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2012 Formula One World Championship

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Sebastian Vettel, the defending World Drivers' Champion.

The 2012 Formula One season will be the 63rd FIA Formula One season. 2012 will be the penultimate year of the current 2.4 litre V8 engine configuration, before being replaced by more environmentally friendly 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines in 2014.[1] The 2012 season will also see the return of the United States Grand Prix to the calendar, with the race to be held at a brand-new circuit in Austin, Texas.[2]

Sebastian Vettel will start the season as the defending World Drivers' Champion, having secured his second championship with a podium finish at the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing retain their World Constructors' Championship, with Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber having finished on the podium at the Korean Grand Prix.

Signed teams and drivers

After a dispute between the Formula One Teams Association and the FIA in the first half of 2009, a new Concorde Agreement was signed on 1 August 2009 by the then FIA president Max Mosley and all of the existing teams at the time. The new agreement provides for a continuation of the terms of the 1998 Concorde Agreement, and runs until 31 December 2012.[3]

Team Constructor Engine Tyre Race Drivers Test/Reserve Driver(s)
Italy Scuderia Ferrari[4] Ferrari Ferrari P Spain Fernando Alonso[5] TBA
Brazil Felipe Massa[6]
India Sahara Force India F1 Team[7] Force India Mercedes P TBA TBA
TBA
Spain HRT F1 Team HRT Cosworth P TBA TBA
TBA
Malaysia Team Lotus[8] Lotus Renault P Finland Heikki Kovalainen[9] TBA
Italy Jarno Trulli[10]
United Kingdom Vodafone McLaren Mercedes McLaren Mercedes P United Kingdom Jenson Button[11] Spain Pedro de la Rosa[12]

United Kingdom Gary Paffett[13]

United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton[14]
Germany Mercedes GP Petronas Mercedes Mercedes P Germany Michael Schumacher[15] TBA
TBA
Austria Red Bull Racing Red Bull Renault P Germany Sebastian Vettel[16] TBA
Australia Mark Webber[17]
United Kingdom Lotus Renault GP[18] Renault Renault P Russia Vitaly Petrov[19] TBA
TBA[20]
Switzerland Sauber F1 Team Sauber Ferrari P Japan Kamui Kobayashi[21] Mexico Esteban Gutiérrez[21]
Mexico Sergio Pérez[21]
Italy Scuderia Toro Rosso Toro Rosso Ferrari P TBA TBA
TBA
Russia Marussia Virgin Racing[22] Virgin Cosworth P Germany Timo Glock[23] TBA
TBA
United Kingdom AT&T Williams Williams Renault[24] P TBA TBA
TBA

Team changes

2012 calendar

Bernie Ecclestone has expressed a desire to see the calendar expand to a record twenty rounds, the maximum he feels is viable. However, a provisional calendar was announced in June 2011, with a record twenty-one races.[27] FIA President Jean Todt later clarified this position, stating that the 2012 calendar would have no more than twenty races,[28] but gave no indication as to which race would be removed from the calendar. On 29 July 2011, a second provisional calendar was released, confirming that the Turkish Grand Prix would be discontinued.[29] However, the teams requested a second revision of the calendar, citing logistical concerns over the final away leg of the championship, featuring seven races in ten weeks on three continents.[30] The final calendar was released on 31 August 2011.[31]

