Formula One 2012

[sh@un]

shame it can't always be Verizon

Vodafone is a rubbish service provider here

[89CAL]

shame it can't always be Verizon

Vodafone is a rubbish service provider here

Shame it cant always be this livery:

[sh@un]

McLaren's last constructors title came in that West scheme

*sigh*

[tweety bird]

Amidst reports that the Nurburgring will no longer host F1, Hockenheim mayor Dieter Gummer has said his city is not in talks to hold the race in 2013.

The German Grand Prix alternates between the Nurburgring and Hockenheim, with the former scheduled to hold the race in the middle of July next year.

However, the Nurburgring is in the midst of an insolvency process and a spokesman has been quoted as telling the DPA news agency that there will be "no more Formula One" at the track.

Hockenheim has previously stated that they are unable to cope with the financial burden of hosting the race every year and mayor Gummer has revealed that despite the cloud hanging over the Nurburgring, negotiations are not on the go to switch the race to Hockenheim.

"It is the case that we are, of course, in constant contact but it has never led to negotiations on a Formula One event in Hockenheim in 2013," Gummer told DPA.

"Before a grand prix in Germany goes we would in any case be prepared to talk, but priority has in any case Nuerburgring," he added.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8248053/Concern-growing-over-German-GP

[tweety bird]

when i went to ferrari world i saw one of schumi old f1 cars and said ''why don't they go back to th old short and wide rear wing it looks so much more sexy''

and it does.

[ctjet]

They won't go back because too many idiots now say 'I don't mind the new look, I'm used to it'

These are the kind of people with no appreciation for what f1 should really be about

Usually newfags who have only recently jumped on the bandwagon

Edited November 15, 2012 by ctjet

[sh@un]

the old aero packages generated too much downforce, and the FIA periodically has to fiddle with the allowable wing dimensions to keep cornering speeds reasonable

*waits for some retard to say driver and spectator deaths are a perfectly acceptable trade off for 'spectacle'*

[ctjet]

The FIA is their own worst enemy, they write so many rules with so many potential loopholes that we end up with the monstrosities we have now circulating the track

The low nose aero packages cant come soon enough

[JAS-25T]

Kent from work is flying to texas as we speak.

kent.

[89CAL]

The rear wing change was to reduce the dirty air out the back to aid overtaking. Does anyone remember the double rear wings they were going to start using?

Crazy looking things

[260DET]

What is the problem with the stepped nose, it's a visual thing that's a matter of opinion. Care no f***s for fanboinewbs gay reaction

[mad082]

Kent from work is flying to texas as we speak.

kent.

Mate of mine is already there.

Kent

[89CAL]

What is the problem with the stepped nose, it's a visual thing that's a matter of opinion. Care no f***s for fanboinewbs gay reaction

When the season started they were a bit of a dodgy looking concept. But they have managed to make it look alright

especially the Lotus and the Red Bull. The Ferrari... not so much lol

[wolverine]

Too many Kents watching F1.

[wolverine]

Red Bulls liking Austin so far.

[sh@un]

Seb 1.4s quicker than Ham in FP1. I hope this isn't going to be the cakewalk it's looking like...

edit- FP2 just finished and Vettel 0.7s clear of Webber. ominous

[ctjet]

very

[89CAL]

Red Bull might have just been on the money right away, the other guys will catch up (if not all the way then most of the gap) next FP or tomorrow when they've had some time to analyze data

Not saying anyone else is going to win...... but they should be closer lol

[tweety bird]

The FIA have confirmed that as of next season use of the Drag Reduction System in practice and qualifying will be limited to the official zones.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8250977/DRS-to-be-limited-in-2013

Mark Webber has slammed the new format of the podium procedure which was implemented mid-season.

From the British Grand Prix, which Webber won, drivers have been interviewed on the podium after being handed their trophies and at some circuits the flags of the winning drivers are no longer raised, instead appearing electronically.

The format came under the spotlight in Abu Dhabi when first Kimi Raikkonen and then Sebastian Vettel swore on the podium, something Webber believes was inevitable.

