official F1 World Championship 2012 Thread

[mps69]

Fancy getting us all free Sky subscriptions? :shifty:

So here's the thing, I can't get you all free Sky, I'd honestly loved to. However as a member of Sky we do have staff offers for new customers and for customer wanting to upgrade their equipment.

These offers are limited, and very time dependent.

Anyone wanting more information drop me a PM and I will send the details, I don't want to post all the details in this thread.

In case anyone asks I get nothing out of this from Sky.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Lotus partners with Microsoft Dynamics

The Lotus F1 team has announced a three-year partnership deal with Microsoft Dynamics, a division of the software giant.

The deal begins with immediate effect and will see the Microsoft Dynamics branding feature both on the Lotus E20 car and on the drivers' overalls.

As part of the agreement, Microsoft Dynamics staff will work directly with the team to implement its solutions.

"Lotus F1 Team is extremely proud to have attracted Microsoft Dynamics as a business and sponsorship partner," said Lotus F1 CEO Patrick Louis.

"We are entering an exciting phase in the development of our business model as we move from our recent change management period to a 'global business transformation' process. Microsoft Dynamics will be a crucial enabler for our objectives.

"This association will help Lotus F1 Team to become comprehensively process and KPI driven, enabling our "smart" approach towards Formula 1."

Source: Autosport

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Mercedes F1 team's rear wing concept deemed legal by FIA

Mercedes' hopes of delivering on its strong winter testing form have received a boost, with the FIA confirming ahead of the Australian Grand Prix that a radical wing concept the team has pioneered is fully legal.

The Brackley-based outfit stirred up interest from its rivals throughout pre-season testing with its W03 featuring its own version of a rear-wing F-duct concept - that some suspected was activated by vents being opened when the upper wing elements moves during DRS activation.

It is understood that rival teams queried the legality of such a system ? which vents the air through the endplates and in to the main plane, to help stall the wing and boost straight-line speed ? with the FIA.

However, despite the way the system effectively makes use of driver movement when he activates the DRS, the FIA has no doubts that it complies with the regulations.

When asked by AUTOSPORT to clarify the situation, the head of the FIA's F1 technical department Charlie Whiting said: "Some teams are questioning it on the basis that they thought F-ducts were banned. Well, F-ducts are not banned.

"At the end of 2010 everyone was using driver operated F-ducts and the regulations that were changed specifically banned the use of driver movement to influence the aerodynamic performance of the car ? that got rid of that generation of so-called F-ducts.

"At the beginning of last year, with engineers being unable to unlearn things, they wanted to try and get the effect via different means, and they talked about opening and closing a duct by having interaction with the suspension. We said no, you cannot do that because that is not the primary purpose of the suspension system ? which is to insulate the car from undulations in the road.

"There was then a lengthy discussion in the TWG at the beginning of last year about that, to make sure everyone was clear about it. It seems a couple of teams went away from that meeting with the impression that F-ducts were banned in general. Whatever an F-duct is. But they are not."

Whiting would not reveal further details of how the Mercedes system works, but said that he viewed it as completely passive.

"What it appears some teams are doing is that when the DRS is operated, it will allow air to pass into a duct and do other things," he explained.

"That is all I can say ? you will probably have a pretty good idea of what it might be doing, and other teams will as well. But it is completely passive. There are no moving parts in it; it doesn't interact with any suspension. No steering, nothing. Therefore I cannot see a rule that prohibits it."

Source: Autosport

In other news, only 15 hours until the start of the first practice session of the new year.

[what]

^That system might help them a little bit in qualifying, but in the race, if they don't have the straight out pace to be within the DRS window, it's useless.

[simonlang]

cant wait! :woot:

[starbearer]

Someone tell me the results of the first practice.

Can't access any sports related page in office.

I know McLarens have topped and Schumacher 3rd.

Could someone post the full results here, please?

[arrrgh]

Well, I tried.. and it was a mess :)

This season's schedule is pretty crazy.. not much breathers between races.

