Senna Renault
10 Michael Schumacher Mercedes
11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
13 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
14 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
15 Vitaly Petrov Renault
16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
17 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth
19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault
20 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault
21 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth
22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth
23 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth
24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth

[serge]

Looks like Martin Brundle is off to SKY for 2012 .................

Jake Humphrey, David Coulthard and Lee McKenzie confirmed for BBC.

[peter]

Final 2011 results ...

Brazil results :


Pos Driver Team Pts

1 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 25
2 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 18
3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 15
4 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 12
5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 10
6 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 8
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 6
8 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 4
9 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 2
10 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1
11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 0
12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 0
13 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 0
14 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 0
15 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 0
16 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 0
17 Bruno Senna Renault 0
18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 0
19 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 0
20 Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 0
Ret Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 0
Ret Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 0
Ret Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 0
Ret Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 0

Final 2011 Drivers championship :

Pos Driver Team Points

1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 392
2 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 270
3 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 258
4 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 257
5 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 227
6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 118
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 89
8 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 76
9 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 42
10 Vitaly Petrov Renault 37
11 Nick Heidfeld Renault 34
12 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 30
13 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 27
14 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 26
15 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 15
16 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 14
17 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 4
18 Bruno Senna Renault 2
19 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1
20 Pedro de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 0
21 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 0
22 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 0
23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 0
24 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 0
25 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 0
26 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 0
27 Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 0
28 Karun Chandhok Lotus-Renault 0


Final 2011 Constructors championship :

Pos Team Points
1 RBR-Renault 650
2 McLaren-Mercedes 497
3 Ferrari 375
4 Mercedes 165
5 Renault 73
6 Force India-Mercedes 69
7 Sauber-Ferrari 44
8 STR-Ferrari 41
9 Williams-Cosworth 5
10 Lotus-Renault 0
11 HRT-Cosworth 0
12 Virgin-Cosworth 0

[catalanglais]

The dynamic and charismatic Kimi Raikkonen is to return to F1 next season. He will be driving for the Lotus team.

On his blog, Andrew Benson said:

Kimi Raikkonen's return to F1 in 2012 means a quarter of the drivers on the grid will be world champions, creating a depth of talent arguably unmatched by any other era of the sport.

Looks like an exciting season is in prospect - what a shame it will only be available to those who wish to pay for the pleasure by subscribing to the Murdoch dynasty.

[catalanglais]

The dynamic and charismatic Kimi Raikkonen is to return to F1 next season. He will be driving for the Lotus team.

On his blog, Andrew Benson said:

Kimi Raikkonen's return to F1 in 2012 means a quarter of the drivers on the grid will be world champions, creating a depth of talent arguably unmatched by any other era of the sport.

Looks like an exciting season is in prospect - what a shame it will only be available to those who wish to pay for the pleasure by subscribing to the Murdoch dynasty.

[serge]

It's at the expense of Robert Kubica who is out of contract and will not be fit for the start of the season anyway .....

[catalanglais]

mmm, I saw that. Shame, he's a bloody good driver and I would prefer him to Raikkonen any day.

[peter]

Most F1 comebacks have been a waste of time ?

Peter

[serge]

Could be different with Kimi ......

[catalanglais]

Interesting stuff!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson ... _risk.html

[serge]

I reckon Kubica will give it a miss next year and return with Ferrari in 2013 as a replacement for Massa ......

[catalanglais]

I'd bet money that you're right!

[peter]

Formula One could have a female test driver next season with María de Villota reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with Lotus Renault GP.

More :

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/735 ... st-driver-
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mar%C3% ... /577781516
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=RsRjHOxoFD4


I wonder what Clarkson will say ?

[gurubarry]

"Shoot her, and all her sponsors on the Brooklands Starting Grid" ....only joking Mr. Clifford

[peter]

The FIA have confirmed a handful of rule changes will be implemented in the 2012 season.

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in New Delhi on Wednesday, alterations to the current rule book were made and the 2012 calender was confirmed.

In a move that will likely be greeted with great joy from the teams, one stint of in-season testing will be permitted. The three-day test will take place in the middle of the season.

In other testing news, to take part in pre-season testing all cars will have to pass a crash test.

The safety car rule has once again been tinkered with. Lapped cars will now be permitted to unlap themselves and return to the back of the field ensuring that at the restart slower cars do not impede the quicker ones.

A four-hour limit has been put in place for all races, regardless of the circumstances.

Drivers will no longer be allowed to return to the racing line once they have moved off it in order to defend their position.

Sebastian Vettel will no longer be able to take his customary short cuts on the way back to the pits during qualifying, with the introduction of a rule which prevents drivers from leaving the track without a justifiable reason. This means that cutting chicanes on reconnaissance laps or in laps is no longer permitted.

FIA rule changes in full:

Changes to the 2012 Technical Regulations:

• All engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, which were formerly contained only within a Technical Directive, are now contained within the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations.

• The exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.

• Better marking of in-car emergency switches operated by marshals are now stipulated.

• The side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.


Changes to the 2012 Sporting Regulations:

• Cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests.

• There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated.

• Before the safety car returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.

• Cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended.

• Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or 'in' laps to save time and fuel.

• Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.

• One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none.

• All stewards' decisions which are not subject to appeal are now in one place instead of being in various places within the regulations.

• All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.

[catalanglais]

Couple of interesting rule amendments there.

