2012 Predictions / Driver Line-up / News etc...

Every-time I get excited for the new season, the reality hits me as usual that I'm not gonna see most of the season including the all-important first race and that's what really kills the most. BBC/SKY have really screwed the casual F1 fan, all for money. It's just not gonna be the same again.

 

Were there's a will (to watch) there's a way

 

In other news...

• Scuderia Toro Rosso has confirmed its new car will be ready for the opening pre-season test at Jerez next month, after passing all the mandatory crash tests this week.

• Red Bull Racing insists that there is no rush for it to copy the reactive ride system pioneered by Lotus - even though some rival outfits are pushing on with developing their own concepts. Horner: "Things have to work as a package rather than as individual components. It appears to be an interesting concept but I'm the wrong person to be commenting on it."

 

dammit the cat was let out of the bag too early at Lotus wasnt it, It hasnt even been ran and tested yet!.... Or is it a bluff

 

Rosberg in Singapore 09 was in 2nd before having a penalty, in Turkey 2011 he qualified 2nd in the 4th best car, he had podiums in 2010 with the 4th best car. In China 2011 he had a chance of a win if fuel problems hadn't ruined his race.

 

Also got this snippet from James Allen:

Bit early for that surely, the cars haven't even been 'revealed'. Red Bull may be back with the HRTs

And Scarb on the general nose trends:

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Twitter feed...

 

Will this be another season where the cars shake down occurs at the first race. In the first year I can forgive them, the second year not so much, but in a potential third year is getting silly. They are denying it but there's a lot of chat from respected sources suggesting the HRT is still a long way off.

All from the BBC, maybe worth a thread, maybe worth merging with the 2012 stuff. Sooner or later we'll be close enough to the season to open it up to individual hard discussion.

 

2nd test isnt that bad, its better than 10 mins in the rain like last year. Im sure they can run parts on the old car in the 1st test

 

If they make it to the second test thats all good, same as Mercedes in fact, but if its anything like last year they'll turn up without something important, like an engine for example

 

I can't remember Rosberg ever impressing me in a race, he can be fast on an empty track though. Of the Germans on the grid at the start of last season I'd say Merceds have 2 of the worst, although there's not much difference between Heidfeld, Sutil & Rosberg, I think Sutil & Heidfeld would've done better with the Merc.

 

No wonder Alguersuari rejected HRT.

I can see them failing the 107% rule in Australia and possibly more, depending on how bad their second driver is.

 

who is supplying the engines? maybe that explains the delay

 

Rosberg is brilliant in Quali and fantastic over the first stint over the race, there is an element of him dropping back slowly as the race develops.
Singapore - India for example.
He needs to prove himself, and doing marginally better than a driver double his age - who returned only 2 years ago after a 3 year break - and even having more race finishes does not really count.
Both Merc drivers are going to be at each others throat this season, and it's going to get really-really heated.

 

.... Yet to be confirmed, standard HRT practice.

 

innuendo?

 

Just thinking, how many more posts till this becomes the most commented thread?

 

Marussia are saying that they'll be at the second test. I'll be amazed if Hispania will be there with them.

 

They don't even have an engine supplier yet?

 

Cosworth presumably.

 

I agree with you pal. The season that seems to top the sheets of the possible best seasons of all time..
And we can only watch half.