[starbearer]

Where'd the Ferraris end up?

And the Williams?

And did the Marussia cars run?

How about Raikkonen?

[arrrgh]

[starbearer]

Thanks a lot.

Even after all their woes, it's actually the Marussia cars who've come out tops in first practice? Nice, nice.

Hope the Mercedes continues on this. WHy Felipe is 18th is a mystery known only to himself, with Alonso up there on 4th.

[starbearer]

So, now if someone could post the 2nd practice session timings??

[starbearer]

Michael first!! I sure do hope they carry this on to the QL and the race.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

FP2 result:

[starbearer]

Not indicative. Lots of teams up there who shouldn't be.

[i11usive]

Top teams could be sandbagging! Nothing's set in stone until qualis...

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

The FP2 results were skewed by rain. FP3 and qualifying will give us a clearer picture.

[starbearer]

It's odd. Rains in Australia at this time..

I don't ever remember seeing a wet Aus GP weekend..not since 1998, I think.

[White Man]

The Mercedes is doing well so far.

[simonlang]

:rofl: forza ferrari! :D

i just cant stop laughing ... you expect a ferrari driver doing a silly mistake in an important race situation and its gotta be guess who.... not massa but alonso.

[White Man]

:rofl: forza ferrari! :D

i just cant stop laughing ... you expect a ferrari driver doing a silly mistake in an important race situation and its gotta be guess who.... not massa but alonso.

Yet even with that mistake, he did better than Massa. Goes to show how worthless of a driver Massa is.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Holy crap that was crazy, Red Bull are in real trouble tomorrow.

Mclaren are flying. Lotus and Mercedes are looking VERY strong. I dont know whats gone wrong for Ferrari and Red Bull.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[simonlang]

Yet even with that mistake, he did better than Massa. Goes to show how worthless of a driver Massa is.

thats how it looks for the outside for sure. the truth, however is a bit more complex. remember the start of 2010? ferrari had the best car and after 3 races massa was leading the championship. he was also 0.1-0.3 a lap faster than alonso. since then alonso has taken the leadership in the team, backed by a big big big bag of santander-millions. the results have been shocking. in 2011 he was 0.6 a lap faster than massa but the car itself was 1 second behind the leaders.

now in 2012 it looks worse. ok, he is now 1 sec a lap faster than massa, but for what price? the car will get lapped at least once tomorrow, we are talking about 2 seconds a lap to the beautiful looking mclarens here.

i just spoke with a friend, he is tifosi as well and he agrees. alonso doesnt care about having a wdc winning car (as maybe he knows he would lose to massa then?) or a fast car. he only cares about having the biggest gap between himself and his teammate.

if that makes him happy ok. but soon there will be questions being raised about alonsos leadership qualities at ferrari. because ever since he has made the leading driver, ferrari has moved backwards.

[starbearer]

Very, very interesting session.

McLarens are quite obviously on top, but they'll have a challenge in terms of the Mercedes cars for sure.

Let's go a bit further into the season before pronouncing the verdict on Lotus, they started the last year with two podiums too, and of course, Ferrari. Sad to see them dumped out unceremoniously. Massa's car terrible, still think the driver can do it.

All set for a tremendous race tomorrow. Who'll win it?

The reigning double champion, or the 2008 champion, the 2009 champion, or maybe the 94,95,00,01,02,03,04 champion? Or maybe Rosberg/Webber??

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

What do we learn from today's qualifying?

• The Ferrari is worse than everybody thought. Massa isn't exactly a top driver, but two seconds off P1 in Q2? Holy hell. Luca di Montezemolo must be throwing a fit now.
  
• There is no dominant car. The McLaren is fast, but not too far ahead of the rest.
  
• Mercedes GP have a car which looks like it can fight for race wins.
  
• The Lotus testing pace is real. Shame about R?ikk?nen not making the cut in Q1 (wrong tyre choice), and good job by Grosjean.
  
• All in all the field is much closer together than last year.
  

We're in for a hell of a race tomorrow, folks... a promising start into a great season.