It's a shame that the rather good rookie, Bruno Senna has been replaced by Romain Grosjean, a Frenchswiss man who has already had a chance in F1 and failed to impress.

Just goes to show that sponsors haven't a clue what they are on about!!!

So the new Lotus team next year has Grosjean and Raikkonen as their drivers, and Senna and Petrov are without seats at the moment.

[gurubarry]

I thought it was all about money?

If you can bring millions of $ to a team via sponsors or a rich Daddy ...you get to drive .

[peter]

Lots of close season rumours now becoming confirmed.

Or not !

There are only two places yet to be filled on the 2012 F1 grid. This past week saw both Toro Rosso and Force India confirming their drivers for 2012..

Toro Rosso dropped Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi in favour of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Force India confirmed Paul di Resta for a second season, partnering Nico Hulkenberg.

That leaves Adrian Sutil without a drive, although he is tipped to move to Williams joining Pastor Maldonado.

If Williams take Sutil, there will be just one race-seat available with HRT.

2012 Entry List
RED BULL RACING (AUT)
Red Bull Racing Renault
1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber

VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES (GBR)
McLaren Mercedes
3. Jenson Button
4. Lewis Hamilton

SCUDERIA FERRARI (ITA)
Ferrari
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1 TEAM (DEU)
Mercedes
7. Michael Schumacher
8. Nico Rosberg

LOTUS F1 TEAM (GBR)
Lotus Renault
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Romain Grosjean

SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM (IND)
Force India Mercedes
11. Paul di Resta
12. Nico Hulkenberg

SAUBER F1 TEAM (CHE)
Sauber Ferrari
14. Kamui Kobayashi
15. Sergio Perez Mendoza

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO (ITA)
STR Ferrari
16. Daniel Ricciardo
17. Jean-Eric Vergne

AT&T WILLIAMS (GBR)
Williams Renault
18. Pastor Maldonado
19. TBA

TEAM CATERHAM (MAL)
Caterham Renault
20. Heikki Kovalainen
21. Jarno Trulli

HRT F1 TEAM (ESP)
22. Pedro de la Rosa
23. TBA

MARUSSIA F1 TEAM (RUS)
Marussia Cosworth
24. Timo Glock
25. Charles Pic

[peter]

Formula One could have a female test driver next season with María de Villota reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with Lotus Renault GP.

More :

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/735 ... st-driver-
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mar%C3% ... /577781516
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=RsRjHOxoFD4


I wonder what Clarkson will say ?

[peter]

The FIA have confirmed a handful of rule changes will be implemented in the 2012 season.

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in New Delhi on Wednesday, alterations to the current rule book were made and the 2012 calender was confirmed.

In a move that will likely be greeted with great joy from the teams, one stint of in-season testing will be permitted. The three-day test will take place in the middle of the season.

In other testing news, to take part in pre-season testing all cars will have to pass a crash test.

The safety car rule has once again been tinkered with. Lapped cars will now be permitted to unlap themselves and return to the back of the field ensuring that at the restart slower cars do not impede the quicker ones.

A four-hour limit has been put in place for all races, regardless of the circumstances.

Drivers will no longer be allowed to return to the racing line once they have moved off it in order to defend their position.

Sebastian Vettel will no longer be able to take his customary short cuts on the way back to the pits during qualifying, with the introduction of a rule which prevents drivers from leaving the track without a justifiable reason. This means that cutting chicanes on reconnaissance laps or in laps is no longer permitted.

FIA rule changes in full:

Changes to the 2012 Technical Regulations:

• All engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, which were formerly contained only within a Technical Directive, are now contained within the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations.

• The exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.

• Better marking of in-car emergency switches operated by marshals are now stipulated.

• The side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.


Changes to the 2012 Sporting Regulations:

• Cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests.

• There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated.

• Before the safety car returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.

• Cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended.

• Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or 'in' laps to save time and fuel.

• Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.

• One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none.

• All stewards' decisions which are not subject to appeal are now in one place instead of being in various places within the regulations.

• All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.

[peter]

Proposed 2012 calendar

Round Race Title Circuit Date

1 Australian Grand Prix  Albert Park, Melbourne 18 March
2 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix  Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 25 March
3 UBS Chinese Grand Prix  Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai 15 April
4 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix  Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 22 April
5 Gran Premio de España Santander  Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 13 May
6 Grand Prix de Monaco  Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 27 May
7 Grand Prix du Canada  Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 10 June
8 Grand Prix of Europe  Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia 24 June
9 Santander British Grand Prix  Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 8 July
10 Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland  Hockenheimring, Hockenheim 22 July
11 Eni Magyar Nagydíj  Hungaroring, Budapest 29 July
12 Shell Belgian Grand Prix  Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 2 September
13 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia  Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 9 September
14 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix  Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay 23 September
15 Japanese Grand Prix  Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 7 October
16 Korean Grand Prix  Korean International Circuit, Yeongam 14 October
17 Airtel Grand Prix of India  Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida 28 October
18 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix  Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 4 November
19 United States Grand Prix  Circuit of the Americas, Austin[2] 18 November
20 Grande Prêmio do Brasil  Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 25 November

Changes

German GP returns to Hockenheim
US replaces Turkey

[peter]

In December 2011, Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari and Sauber exited FOTA, the Formula One Teams Association.


http://www.teamsassociation.org/