2012 Formula 1 Discussion

[WALZ]

Discuss the 2012 Formula 1 season here.

Races, drivers, rumors, etc.

 

[Clutch]

Ok, let's get it started. Here's the 2012 team lineup so far (Next to TBA I've put my best guesses for the seat.):

Red Bull Renault

1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber
Reserve: Sebastian Buemi

McLaren Mercedes

3. Jenson Button
4. Lewis Hamilton
Reserves: Gary Paffett, Oliver Turvey

Ferrari

5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa
Reserves: Giancarlo Fisichella, Marc Gene

Mercedes

7. Michael Schumacher
8. Nico Rosberg
Reserve: TBA (Bird/Davidson?)

Lotus Renault

9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Romain Grosjean
Reserve: Jerome d'Ambrosio

Force India Mercedes

11. Paul di Resta
12. Nico Hulkenberg
Reserve: Jules Bianchi

Sauber Ferrari

14. Kamui Kobayashi
15. Sergio Perez
Reserve: Esteban Gutierrez

STR Ferrari (Torro Rosso)

16. Daniel Ricciardo
17. Jean-Eric Vergne
Reserve: Sebastian Buemi

Williams Renault

18. Pastor Maldonado
19. Bruno Senna
Reserve: Valtteri Bottas

Caterham Renault

20. Heikki Kovalainen
21. Vitaly Petrov
Reserve: Giedo van der Garde

HRT Cosworth

22. Pedro de la Rosa
23. Narain Karthikeyan
Reserve: Dani Clos

Marussia Cosworth

24. Timo Glock
25. Charles Pic
Reserve: Maria de Villota

 

[Carl Robinson]

Read this morning that Toro Rosso let go of buemi and algesari both for "Winning Drivers".
Quite the silly season eh?

 

[Clutch]

Senna confirmed to Williams. One race seat remains, at HRT. I can't be the only one though that ever so slightly cringes at the thought of a Senna driving a Renault powered Williams.

Also, in less happy news, Robert Kubica has suffered a broken leg and was released from hospital today after more surgery. This will further delay his recovery, and reduces the likeliness of him racing in 2012 even further.

 

[celticfang]

Makes me slightly twitchy seeing a Senna in a Williams Renault sadly, brings back memories of the 94 pre season.

Grosjean's been confirmed at Renault according to last week's Autosport, Kimi's testing this week, 547 days since he sat in an F1 car last

 

[Clutch]

I'm still wondering how the Boullier-Kubica relationship is. You never know if Grosjean might be asked ever so kindly to step out of the race seat should Kubica be back up to speed. Unlikely considering his latest injury, but still. Food for thought.

 

[Fisha695]

Went to bed around midnight, woke up around 3am, rolled over and went back to sleep.... Woke up & Fell back asleep off & on while having some weird dreams til about noon.

Finally decided to get up and get on the computer & what do I see.....??????

"Senna signed to drive for Williams-Renault". Thought I was 5/6 years old again for a second when I read that. l0l

Only difference is 18 years ago they signed a Senna because he had the talent to be paid, today they signed a Senna because he has the payment to make up for his lack of talent.

 

[Chevellion]

Yeah...I kinda get the sense that Bruno is the Dale Jr of F1...famous in name only.

 

[Clutch]

Bruno hasn't really had a good chance if you ask me. HRT in 2010 was the 2nd worst team in F1, and in 2011 he got thrown half-season into a car set up by Heidfeld that was developed by Kubica. This year will tell if he's being carried by his name or not imo.

 

[nascarfreak88]

I'm kinda mixed about Senna signing to Williams. I don't know how to explain it.

But Jesus can Kubica's luck be any worse? I swear he's like the Steve Park of F1.

 

[Clutch]

And once again the FIA helps out the current dominant team (Red Bull) by banning a previously approved innovation that Lotus-Renault and Ferrari were developing:

'Reactive ride system just banned' | Planet F1 | Formula One News

Honestly, why not just make F1 a spec series. If you're going to ban anything that innovates, then there really isn't much point is there? Shame Lotus is going to suffer because of this, some sources say they've been developing this with FIA approval since last year only to get it banned just before testing. All of a sudden Kimi's return looks quite a bit more difficult.

And as a twist of irony, because of this we can no longer call the FIA "FIArrari" lol.

 

[Fisha695]

The Iceman Cometh

 

[Jeeble]

^ Look at the guy covering his ears in the left bay...haha. There's got to be an extra headset in there, right?

 

[celticfang]

And once again the FIA helps out the current dominant team (Red Bull) by banning a previously approved innovation that Lotus-Renault and Ferrari were developing:

'Reactive ride system just banned' | Planet F1 | Formula One News

Honestly, why not just make F1 a spec series. If you're going to ban anything that innovates, then there really isn't much point is there? Shame Lotus is going to suffer because of this, some sources say they've been developing this with FIA approval since last year only to get it banned just before testing. All of a sudden Kimi's return looks quite a bit more difficult.

And as a twist of irony, because of this we can no longer call the FIA "FIArrari" lol.

IIRC it has to do with the regs about movable parts and the suspension being rigid though, rumor has it it was Williams pushing for the ban.

 

[Clutch]

IIRC it has to do with the regs about movable parts and the suspension being rigid though, rumor has it it was Williams pushing for the ban.

I've read somewhere that the FIA had actually approved it and that Lotus may have been working on it since last season, only for them to ban it just before testing.

Williams pushing for the ban would be ironic, double diffusers in 09 and all.

 

[Carl Robinson]

Been Reading around and Apparently Force India and Mercedes Both are really looking forward to testing. Personally I cant wait to see what Jensons did with the MP4-27

 

[Clutch]

As a Button fan, it pains me to say this. I feel that Button isn't going to be as strong this year as he was last year. Mainly because of the ban on blown diffusers which tended to help Button's driving style from what I've heard. Hopefully this isn't going to affect him that much though.

Oh, and a little bit of a disappointment for any Petrov fans hoping he'd end up at Caterham:

'Trulli has concrete Caterham contract' | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video

Part of me wishes that Trulli would just hang up his helmet. This whole being beaten by Kovi thing isn't helping his career much imo.

 

[Clutch]

Ok. Time for some lulz. Here we have the 2012 Caterham CT01:

These are Mike Gascoyne's comments regarding the erm, unfortunate nose:

I think you'll probably be seeing this type of nose on most of the cars this year

This is the McLaren MP4-27:

So far Mr Gascoyne, I'm not sure your theory holds water here. That MP4-27 is gorgeous.

 

[SimDesigners]

I'll be laughing so hard if the Caterham is the ONLY car with a nose like that...

It's just so awful looking!

 

[Mike24]

Seriously, it looks like someone sat on the front nose area and pushed it down half a foot...I bet you it performs about at good as it looks.