2012 season review part 1; RBR, lotus, Force India and Caterham
red bull racing
@DarshanChokhani : RBR weren't as dominate as we saw in 2011 and that's what added a different spice to the season. But they continued with upgrades till the last race and pushed every inch to win both the tiles. Kudos to their efforts, real hard fought season for them.
@MarussiaF1Will : A quiet start to the season as they were still learning about the RB8, but once they knew about it, they looked untouchable at times.
@cbeSudha : Another outstanding year for the team, winning both the WDC and WCC titles for the third time in a row. Struggled to some extent in the initial part of the season with the ban on the EBDs, with Webber doing better than Vettel. Monza was a low point with both drivers having a DNF. But you always knew Adrian Newey would come up with something to pull things back. A DDRS system from Singapore onwards improved RBR's qualifying pace which was a game changer. Seb Vettel on pole and running away with it as in 2011 during the Asian leg for 4 straight wins brought him back into the WDC fight and the rest is history.
@NigelBeechey : Well where to start?! The Champs had a share of good and bad luck like others. Alternator issues gave them some stressy races but they ended up on top with two titles. That is the objective. I'd say they had a decent season.
@AFC_Harry34 : What a season for Red Bull! Another constructors title, and drivers title, a 3rd in a row for Seb! The team appeared to be struggling early on in the season, but came back strong to finish the season in the form that we have come to expect of them. Only worry will be the later season form of Mark Webber.
@MarussiaF1Will : A quiet start to the season as they were still learning about the RB8, but once they knew about it, they looked untouchable at times.
@cbeSudha : Another outstanding year for the team, winning both the WDC and WCC titles for the third time in a row. Struggled to some extent in the initial part of the season with the ban on the EBDs, with Webber doing better than Vettel. Monza was a low point with both drivers having a DNF. But you always knew Adrian Newey would come up with something to pull things back. A DDRS system from Singapore onwards improved RBR's qualifying pace which was a game changer. Seb Vettel on pole and running away with it as in 2011 during the Asian leg for 4 straight wins brought him back into the WDC fight and the rest is history.
@NigelBeechey : Well where to start?! The Champs had a share of good and bad luck like others. Alternator issues gave them some stressy races but they ended up on top with two titles. That is the objective. I'd say they had a decent season.
@AFC_Harry34 : What a season for Red Bull! Another constructors title, and drivers title, a 3rd in a row for Seb! The team appeared to be struggling early on in the season, but came back strong to finish the season in the form that we have come to expect of them. Only worry will be the later season form of Mark Webber.
lotus
@DarshanChokhani : The surprise package of the season, Lotus. Think Kimi's presence really boosted their performances. Last season they were down and out but we saw this season how good they were. Beating Mercedes for P4 was a real great effort on their part.
@MarussiaF1Will : Expected them to get a few more wins than they did, but was a good season and they'll do very well next year. However, Romain's many first lap incidents cost the team a lot of points.
@cbeSudha : Good year for the team improving to 4th position in the Constructors' Championship. Kimi Raikkonen was outstanding in his comeback notching up a streak of 17 consecutive point scoring races after China, finishing 3rd in the Drivers' Championship Grosjean crashing out cost the team a lot of points and could have been a better season for them. E20 was the fastest car on the grid in the early part of the season and they did not win enough. Not using the passive DDRS system they developed during the season in a race was also a minus point for the team.
@NigelBeechey : These guys had a decent season. I'm sure they will improve further next season. They at least have the stability of Kimi and Romain for next year. Hope Romain has a much better year and shows us what he can deliver.
@AFC_Harry34 : Lotus have had a reasonable year. Kimi was fantastic for them all season, and 3rd place in the drivers championship for him is great news for the team. However, there were many sour notes for the team involving Roman Grosjean, including not finishing 3 of the first 4 races due to early crashes, and the massive crash at Spa, caused by him. That resulted in a 1-race ban for him, and he was replaced by Jerome Dambrosio for the race, but he failed to impress. However, Grosjean did manage a few podium finishes.
@MarussiaF1Will : Expected them to get a few more wins than they did, but was a good season and they'll do very well next year. However, Romain's many first lap incidents cost the team a lot of points.
@cbeSudha : Good year for the team improving to 4th position in the Constructors' Championship. Kimi Raikkonen was outstanding in his comeback notching up a streak of 17 consecutive point scoring races after China, finishing 3rd in the Drivers' Championship Grosjean crashing out cost the team a lot of points and could have been a better season for them. E20 was the fastest car on the grid in the early part of the season and they did not win enough. Not using the passive DDRS system they developed during the season in a race was also a minus point for the team.
@NigelBeechey : These guys had a decent season. I'm sure they will improve further next season. They at least have the stability of Kimi and Romain for next year. Hope Romain has a much better year and shows us what he can deliver.
