official F1 World Championship 2012 Thread

[MightyJordan]

Nuh-uh, reject of the race is definitely Maldonado.

Great win for Webber. I'm glad the streak of different winners has continued. This is already shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever. :)

[TheLegendOfMart]

Buttons a close second, I don't understand why hes having such problems, Hamilton doesn't have any issues with 'switching on' the cars performance.

[simonlang]

after this race im very sure that redbull will sort out their problems soon ennough to make vettel winning the 3rd title. ok, alonso is leading the championship now, but he still hasnt had a bad race - which will come soon.

mclaren going backwards and nowhere, they need to up their game and shine in montreal.

all the bad luck is with schumacher these days. i cant believe it.

missed the rain as well. bring no montreal! it can only get better :)

[philcruicks]

6th race, 6th winner after a close race. I'm loving this season...

Man of the race: Mark Webber

Reject of the race: Jenson Button

Nuh-uh, reject of the race is definitely Maldonado.

Reject of the race Maldanado

Reject of the weekend Button, Race + Quali performance makes him a bigger reject over the weekend IMO.

I'm tempted to say man of the race is Vettlel...by far the most places made of the top runners, and really good tyre management.

Such a close race tho...what 2 seconds covering the top 6 at the end! and a 6th winner...so who's next?!

[starbearer]

Yet another disappointing drive by Button, getting bored of him whinging about the car, Hamilton manages perfectly fine.

Schu has no class, he is an over-rated, aggressive, has-been. Driving into people then blaming them, forcing people off the track, driving off the track then sitting on the apex of a corner to block someone and put them off.

I hope he retires at the end of this year.

Right, your opinion is noted.

However, I'm sure you'd feel fine if I tend to agree not a whit with all this, alongwith a few others..

Ultimately a boring race. Didn't yield anything except some retirements, generally courtesy of mechanical failures, and some other small things.

[what]

Boring race.

I think I agree with what Brundle said during the race with regards to the unpredictability of the tyres. He said that while the challenge of managing tyres is good for spectators, it's not right that drivers are walking up to post-quali and race interviews with no idea why they were underperforming. That would suggest there is too much inconsistency, to the point where teams can't pinpoint where they need to improve. I think Pirelli would be better off going back to the tyres they had at the beginning of 2011.

[JoeC]

I can't understand how people are saying this was an interesting race. There wasn't a single competitive overtake in the entire 78-lap race.

A couple of people made places in the pits, off the line in the chaos of turn 1, or from penalties to other cars but the fact that not a single overtake was made is staggering. I know Monaco is a boring-ass race anyway, but it was just a parade this year :/

[Noir Angel]

I didn't think this one was interesting. The 6 cars running nose to tail had no chance of passing each other so it was really a bit of a false position. Kinda disappointed by Red Bull's dirty tactics (Webber comes out of the pits and suddenly starts going a second a lap slower, then around the time of Seb's pit stop his performance suddenly picks up again? no coincidence. Disappointed in McLaren though, they appear to have dropped back from their early season performance. Canada is usually always interesting, let's hope that remains the case this year.

[mps69]

The race was very processional, Monaco can be exciting if rain is thrown into the mix, but if it stays dry, and the drivers get away cleanly it's all about which who can stay out of the barriers.

I honestly can't believe no one is up in arms about RB and Vettel not setting a time in Q3, just to persevere a set of tires. That loophole really needs to be closed, or we'll get to the situation where no one will go in Q3 just to save tires.

At least make it a show for the paying public who pay good hard earned money to see racing, and competitive driving.

[MightyJordan]

I honestly can't believe no one is up in arms about RB and Vettel not setting a time in Q3, just to persevere a set of tires. That loophole really needs to be closed, or we'll get to the situation where no one will go in Q3 just to save tires.

At least make it a show for the paying public who pay good hard earned money to see racing, and competitive driving.

Agreed. I did read earlier this week that Pirelli actually offered to give the drivers that make it to Q3 an extra set of tyres just for that session, but the teams refused it.

[simonlang]

while im re-watching the race in peace i just hope that schumacher will continue after this year. he still has got it, there is not a single individuum out there who could doubt it. plus, the car is improving and improving. all he is lacking now is the little bit of luck, but better he has now the bad-luck and is the lucky one again when really in the hunt.

[Guest]

What are people's opinions of Monaco? For two years in a row now I've found it to be a dull boring race. As much as its the most picturesque race on the calendar its also the most boring.

I think F1 has outgrown this circuit.

[what]

SK[' timestamp=1338193672' post='594892491]

What are people's opinions of Monaco? For two years in a row now I've found it to be a dull boring race. As much as its the most picturesque race on the calendar its also the most boring.

I think F1 has outgrown this circuit.

