1148 replies to this topic

[+Mephistopheles]

With the first car launch of 2012 on us tomorrow it is time to start the Official 2012 F1 World Championship thread.

Technical and rule changes

The off-throttle blown diffuser has been outlawed. As a corollary the sophisticated exhaust systems teams used to employ are replaced by traditional 'periscope' exhausts.

The maximum car nose height has been lowered from 62.5 cm to 55 cm. A byproduct of this will be really ugly, platypus-type noses.

Cars must now pass the mandatory crash tests before being allowed to run in pre-season testing.

In-season testing makes a return, with a session planned for May 1st at Mugello - before the start of the European leg of the championship.

New rule about defending your position and leaving the track. From Wikipedia:

Drivers will not be permitted to leave the confines of the circuit without a justifiable reason, following a spate of incidents in 2011 when drivers were sighted using access roads around the circuit to shorten their reconnaissance and in-laps in order to preserve their fuel and tyres. Similarly, drivers will not be allowed to return to the normal racing line should they choose a defensive line going into a corner.

During a safety car period lapped drivers will be allowed to unlap themselves before the safety car returns to the pits.

Driver and team changes

Three teams changed their names: Lotus Renault GP became the Lotus F1 Team; last year's Team Lotus is now known as Caterham F1 Team; lastly, Virgin Racing now races under the Marussia F1 Team banner.

The driver market saw more changes than most had anticipated for 2012, particularly in the lower ranked teams. The return of Kimi Räikkönen to Formula 1 is the biggest news of the year, making 2012 the first season with six current or former WDCs on the grid: Fernando Alonso (2005/2006), Jenson Button (2009), Lewis Hamilton (2008), Kimi Räikkönen (2007), Michael Schumacher (1994/1995, 2000 - 2004), Sebastian Vettel (2010/2011).

Favourites for 2012?

Red Bull Racing are likely to be the favourites for this year as well. The big question this year will be which of the competing teams is able to close the gap to RBR - or perhaps leapfrog them. Time will tell.

2012 Race Calendar:

18.03.2012 Australian GP, Melbourne
25.03.2012 Malaysian GP, Sepang
15.04.2012 Chinese GP, Shanghai
22.04.2012 Bahrain GP, Sakhir
13.05.2012 Spanish GP, Barcelona
27.05.2012 Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
10.06.2012 Canadian GP, Montreal
24.06.2012 European GP, Valencia
08.07.2012 British GP, Silverstone
22.07.2012 German GP, Hockenheim
29.07.2012 Hungarian GP, Budapest
02.09.2012 Belgian GP, Spa
09.09.2012 Italian GP, Monza
23.09.2012 Singapore GP, Singapore
07.10.2012 Japanese GP, Suzuka
14.10.2012 Korean GP, Yeongam
28.10.2012 Indian GP, Greater Noida
04.11.2012 Abu Dhabi GP, Abu Dhabi
18.11.2012 United States GP, Austin
25.11.2012 Brazilian GP, São Paulo

May the 2012 season be as thrilling as the 2011 season was.

[monkey13]

Mephistopheles, on 25 January 2012 - 11:50, said:

Similarly, drivers will not be allowed to return to the normal racing line should they choose a defensive line going into a corner.

Schumacher will be stuffed then

[+Mephistopheles]

Car launch dates:

January 26

• Caterham CT01

February 1

• McLaren MP4/27

February 3

• Ferrari F2012
  
• Force India VMJ05

February 5

• Lotus R32 (T129?)

February 6

• Red Bull Racing RBR 8
  
• Sauber C31
  
• Scuderia Toro Rosso STR7

February 7

• Williams FW34

February 21

• Mercedes GP W03
  
• HRT F112

March 1

• Marussia MR01

First images of the Caterham F1 CT01 emerged ahead of tomorrow's launch via the F1 Racing magazine. One can only hope the other cars won't have noses as ugly as this...

[Dan~]

Going to Silverstone again this year, 3 years on the trot!

Soo much of a better experience watching it.

But this year will be the year of finding places showing the races due to the BBC being nobheads!

ALso, gone for Ferrari & Alonso for the winners. Although Ferrari have just had a massive setback wit hthe height control of their new car being banned

[Enron]

I hope this year is more exciting than the Vettel-a-thon we had last year. Go Ferrari!

[+Daedroth]

The Caterham F1 CT01 looks awful, which is such a shame because it was beautiful last year.

[monkey13]

Daedroth, on 25 January 2012 - 12:34, said:

The Caterham F1 CT01 looks awful, which is such a shame because it was beautiful last year.

Front of it looks like it would be perfect to iron my shirts on though.

[mad_onion]

I'm always rooting for Rosberg to do well sometime, there have been loads of races over the years where he has looked to be in a good position and somehow it always goes wrong. Maybe he can't handle the pressure but I'm still hoping we might see something from him this year as long as the Mercedes is a bit more competitive this season....

If not then I guess Vettel again would be fine but we need the other teams to pick up the pace.

[what]

I'd love to see Schumacher win a race this year, for the sake of nostalgia. Generally speaking I'll be rooting for the McLaren duo (especially Button). I don't mind if Vettel wins the championship, as long as it isn't a total annihilation like last year.

[i11usive]

what, on 25 January 2012 - 12:59, said:

I'd love to see Schumacher win a race this year, for the sake of nostalgia. Generally speaking I'll be rooting for the McLaren duo (especially Button). I don't mind if Vettel wins the championship, as long as it isn't a total annihilation like last year.

I'm with you on that .. would love to see Schumy pick up a race win or two. I'm a big McLaren fan -- more so for LH, although I must admit JB showed us just how good he is last season .. can't wait for it all to start again. We're planning on going to Jerez for the practise on Feb 10.

[Boramas]

I Didnt realize the last 3 races of this yr are taking place last year a edit needed!!!


18.03.2012 Australian GP, Melbourne
25.03.2012 Malaysian GP, Sepang
15.04.2012 Chinese GP, Shanghai
22.04.2012 Bahrain GP, Sakhir
13.05.2012 Spanish GP, Barcelona
27.05.2012 Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
10.06.2012 Canadian GP, Montreal
24.06.2012 European GP, Valencia
08.07.2012 British GP, Silverstone
22.07.2012 German GP, Hockenheim
29.07.2012 Hungarian GP, Budapest
02.09.2012 Belgian GP, Spa
09.09.2012 Italian GP, Monza
23.09.2012 Singapore GP, Singapore
07.10.2012 Japanese GP, Suzuka
14.10.2012 Korean GP, Yeongam
28.10.2012 Indian GP, Greater Noida
04.11.2011 Abu Dhabi GP, Abu Dhabi
18.11.2011 United States GP, Austin
25.11.2011 Brazilian GP, São Paulo

[+Mephistopheles]

^ whoops. My bad - corrected. Thanks for the heads-up.

[+Lovell]

I'm hoping Hamiltons cleared his head a bit.

[+Mephistopheles]

First teaser image of the MP4/27:

[mps69]

^Looks like the batmobile