"For swearing, that will never go away. It will always never be far away," he said.

"You are full of adrenaline. You are excited. You have just had an incredible grand prix in general in those cases, so I think sometimes you might not use the right language, but now we have to be mindful of that.

"It is another part of the weekend where you have to keep an eye on things."

While it may just be the driver's language that has come under the spotlight, Webber believes the whole format is undesirable.

"I certainly wasn't impressed in Silverstone with 1000 dignitaries up there. I think the podium should be for the drivers, no one else," Webber said of his experience in Britain.

"A clear shot of celebration of the drivers and what they have achieved. Not having everyone stand in front and having their five minutes. That pissed me off.

"You need real flags. The electronic flags look rubbish. You need real flags waving in the wind.

"Drivers [interviewing] on the podium...? I am 50/50 on that."

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8251016/Webber-hits-out-at-new-podium-style

Robert Kubica admits that he would love to return to Formula One, but for now is concentrating on more achievable goals.

"For the, let's say future, I don't have any plans up until now. In the end, I am still at the stage of rehabilitation but for sure I would love to compete in a high level championship, or in a rally or on a circuit," he told Reuters.

Kubica has not totally ruled out a return to F1 but is taking his recovery one step at a time.

"Let's see, until now I did some rallies, I did some testing on the race track and I hope my hand will improve and my general condition will improve," he said.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8251719/Kubica-upbeat-but-realistic

[tweety bird]

Michael Schumacher needs two laps on Sunday at the United States GP to call another record his own, that of most racing kilometres in the sport.

http://www.planetf1....d-awaits-Schumi

F1 drivers could be put on a points system next season that sees drivers docked points for offences with a one-race ban the end result.

FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting is keen to see a system put into place that penalises drivers who commit repeat offences.

Each offence would be allocated a number of points with the more severe costing the driver more. And once a certain number of demerits had been reached, the driver would be hit with an automatic one-race ban.

"We would like to see a system, and indeed we could discuss it with the teams next Wednesday in Brazil, similar to the sort of thing you have with your road licence where you will accumulate points on your Super Licence," Whiting told Autosport.

"If you get to 12 points, or whatever it is, you will have a race [ban]. That's the sort of thing we will discuss."

He added: "You will accrue points for all sorts of penalties, whereas at the moment we have only got three reprimands and two of those have to be for driving infringements.

"At the moment, if you had a reprimand for being late for a press conference and a reprimand for being late for a drivers parade, that wouldn't lead to a 10-place grid penalty.

"It has got to be for driving infringements. If we looked at the Super Licence approach where you get a point for this, two for that, it would all count."

Whiting, though, admits he first needs the teams to agree before such a system could be introduced and he doesn't expect that will come easily.

"That's something that we would like to see but it's probably not simple, nothing in F1 is really.

"It's something we are going to try to discuss with the teams.

http://www.planetf1....y-points-system

Aside from the lack of grip the drivers experienced on Friday, Mark Webber reckons the new CoTA track is both "demanding" and "fun".

"It's a pretty good track," said the Aussie.

"Obviously it was very slippery to start with. That was quite frustrating probably for all of us, but the track rubbered in pretty well at the end. We got into a pretty good rhythm.

"As usual with all new circuits you've got to work out where you can prioritise your time, and the compromises around the lap. It's got a bit of everything, really.

"It's fun, it's a new challenge for us. It can be demanding and a bit frustrating at times, because we want to learn faster, that's the way it always is with is guys, but in the end I think we executed a pretty clean Friday.

"We know that the tyres are pretty high maintenance, that's something we've got to look into tonight. The rest of it was pretty straightforward, no huge surprises, I suppose the grip level of the track, but that's always improving."

As for whether the latest Herman Tilke design with the offer the overtaking opportunities everyone is hoping for, Webber reckons it could be a bit difficult given how slippery it is off the racing line.

"It's not the easiest track, especially off line it's very slippery. It's a good circuit, let's see what the racing's like."

http://www.planetf1....etty-good-track