F1 Season 2012!
 

The season is barely over, but the big news is that Kimi is coming back to Formula 1!

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../11/12858.html

He'll be joining the Lotus team for the next 2 years.

Yep, saw that just now, wow! that surprises me though, as that team has a pretty full depth chart...Either way, without Kubica, they need a performer.

So, do you think they'll keep Senna over Petrov? Or what happens with Grosjean now?

If I had to make a guess, I would say Petrov gets the seat, with Senna and Grosjean looking like test/reserve drivers. I would hope that one or both are free to look at other teams for race drives.

This. Petrov brings a bunch of money to the team, doesn't he? Not to mention, Petrov is more experienced and higher finishing than either Senna or Grosjean at this point.

I'm excited.

You're excited? Feel these nipples!

Looks like Austin is alive again....

Roman Grosjean gets the second seat at Lotus

http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/09/g...konen-at-lrgp/

I just saw that, I wonder where Petrov will end up. He's got solid backing doesn't he?

That's actually pretty surprising. Not only does Petrov bring a bunch of money to the table... he's also turned into quite the capable driver. I'm not sure why any team would want Grosjean over Petrov.

Reading between the lines, it looks like the Lotus title sponsor Total has put down more money than Petrov brought to the table.

I'm sure Petrov will find a drive with another team. Maybe Marussia will want a Russian driver, now that they've taken over the Virgin team.

So... the lineup so far:

Red Bull: VET WEB
McLaren: BUT HAM
Ferrari: ALO MAS
Mercedes: MSC ROS
Lotus-Renault: RAI GRO
Force India: DIR HUL
Sauber: KOB PER
Toro Rosso: RIC VER
Williams: MAL ???
Caterham: KOV TRU
HRT: DLR ???
Marussia: GLO PIC

Not many seats left. I'm absolutely floored that Sutil doesn't have a ride. Sure, Di Resta came on strong at the end of the season, but if you're not Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, or Mercedes, I would think Sutil is an asset to your team!

That said, I'm super glad Hulkenberg has a full seat this season, and Force India is not a terrible team to be driving for. Good for him.

I hope Williams brings Barrichello back for one more season. I'd hate for him to retire w/o a swan-song season. Plus it's a shame that Kubica's and Heidfeld's careers in F1 are likely over. :(

Finally, I'm curious how all these new drivers stack up to Alguersuari, Petrov, Buemi, Sutil, and Senna. All those guys scored points in 2011, and with good cars I think are podium capable drivers. Meanwhile, guys like Trulli and Glock still have seats... and while I respect those two, they'd be on my list of drivers I'd be willing to lose in exchange for some new kid with promise... like Liuzzi and d'Ambrosio.

Oh, and what's the over/under on the date that Kimi gets sacked for lack of motivation? :lol:

I think i'm gonna watch some F1 this year.. it should be super exciting...

and wow Kimi is going back to F1 ... but its been hard for the better finishing WRC drivers to land factory seats and sponsorship.. so maybe its easier for Kimi to to get an F1 ride... (damn what an awesome position to be in... do i road race at the top world level, or do i rally at the top world level) .... color me jealous! lmao! :D

or Kimi starts to complain that the lotus car isn't competitive enough and they ditch him for someone who won't "put them on blast"

Or do I drive on in oval at the top world level. He's had some tough decisions.

The problem with being a jack of all trades is that you end up sucking at everything compared to the specialists.

Kimi's world championship was a fluke. His WRC and NASCAR finishes I think more accurately represent his ability.

Maybe he's learned some humility.

Of all the people I can thing of to "learn some humility" Kimi is not high on that list...

He does seem positive and optimistic about the up-coming season, and not excessively cocky... Cocky, but not excessive...

Kubica fractured his tibia.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...2/1/12922.html

He needs to be placed into a safety bubble going forward.

Jebus. After his Montreal crash, I thought he was invincible.