@AFC_Harry34 : Lotus have had a reasonable year. Kimi was fantastic for them all season, and 3rd place in the drivers championship for him is great news for the team. However, there were many sour notes for the team involving Roman Grosjean, including not finishing 3 of the first 4 races due to early crashes, and the massive crash at Spa, caused by him. That resulted in a 1-race ban for him, and he was replaced by Jerome Dambrosio for the race, but he failed to impress. However, Grosjean did manage a few podium finishes.
force india
@DarshanChokhani : The most consistent team was Force India. Throughout the races, they were scoring points. They started a bit slow but were always there. Only minus would be them not getting podium finishes. In the second half we saw them scoring in all races, which only the top teams managed. They were just a bit unlucky in few of the races specially Brazil.
@MarussiaF1Will : They were improving all the time all year, two very fast drivers who finished close together in the WDC. Paul di Resta did well in the first half of the season with Hulkenberg struggling but turned the other way in the second half of the season.
@cbeSudha : Force India went from 6th last season to 7th this year in the Constructors' Championship, edged out by Sauber for 6th place by 17 points. Hulkenberg initially struggled on his return to F1 in the early part of the season and had a very strong run in the second half. Paul Di Resta on the other hand faded in the second half of the season. If both drivers had performed consistently they could have challenged Mercedes and Sauber for 5th place.
@NigelBeechey : Well.. without doubt, Force India saved one of their best performances til last? Nico Hulkenberg lead for 30 or so laps? Finishing 5th in the end and unfortunately Paul Di Resta crashed out on the penultimate lap, just missing out on points.
@AFC_Harry34 : Force India have had a fantastic year. Nico Hulkemberg, who will be joining Sauber in 2013, showed his class, and left the team wondering what could have happened following his crash in Brazil, after he had been leading. Brit Paul di Resta had a solid season, but perhaps he's not at the level many had anticipated as of yet.
@MarussiaF1Will : They were improving all the time all year, two very fast drivers who finished close together in the WDC. Paul di Resta did well in the first half of the season with Hulkenberg struggling but turned the other way in the second half of the season.
@cbeSudha : Force India went from 6th last season to 7th this year in the Constructors' Championship, edged out by Sauber for 6th place by 17 points. Hulkenberg initially struggled on his return to F1 in the early part of the season and had a very strong run in the second half. Paul Di Resta on the other hand faded in the second half of the season. If both drivers had performed consistently they could have challenged Mercedes and Sauber for 5th place.
@NigelBeechey : Well.. without doubt, Force India saved one of their best performances til last? Nico Hulkenberg lead for 30 or so laps? Finishing 5th in the end and unfortunately Paul Di Resta crashed out on the penultimate lap, just missing out on points.
@AFC_Harry34 : Force India have had a fantastic year. Nico Hulkemberg, who will be joining Sauber in 2013, showed his class, and left the team wondering what could have happened following his crash in Brazil, after he had been leading. Brit Paul di Resta had a solid season, but perhaps he's not at the level many had anticipated as of yet.
caterham
@DarshanChokhani : A disappointment there for Caterham. They promised so much in 2011 but failed to deliver. They just couldn't put a step forward as they didn't manage to catch the midfield, rather had to fight with Marussia for the P10 position. They had everything at their backing but still didn't manage to get those important results.
@MarussiaF1Will : What a shocking season. Always talking themselves up and getting absolutely nowhere. They had to remove a lot of their upgrades this year as they simply didn't work. Marussia will finish in front of them next year in the WCC.
@cbeSudha : After all the big talk before the season started of joining the midfield, Caterham's performance was disappointing. They were pushed down to 11th place by Marussia when Glock finished 12th in Singapore. It was Petrov's 11th place finish at the very last race in Brazil that put them back in 10th place. No points scored and really a very scrappy and poor season.
@NigelBeechey : So, eventually finishing the 2012 Championship in 10th place. It will be interesting to see if they can improve on this and how quickly Charles Pic settles in. They essentially need to get the car advanced in the closed season which is what everyone is trying to do.
@AFC_Harry34 : Caterham had a poor season, and have in no way made the progress many F1 fans expected. We all thought they would be challenging Williams, or Toro Rosso by now, but they are still, on occasion, being out qualified by Marussia, who had a far better season that Caterham. Petrov looked shaby, and Heiki wasn't a great deal better, and the Fin is likely to leave the team for 2013. The team must improve.
@MarussiaF1Will : What a shocking season. Always talking themselves up and getting absolutely nowhere. They had to remove a lot of their upgrades this year as they simply didn't work. Marussia will finish in front of them next year in the WCC.
@cbeSudha : After all the big talk before the season started of joining the midfield, Caterham's performance was disappointing. They were pushed down to 11th place by Marussia when Glock finished 12th in Singapore. It was Petrov's 11th place finish at the very last race in Brazil that put them back in 10th place. No points scored and really a very scrappy and poor season.
@NigelBeechey : So, eventually finishing the 2012 Championship in 10th place. It will be interesting to see if they can improve on this and how quickly Charles Pic settles in. They essentially need to get the car advanced in the closed season which is what everyone is trying to do.
@AFC_Harry34 : Caterham had a poor season, and have in no way made the progress many F1 fans expected. We all thought they would be challenging Williams, or Toro Rosso by now, but they are still, on occasion, being out qualified by Marussia, who had a far better season that Caterham. Petrov looked shaby, and Heiki wasn't a great deal better, and the Fin is likely to leave the team for 2013. The team must improve.