Round Race Title Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 Australian Grand Prix Australian GP[32] Australia Albert Park, Melbourne 18 March
2 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Malaysian GP[33] Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 25 March
3 Chinese Grand Prix Chinese GP[34] China Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai 15 April
4 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain GP[35] Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 22 April
5 Gran Premio de España Spanish GP[36] Spain Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 13 May
6 Grand Prix de Monaco Monaco GP[37] Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 27 May
7 Grand Prix du Canada Canadian GP Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 10 June
8 Grand Prix of Europe European GP[38] Spain Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia 24 June
9 Santander British Grand Prix British GP[39] United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 8 July
10 Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland German GP[40] Germany Hockenheimring, Hockenheim 22 July
11 Eni Magyar Nagydíj Hungarian GP[41] Hungary Hungaroring, Budapest 29 July
12 Shell Belgian Grand Prix Belgian GP[42] Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 2 September
13 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia Italian GP[43] Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 9 September
14 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Singapore GP[44] Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay 23 September
15 Japanese Grand Prix Japanese GP[45] Japan Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 7 October
16 Korean Grand Prix Korean GP[46] South Korea Korean International Circuit, Yeongam 14 October
17 Airtel Grand Prix of India Indian GP[47] India Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida 28 October
18 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Abu Dhabi GP United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 4 November
19 United States Grand Prix United States GP United States Circuit of the Americas, Austin[2] 18 November
20 Grande Prêmio do Brasil Brazilian GP Brazil Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 25 November

Calendar changes

  • The Bahrain Grand Prix was moved to the end of the season after the 2011 race was postponed, and later cancelled.[49] The race was scheduled for a November date to give the government more time to ensure civil order was restored, but was later brought forward to April. At the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, several teams expressed concern over the state of the race in the face of renewed violence in the country.[50]
  • The German Grand Prix returned to Hockenheim after the 2011 German Grand Prix was held at the Nürburgring in line with the event's policy of alternating between venues.
  • The Korean Grand Prix was to be brought forward from October to April, similar to the move that the Chinese Grand Prix made in 2009. However, the July calendar brought the Indian Grand Prix forward to April, leaving the Korean event in its October date. The Indian race was later moved back to 28 October, with the Korean race remaining in its 14 October date.
  • The Turkish Grand Prix was removed from the calendar after Formula One Management and the event organisers could not agree on a renewed contract. In August 2011, organisers of the race revealed that they were negotiating with Bernie Ecclestone to resume their place on the calendar.[51] However, the race was absent from the final calendar released in August.
  • The United States Grand Prix was originally scheduled to be held in June, but was moved back to become the penultimate event of the season in response to concerns over the heat of the Texas summer.[52]
  • Organisers of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had originally planned to reconfigure the Yas Marina Circuit for the 2011 race following heavy criticism over a lack of overtaking in 2010.[53] However, they later elected to postpone the circuit modifications until 2012 in the face of rule changes for the 2011 season that they felt directly addressed the criticisms levelled at the circuit,[54] promising the speedy introduction of changes if the 2011 race proved disappointing.
  • Organisers of the Korean Grand Prix have expressed dissatisfaction over the terms of their contract with Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management, particularly with regards to the cost of race-sanctioning fees, and have sought to renegotiate the contract, seeking more-favourable terms.[55][56] However, Ecclestone ruled out renegotiations, stating that the initial negotiation process had been difficult enough, and that the organisers were aware of the terms of the contract when they first signed it. Ecclestone has stated that in the event that race organisers can not pay sanctioning fees, the Korean Grand Prix will be removed from the calendar.[57]

Changes

Rule changes

  • The 2011 season saw teams running "off-throttle blown diffusers", which created downforce by forcing fuel through the engine to produce exhaust gasses and directing it over the diffuser when the driver was not applying the throttle. This concept was initially thought to be banned from the 2011 British Grand Prix onwards, but after much controversy were not. The regulations in 2012 will be governing the design of the exhaust. The teams have already agreed to strict constraints on exhaust tailpipe position which will result in them exiting the bodywork much higher up and no longer in the vicinity of the diffuser.[58] In October 2011, a clarification to the amended rules was issued, effectively banning "exotic" engine maps.[59]
  • After being banned in 2009, in-season testing will return in 2012, with plans for a test to be held at Mugello on May 1 ahead of the European leg of the 2012 championship.[60]
  • At the September 2011 meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, representatives of the member organisations voted to amend the rules for double-waved yellow flags in all FIA-sanctioned championships. The amendment means that double-waved flags will be shown when a track marshall is working on or beside the circuit.[61]