I agree. It used to punish people who couldn't control their car. Nowadays the cars generate a lot of mechanical grip and downforce, and Pirelli uses very soft tyre compounds which increase grip even more. Monaco was always a bit of a procession but now that every car can quite easily reach the end of the race, there's no magic left.

If a track requires rain to produce an interesting race (which in this day and age usually means a red flag), it's a crap track.

[starbearer]

SK[' timestamp=1338193672' post='594892491]

What are people's opinions of Monaco? For two years in a row now I've found it to be a dull boring race. As much as its the most picturesque race on the calendar its also the most boring.

I think F1 has outgrown this circuit.

Most boring? Do wait for the European GP at Valencia. A more boring GP, there has not been.

Used to be so good when the German GP was at HockenHeim and the European GP at Nurburgring...Then a certain somebody had to go all over and bring some new and boring circuits into the mix, none more so than the Valencia street circuit.

[Noir Angel]

The race was very processional, Monaco can be exciting if rain is thrown into the mix, but if it stays dry, and the drivers get away cleanly it's all about which who can stay out of the barriers.

I honestly can't believe no one is up in arms about RB and Vettel not setting a time in Q3, just to persevere a set of tires. That loophole really needs to be closed, or we'll get to the situation where no one will go in Q3 just to save tires.

At least make it a show for the paying public who pay good hard earned money to see racing, and competitive driving.

I agree. I've been saying since the trend started that they need to either give teams an extra set of tyres for each session, or go back to the times where they gave them a set of special tyres that are designed for using just in qualifying, 1 new set per session per driver. It's a joke that we're seeing drivers not set times to conserve tyres.

Agreed. I did read earlier this week that Pirelli actually offered to give the drivers that make it to Q3 an extra set of tyres just for that session, but the teams refused it.

From what I gather it was the FIA that vetoed that idea rather than the teams?

SK[' timestamp=1338193672' post='594892491]

What are people's opinions of Monaco? For two years in a row now I've found it to be a dull boring race. As much as its the most picturesque race on the calendar its also the most boring.

I think F1 has outgrown this circuit.

I think F1 outgrew Monaco a long time ago. It will never disappear from the calendar, the amounts of money involved are just too high. It still remains a great challenge for drivers, but for fans I feel it offers very little just year after year of processional racing. They could change it so that the driver behind could open their DRS all around the lap and overtaking would still be impossible.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Alan Jones advocates Ferrari move for Mark Webber

Mark Webber should seriously consider a move to Ferrari if a proper offer is made, according to former world champion Alan Jones.

Jones, the last Australian to win the Formula 1 title, believes that Webber would find himself revitalised by an opportunity to race for the Maranello team.

Speaking in a podcast put together by the Australian Grand Prix organisers, Jones said: "Mark has already done one of the two things that most Formula 1 drivers would like to do, and that's win Monaco. The other one is to drive for Ferrari.

"I'm sure he'd have a look at it. If he goes to Ferrari, it could be a breath of fresh air - it's very prestigious and something really good to have on your CV. He gets on extremely well with [Fernando] Alonso, so maybe that could be a good way for him to go."

Webber's contract with Red Bull runs out at the end of this season, and his strong form in the opening part of this campaign has again ignited speculation that he is on Ferrari's radar as a potential replacement for Felipe Massa.

Although going up alongside Alonso would not be an easy thing to do, Jones reckons that Webber already faces a big challenge at Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel.

He added: "Personally, I think that Mark is with a good team (but) having said that, if he signed on with Red Bull next year he's still going to have Vettel as his team-mate, which is a pretty hard task."

Source: Autosport

[philcruicks]

For everyone's amusement...the hover Sauber.

[Noir Angel]

Alan Jones advocates Ferrari move for Mark Webber

Mark Webber should seriously consider a move to Ferrari if a proper offer is made, according to former world champion Alan Jones.

Jones, the last Australian to win the Formula 1 title, believes that Webber would find himself revitalised by an opportunity to race for the Maranello team.

Speaking in a podcast put together by the Australian Grand Prix organisers, Jones said: "Mark has already done one of the two things that most Formula 1 drivers would like to do, and that's win Monaco. The other one is to drive for Ferrari.

"I'm sure he'd have a look at it. If he goes to Ferrari, it could be a breath of fresh air - it's very prestigious and something really good to have on your CV. He gets on extremely well with [Fernando] Alonso, so maybe that could be a good way for him to go."

Webber's contract with Red Bull runs out at the end of this season, and his strong form in the opening part of this campaign has again ignited speculation that he is on Ferrari's radar as a potential replacement for Felipe Massa.

Although going up alongside Alonso would not be an easy thing to do, Jones reckons that Webber already faces a big challenge at Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel.

He added: "Personally, I think that Mark is with a good team (but) having said that, if he signed on with Red Bull next year he's still going to have Vettel as his team-mate, which is a pretty hard task."

Source: Autosport

I'm not sure I agree with Alan on this one.

