official F1 World Championship 2012 Thread

[Noir Angel]

Lewis won't go anywhere, and I'm not surprised Webber hasn't gone to Ferrari. Red Bull are the only team that have produced a consistently quick car over the past 3 and a half seasons, and with Ferrari's rather up and down performance of late I believe going there would have been a step backwards for Mark.

[philcruicks]

The two main variables in the driver market for 2013 now are Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher. I can't imagine the former keeping his cockpit, which begs the question: Which good driver is willing to play #2 to Fernando Alonso? Sergio Perez maybe?

Schumacher is motivated and enjoying himself now he has a reasonably competitive car. He will race on for another year.

As to Lewis Hamilton, imho he has no alternative but to stay at McLaren. He sure isn't going to join Alonso at Ferrari, and all other top cockpits are occupied for 2013.

I'm pretty sure I've heard Ferrari say Perez is still to young as a driver and needed more experience..but I could be wrong. Kobayashi seems more likely to me due to to his greater experience.

Hamilton will stay with McLaren, they have it in them to win...I think they may come back strong towards the end of the season.

[TheLegendOfMart]

I doubt McLaren are going to make much headway this season, I think they will just write it off thanks to Jenson's disastrous performance this year, pretty sure they are going to be looking more at next years car by now.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

The McLaren 'Tooned' animation:

[Noir Angel]

I doubt McLaren are going to make much headway this season, I think they will just write it off thanks to Jenson's disastrous performance this year, pretty sure they are going to be looking more at next years car by now.

Why the hell would they do that? McLaren do have 2 drivers you know, and one of them is still very much in the hunt.

[i11usive]

Good article entitled Is Maldonado dangerous - http://www.portalf1.com/en/articles/analysis/is-maldonado-dangerous/

[Dan~]

Lolol, anyone heard about Hamilton? Signed a contract with someone for rapping lolol. Aslong as it gets rid of the arrogant cocky git, then I'm happy :D

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Lewis Hamilton wants to sort his future with McLaren over the summer break

Lewis Hamilton wants to settle his Formula 1 future with McLaren over the summer break - because he feels that would be the best time to make the most sensible decision.

Ahead of what will be a key decision for his future with his contract running out later this year, Hamilton insists that current frustrations with the competitiveness of his McLaren team would not play the decisive factor in what he does - although he admits that the priority is to keep on winning.

With options at Red Bull Racing and Ferrari appeared to be closed off, Hamilton's main options for 2013 appear to be recommitting to McLaren or moving to Mercedes if the outfit is left searching for another driver should Michael Schumacher elect not to continue.

In an exclusive interview with the Russian news agency R-Sport in Moscow at the weekend, where he was participating in a street demonstration, Hamilton said that talks with McLaren would open soon - despite having said as recently as the Canadian Grand Prix that he could wait until the winter.

"We haven't sat down and discussed anything yet but I'm sure over the summer break, when we have the summer break, it would be nice to get something in place," he said. "That would be a time when we can be more relaxed and make the most sensible decision for the future."

When asked about the factors that would influence his decision, Hamilton said: "To be honest, you have to base your decisions on much, much longer than such a short period of time.

"Only half a year cannot decide six years of partnership, or actually 13 years of partnership. I've been with them since I was 13, so it's 14 years, so it's much more than these small details, it's a much, much bigger picture."

He added: "There are lots of things to take into account. These people have supported me; these are the people that got me into Formula 1. But, you know, I want to win.

"I'm not that young any more so I want to make sure that whatever I do I make the right decision so I can maximize my career, you know. I just need to make sure that I'm winning. That's what I exist for, that's what I train and work for every day."

Looking at this season, Hamilton still saw plenty of opportunity for success - and pinned his hopes on upgrades due to be arriving for this weekend's German GP.

"I've been ready all year to win. We should have won a lot more races than we have, but there are many more races to go. We still have a lot more chances to get some wins and I think it's possible.

"Up until now we've not developed as fast as other people. Other people have brought some more upgrades in the past than we have, but we have a big upgrade coming for the next race, so let's hope that it does the job and gets us in a fighting position."

Source: Autosport

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[Dan~]

Lewis Hamiton needs to sort his life out first, then his motorsport future!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[Lingwo]

How much do you want to bet that McLaren look good over the three practices and both drivers will say how "good" the car feels and then qualifying and race pace is mediocre :laugh:

Also extra points if button says the car "has no balance".

[Guest]

JB on top, wow.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[Dan~]

Just uploaded my pictures from Silverstone if anyone is interested, only about 15 or so

http://danstyan.co.uk/gallery/?album=7

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

So far we have three five-place-penalties for gearbox changes being applied after today's qualifying:

Romain Grosjean (Lotus)

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP)

Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[simonlang]

webber 5 places back? wow... you really cant count alonsos luck anymore. sitting in the by far fastests and most reliable car and his biggest opponents facing bad luck race after race.

whats missing? another drive through penalty for hamilton probably....

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

[White Man]

webber 5 places back? wow... you really cant count alonsos luck anymore. sitting in the by far fastests and most reliable car and his biggest opponents facing bad luck race after race.

whats missing? another drive through penalty for hamilton probably....

if ferrari's the fastest car then what's going on with your favourite driver, massa?

how come he's doing so badly?

[Noir Angel]

I can't fathom why McLaren are so much faster than everyone else on the inter, but then absolutely nowhere on the wet. It's going to be hard for them to make progress tomorrow.

[simonlang]

if ferrari's the fastest car then what's going on with your favourite driver, massa?

how come he's doing so badly?

yes how come ferrari never got a 1-2 and massa never a p2 again since a certain race hockenheim 2010 you remember that one? when alonso with higher engine setting lied to the team and then they forced massa to slow down?.... hm....

[123456789A]

Go go Alonso! I am happy for him. As for Massa, I'm not sure what went wrong with him.

Hopefully it will be an exciting race tomorrow.

[i11usive]

Looks like a dry race today - which should suit the McLarens who start 6th (Button) and 7th (Hamilton) after Webber's penalty. They looked bloody fast in the dry. See what happens at the start of the race with Alonso/Vettel... could be very exciting!!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Don't underestimate what Schumacher might be able to pull off. The Hockenheim track should in theory suit the Mercedes much better than Silverstone - both in the wet and the dry.

As for the weather situation: I'm roughly 100 km north of Hockenheim. Right now we have clear blue skies at 14?C. Should be a dry GP today going by the forecasts.