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

3 stops provided the most excitement the majority of the time, kept the racing in short sharp bursts, allowed for the undercut, etc.
I reckon teams will be more able to design the cars to go softer this year so I wonder if we will be back to 1/2 stops as the norm.

 

I find it quite sad that we are relying on tyres to provide excitement in races. Racing drivers are there to race and overtake opponents and not rely on tyre management to win races to. Get rid of DRS aswell, KERS is enough for me, all of this has not allowed us to see who has the ability to overtake and race wheel to wheel naturaly.

 

If we allowed the ultimate aerodynamics and the best tyres then there would be pretty much no overtaking. Dirty air and all. The technology has got too good, and the margins too fine.
Must say this year is make or break for DRS.

 

Do you remember how vocally opposed to the Sky deal Paul Hembery was? Well, maybe he wants this year to be less interesting...

 

Pirelli have also evened up the durability between the front and rear tyres, whether this means the fronts will go off quicker or the rears will go off slower I don't know.

In unrelated news:
Kevin Magnussen, son of former McLaren test and race driver Jan, will drive a McLaren at the young driver test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season as part of an expanded role within the team's driver development programme.

 

I kind of favour with less tyre wear to be honest, I can understand the race much better in terms of the individual drivers, (we already have kers and drs as it is).
That and less tyre wear is better for Mercedes.

 

Trulli replaced by Petrov for 2012

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97552

Well, it had been coming. Presumably they will keep him around for testing to give them the benefit of his experience though.

 

Indeed!

Vitaly Petrov replaces Jarno Trulli at Caterham F1 team

I think Petrov improved a lot last year and is probably better than Trulli these days so a good move in my mind.

 

Wow. Very surprised to hear this at such a late stage, but I'm glad a younger driver gets the opportunity.

Where does this leave Trulli then? He's already tested the CT01.

 

WOW! I thought that news was never going to happen once trulli got on track in jerez

 

I parrot Bando's words when I say I am shocked because Jarno had already tested the CT01. He's had a good run and won a Grand Prix, so hats off to him. Will be interesting to see how Petrov fares against Kovi.

 

cripple cripple cripple!

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Yes! At last he's gone. The rumours were so persistent but, as Bando and Kirby say, once they started testing it seemed so unlikely. Congrats to Vitaly.

 

Saw that episode the other night.

 

I'm glad I won't be hearing about power steering at every race.

 

Ouch. That is Brutal. Makes sense as a decision. Trulli deserved the sack but stringing him along until mide febuary and past the first test is shocking.

 

Well from what Petrov was saying before that knew of big news on his carear but couldnt spill the beans till the following week then I guess maybe the driver situation was sorted out. but nothing came about that following week and then trulli arived for the test. Maybe Trulli was given one last try to proove himself and failed at that test.

 

I just saw this on The Times of India website and thought I was going mad. Glad to hear it confirmed here. It's a shame for Trulli but he had a good innings and failed to set the world alight. I'm glad Petrov's sticking around.

This thread's now come full circle.

 

Congrats Genj. You've taken away Bando's title for the "most commented on thread". And now it starts to draw to a close. Good thread