Other changes

  • In July 2011, a joint broadcasting deal for Formula One in the United Kingdom was announced between Sky Sports and the BBC. The new arrangement runs from 2012 until 2018 and will see all practice, qualifying sessions and races being broadcast by Sky, with the BBC televising qualifying and the race live from ten selected venues and extended highlights of the remaining ten on a delayed broadcast.[62][63] The announcement was controversial, with early promises that the races would be uninterrupted by commercials[64] doing little to quell the highly negative reactions from fans and observers.[65][66] It had previously been believed that the terms of the Concorde Agreement prevented Formula One from being broadcast exclusively on pay-per-view, but the Agreement did not prevent a shared broadcast such as the proposal made by Sky Sports and the BBC.[67] The controversial nature of the broadcast deal led to the House of Commons' Culture, Media and Sport Committee calling Bernie Ecclestone and "senior BBC figures" including director-general Mark Thompson to answer questions over the details of the broadcasting arrangement.[68]

References

  1. ^ Strang, Simon (29 June 2011). "FIA rubber-stamps new 1.6-litre V6 engine plans to be introduced in 2014". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Formula One returns to the United States". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. ^ Beer, Matt (1 August 2009). "New Concorde Agreement finally signed". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  4. ^ Cooper, Adam (8 July 2011). "Ferrari Drops Marlboro From Team Name". speedtv.com. Speed. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Press Release". Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  6. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (9 June 2010). "Massa extends Ferrari contract until '12". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  7. ^ "Sahara India Pariwar announces co-ownership of the Force India Formula One Team with Dr. Vijay Mallya". forceindiaf1.com. Force India F1 Team. 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  8. ^ English, Steven; Noble, Jonathan (24 September 2010). "Lotus confirms Team Lotus name deal". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Pit & Paddock: Third year for Trulli and Kovalainen". Autosport. 205 (11). Haymarket Publications: p. 12. 15 September 2011. Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli will continue to drive for Team Lotus next season. Trulli was, as expected, officially announced as a 2012 driver by the team last weekend, while team boss Tony Fernandes confirmed to Autosport that Kovalainen will also be staying on. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |page= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ "Jarno Trulli extends F1 Team Lotus contract". BBC Sport. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  11. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (5 October 2011). "Button secures new multi-year contract at McLaren". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  12. ^ "de la Rosa not looking elsewhere". crash.net. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  13. ^ Noble, Jonathan (5 July 2011). "Gary Paffett extends McLaren test and reserve contract". autosport.com. Haymarket. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
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  16. ^ Beer, Matt (14 March 2011). "Horner pleased to end Vettel rumours". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Webber Signs With Red Bull For 2012". redbull.com. Red Bull Racing. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
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  19. ^ "Petrov confirmed at Renault until 2012". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  20. ^ Holt, Sarah (September 9 2011). "Robert Kubica plans return to driving in October". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved September 21 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  21. ^ a b c "Kobayashi and Perez to stay at Sauber in 2012". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  22. ^ Smotrov, Alexandr (11 November 2010). "Russia enters Formula 1 as company takes 'significant stake' in Virgin team". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  23. ^ Strang, Simon (24 July 2011). "Timo Glock has re-signed with Virgin on a new three-year deal". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  24. ^ a b Beer, Matt (4 July 2011). "Williams to run Renault engines again from 2012". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  25. ^ "Virgin to break ties with technical partners Wirth". Formula1.com. Formula One Association. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  26. ^ Noble, Jonathan (4 July 2011). "Virgin enters into technical partnership with McLaren". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  27. ^ "FIA reveals 21-race calendar for 2012". gpupdate.net. gpupdate.net. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  28. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (7 June 2011). "Todt says 2012 will have 20 races". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  29. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (29 July 2011). "2012 Formula 1 season opener keeps March 18 slot despite overhaul". