The 2012 F1 Championship thread.

And Mark Lovell won the British Rally Championship in about '86 without winning a round. There's nothing new in letting your rivals throw their chances away, as Ferrari did race after race when McLaren failed to perform anywhere near their potential against Schumacher. 

Tony

Rule number one - finish every race (with points, ok China was an exception). That's what he is doing.

   nice one BigH

So, Hammy has signed for Mercedes, and Perez has signed for McLaren. At last, some interest for next year.  

Tony

Yes it has been SOOOO boring this year!!!

Not boring, just a circus, to me. Next they'll be adding success-weight like in BTCC!

Tony

The way he's been driving I think Schuey is already handicapped...

Glad the Ham/Mer/Mcl soap is over. First half/first six races were brilliant. Usually the second half is the silly season half where it's 95% politics and 5% racing. Looking forward to 2013 now!

KR

Tony

Bye bye Schuey then. He has announced his retirement from the end of this year. 

Tony

Bye bye,I don't think he should have come back.

Perhaps he can use his car attacks to ensure the new boy takes the No1 plate to Mercedes.

I'm sure he can always find a job  parking cars in  the  streets of Monaco. He's already shown he's very good at it!

KR

Tony

I see he has  just apologised after realizing Jenson never actually  followed him. Well done Lewis, again. Good luck to Mercedes.

KR

Tony

Perhaps I don't understand twitter, but is Lewis so arrogant that he expects Jenson to hang on his every "look-at-me" offering?

Arrogant and/or very poorly managed. 

Tony

Lewis has many qualities but maturity isn't one of them. McLaren is not the place where, as a driver, you will receive help in that area. Never has been. Ross Brawn and Mercedes may provide that environment. Time will tell. Lewis' Dad helped him at the start of his career but at some point sons want to go out on their own even if there are tough lessons to be learned.

Lotus announce an "upgraded" Grosjean:-

Lewis, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Bertrand & all the others...What is it about Twitter that they all find so wonderful? And why after all the public fk ups do they still bother and still publicly  fk up?!?!?!?!?! What a bunch of tw*ts!!!!! LOL

I see Jackie Stewart has offered to coach Grosjean going forwards as he has experience of helping other drivers previously, like is own racemates perhaps..?

Some interest has been created for tomorrow: Vettel has been chucked to the back of the for the grid for not having enough fuel in the tank for the fuel test. It'll be interesting to see him overtaking, and to hear the boring Ferrari conspiracy theorists shouting......

Tony

Indeed,  a race with all the potential of seeing some real Vettel wheel to wheel racing from the back. Should at least make the points,  I see top 5 as a realistic target.

The other interest will be how Alonso handles himself, he needs to grab a bunch while he has the chance as Vettel will not be in the same place in the last 2 races. 

Apart from the start - and he has had some bad luck in that respect - there are a few loose cannons just behind waiting to modify the rear end of cars making poor starts,  then it ain't that far until the 90 degree turn 1.

Then he has Maldonardo to negotiate - 'nuff said  

No doubt given the space he will have a text book race that plays it safe & get over the line with enough points.  But what is "enough" if Vettel makes it into the top 5

I recon he is planning at least a podium. 

Hamilton had a similar fate at the Spanish GP and managed 8th place. With a 13  points gap, Vettel will indeed have to do a lot better. With Mad Mal starting in 3rd now, it should make for an interesting GP.

KR

Tony

Every likely hood that vetted will get a podium, with alonso winning, and hammi the meat of the sandwich