I know, but since he lived through that, not much else has gone his way. It sucks because I think he could have really produced by this point in his F1 career.

Is it March yet? I have finally joined the 2000's and I have a DVR so I can more easily follow the season .. :D

Bruno Senna will be driving the second Williams this year

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...2/1/12929.html

Man, I was really hoping for Barrichello or Sutil. I don't hate Senna, but I like those other two so much more. Especially Sutil... I think he's a championship contender in a top car.

Ooh car pics.

Caterham has released pictures of their 2012 car.

Also, some good analysis of the differences (we can see):
http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/0...aterham-ct-01/

McLaren MP4-27

with more pics
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-photos...studio-images/
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-photos...february-2012/
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...2/2/12967.html

Boy, Sutil has really spiraled into oblivion, hasn't he?

- Loses his seat at Force India
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...-says-manager/

- Gets convicted of assault and grievous bodily harm for stabbing Eric Lux with a broken glass
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...jail-sentence/

- Calls Hamilton "a coward" for not testifying at the trial (even though McLaren apparently prevented him from attending)
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...oward-comment/

I used to have a lot of respect for Sutil... good driver, and apparently all-around awesome guy... WTH happened?

This might be why Sutil was having such trouble finding a drive this year.

Chicken and egg.

He stabbed a man with a broken beer bottle, and called Hamilton a coward. Am I the only one who thinks that's freaking awesome!

Actually, when you put it that way... Winning a bar fight with a stabbing and calling out an F1 world champ does sound a lot cooler than getting convicted of hurting someone when you were just trying to throw a drink in their face and losing a long time friend because work kept him from making it to your trial.

The truth is depressing, I like mine better.

http://ff1.seccs.org/ ?

I'll be putting up the new season eventually. There's some work to be done yet.

Cool, I was hoping I would get to donate again.

More new cars!

Force India VJM05

Its got the duck nose too. And a moustache.

More: http://www.f1technical.net/gallery/Force-India/VJM05

Ferrari F2012

Also opting for that stepped nose config

More: http://www.f1technical.net/news/17015

Ugh. The duck noses are silly looking. That's because of a rule change to the max height of the nose, right? So instead of making a clean transition to the new rule height, they just took the existing cockpit height and wedged it down?

Yes, the nose height step is due to new regs on maximum height of the nose front of the front axel or something.

McLaren shaved off the underside of the nose to meet the regs, and looks much nicer. I guess we'll have to wait and see which one actually performs better.

EDIT: The more I look at it, the more I can't believe Ferrari let such an ugly nose out the door. The FI and the Caterham cars are bad, but the Ferrari looks even worse.

EDIT 2: Reading this. Found this quote from Ferrari amusing
http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/02/03/f...ally-pleasing/

Lotus E20

From this angle the stepped duck nose doesn't look so bad.

If you are up for a 20+ minute launch video, you can watch this.

Sauber C31

I have no words.

Red Bull RB8

This nose doesn't look too bad (compared to the field). It also looks like they are going to use the step for some sort of duct work.

This sort video shows off the whole car

http://www.redbullracing.com/cs/Sate...21243158945543

"Open up and say ahhhh" comes to mind.

And now the Williams FW34

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-photos...february-2012/

These noses keep reminding me of Villenuve's Ferrari.

A few weeks ago when I was talking with Scott, I remember saying something like "I'm curious as to why Trulli still has a drive when there are all these quick youngsters like Petrov looking for a drive"

Well, I guess I'm not the only one to think that way. Caterham agrees.

http://en.espnf1.com/caterham/motors...ory/70550.html

Well, that makes tons of sense to me... but I wonder how long before Trulli sues Caterham over a contract breach. You know, because suing for your job always works out so well in F1.

The Mercedes W03

Wow, that is dramatic! Is that why they delayed showing the car? To give red bull less time to copy it before the season starts?

I guess I don't hate I as much as the rest of the cars.

FF1 2012 season is open for registration! http://ff1.seccs.org