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  30. ^ Noble, Jonathan (30 July 2011). "Formula 1 teams want rethink on revised 2012 calendar". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  31. ^ "World Motor Sport Council: 31/08/2011". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  32. ^ "Aussie GP safe until 2015". ITV-F1. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  33. ^ "Malaysia claims F1 race rights until 2015". 23 October 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  34. ^ "Shanghai agrees seven-year Grand Prix extension". ESPN. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  35. ^ "Bahrain: GP has contract through 2016". Manipe F1. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  36. ^ "Valencia to be second F1 street track in 2008". 10 May 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  37. ^ "Monaco signs ten-year F1 deal". F1Fanatic. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  38. ^ "Bernie signs Valencia GP contract". UpdateF1. 3 June 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  39. ^ "Silverstone signs 17-year deal for British Grand Prix". BBC Sport. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  40. ^ "Hockenheim handed reprieve". PlanetF1.com. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  41. ^ "Hungaroring on F1 calendar until 2016". F1technical.net. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  42. ^ "Spa extends Grand Prix contract to 2012". www.grandprix.com. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  43. ^ "Monza to keep Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  44. ^ "Singapore looking to change track layout". ESPN F1. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  45. ^ Benson, Andrew (9 March 2011). "Suzuka GP deal extended to 2012". BBC News.
  46. ^ "Korean Grand Prix set for 2010". Manipe F1. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  47. ^ "Indian Grand Prix debut pushed back to 2011". London: The Daily Telegraph. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  48. ^ "Formula One returns to the United States". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  49. ^ "Bahrain F1 Grand Prix dropped for 2011". Yahoo. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  50. ^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95191
  51. ^ Autosport http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93692. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  52. ^ "City Council endorses F1, agrees to environmental deal". American Statesman. American Statesman. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  53. ^ Strang, Simon (8 April 2011). "Abu Dhabi to make track changes". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  54. ^ Beer, Matt (4 July 2011). "Abu Dhabi Grand Prix postpones track changes as 2011 rules may make them unnecessary". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  55. ^ Noble, Jonathan (18 October 2011). "Korea seeks to renegotiate GP contract". Autosport.com. Retrieved 28 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ Noble, Jonathan (18 October 2011). "Q & A with Korean Grand Prix promoter Won-Hwa Park". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  57. ^ Noble, Jonathan (27 October 2011). "Bernie Ecclestone casts doubt on future of Korean GP". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  58. ^ Whiting, Charlie. gpupdate.net Exhausts to be raised for 2012 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/264307/exhausts-to-be-raised-for-2012/ Exhausts to be raised for 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2011. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  59. ^ http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/10/radical-changes-to-engine-maps-for-2012-give-power-back-to-designers/
  60. ^ Noble, Jonathan (28 August 2011). "Formula 1 teams pick Mugello for 2012's new mid-season test". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  61. ^ http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/wmsc/2011/Pages/wmsc-230911.aspx
  62. ^ Gallop, Ben (29 July 2011). "New F1 deal explained". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  63. ^ Beer, Matt (29 July 2011). "Sky and BBC to share UK F1 television coverage from 2012 to 2018". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  64. ^ O'Leary, Jamie (29 July 2011). "Sky Sports says it won't show adverts during grands prix next year". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  65. ^ O'Leary, Jamie; Noble, Jonathan (29 July 2011). "Bernie Ecclestone says Sky pay-to-view TV deal will grow F1's audience". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 July 2011. {{cite news}}: More than one of |first1= and |first= specified (help); More than one of |last1= and |last= specified (help)
  66. ^ Collantine, Keith (29 July 2011). "So much for keeping F1 free-to-air". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  67. ^ Noble, Jonathan (30 July 2011). "Formula 1 teams accept there is no going back on Sky deal". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  68. ^ Noble, Jonathan (2 September, 2001). "BBC to face questioning from MPs over switch to shared F1 coverage". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publciations. Retrieved 2 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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