Firstly, it's pretty clear that Ferrari is Fernando's camp. The British GP of 2010 showed what happened when you make Mark feel like he's being treated like a #2. And I think signing up to be a #2 would be a step backwards for Mark.

And secondly, and perhaps more importantly Ferrari are clearly a shadow of the team they were under the Schumacher reign.

[MightyJordan]

For everyone's amusement...the hover Sauber.

*snipped*

It's already been photoshopped...

:rofl:

[MillionVoltss]

Sauber F1 Team - World Premiere: Cutaway F1 Race Car

[Kerm]

Fascinating thanks for that.

[simonlang]

And secondly, and perhaps more importantly Ferrari are clearly a shadow of the team they were under the Schumacher reign.

this! so true. it also shows that so far, neither raikkonen nor alonso, who both got hired at ferrari with big words, havent shown anything that they can lead or develop or push a team like schumacher did. in fact, the now 43 year old schumacher (!) is leading another former mid-field team to become a front runner team and - lets be honest here - so far this year mercedes has looked much stronger than ferrari, however alonso has been gifted with tons of luck this season while you just have to guess in which lap schumachers race will be finished due to an opponent crashing into him or his team failing to do a proper pitstop. but its not half-time yet, the luck will hopefully equal out over the year and i say at the end of 2012 rosberg will be in front of alonso in the wdc standings, schumacher ahead of massa and mercedes ahead of ferrari.

[Daedroth]

FIA ban Red Bull hole

The hole in question

Red Bull will be forced to change the design of the RB8 for the Canadian Grand Prix after the FIA ruled that the holes in its floor are illegal.

There had been rumours that a protest against the device, which is situated just ahead of the rear tyres and improves aerodynamic performance, would be lodged by some of the other teams at the Monaco Grand Prix.

No such protest was launched, but the FIA has now issued a technical directive informing the team that the holes will no longer be allowed.

Sky Sports F1 expert Ted Kravitz explained the process that led Formula 1's governing body to declare that the design of the car must be changed.

"They (the FIA) have said that Red Bull's interpretation of the rule was, at best, optimistic," Kravitz told Sky Sports.

"Red Bull have said that because there isn't an overt rule saying that they can't put a hole in there, they (are allowed to) put a hole in there.

"There is a rule that says you can't put a hole in another part of the car but because they hadn't specified that part, they said that their interpretation was fine.

"The other teams said, 'this isn't right, you're trying it on a little'. Red Bull said, 'show us the area of the rulebook where it says explicitly that we're not allowed to do that'.

"That's why they FIA have clamped down on it and put a little clarification out saying, 'you can't do this'."

Source: http://www1.skysport...-Red-Bull-hole-

[Guest]

Red Bull are always doing new things. Their innovations though appears to create them winning results.

Good job its Red Bull and not McLaren otherwise there would be a penalty involved rather than a slap on the back of the hand.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Lewis Hamilton quickest in opening practice for the Canadian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton was fastest for McLaren in the opening free practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

The McLaren edged out Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull by just over a tenth of a second, with Nico Rosberg's Mercedes third.

It was the Lotus duo who exchanged the top spot initially, before Rosberg and Hamilton made it their own private battle for the rest of the session. First Rosberg put in a 1m16.837s 20 minutes in to depose Kimi Raikkonen, then Hamilton replied with a 1m16.080s seven minutes later.

The McLaren would stay in front for almost the rest of the session - deposed only for mere moments with 20 minutes to go when Rosberg did a 1m15.782s that Hamilton instantly answered with a 1m15.564s.

Rosberg was among several drivers who then tried super soft tyres in the closing stages, as with rain forecast for the afternoon, Mercedes, Red Bull, Lotus, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo and the HRTs all chose to try the softer rubber earlier than usual. But the Mercedes did not go any quicker than it had on softs, so Hamilton retained first position, and Rosberg found himself pushed down to third right at the end when Vettel squeezed into second place on super softs.

Vettel may have to take a trip to the stewards' office between sessions, as he is under investigation for an incident where he took a shortcut over the final chicane to pass Bruno Senna's Williams and ensure clear track for the start of a flying lap.

Fernando Alonso was the quickest Ferrari driver in fourth, with team-mate Felipe Massa 12th as the pair evaluated different exhaust layouts.

Mark Webber completed the top five in the second Red Bull, following by Hulkenberg's Force India, the Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, and Michael Schumacher's Mercedes.

Jenson Button was 10th despite his McLaren only managing 12 laps before it was sidelined in the garage with an oil leak.

Thirteen minutes of running were lost just after the mid-way point when Heikki Kovalainen put his Caterham into the wall on the exit of the Turn 8/9 chicane, doing substantial damage to the car's right-hand side. Kovalainen emerged unscathed. The rest of the field confined themselves to minor trips over the grass and asphalt run-offs.

Source: Autosport