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

Seconded.

 

Just been looking up some of the drivers form the young drivers test and Valtteri Bottas doesn't look too bad, got a go for Williams... hint hint maybe?

 

Ricciardo going to Caterham makes sense.

As for Red Bull "dictating" which drivers teams use... Ferrari have done it with Sauber for years. And I doubt Di Resta's Mercedes backing is a coincidence with his FI seat.

 

Raikkonen to Lotus-Renault appears to be the latest theory on twitter. And we all thought the 2012 line-ups would be fairly straightforward 2 months ago!

 

Next rumour: Bottas or Sutil to replace Barrichello at Williams.

 

There were rumours Hulkenburg would return to williams early on in the year. So maybe who ever doesnt get the FI seat?

 

I thought I'd be first. Here are my predictions for the top 8 drivers for the championship next year:

1. Hamilton
2. Alonso
3. Button
4. Webber
5. Vettel
6. Raikkonen
7. Rosberg
8. Massa

 

1. Hamilton
2. Button
3. Vettel
4. Webber
5. Alonso
6. Rosberg
7. Massa
8. Raikkonen

 

I'd like to see Raikkonen higher up but just can't see it with Renault unfortunatelty.

 

1st: Vettel-Close fight with Alonso but Seb goes to another level that to equal of this season...
2nd: Alonso-2nd best car on the grid but can't match Sebs consistency in quali when he gets closer...
3rd: Jenson-Close inter team battle with Lewis, fireworks start to go off...
4th: Lewis-Softer tyres make the start of the season slow for him, but catches up to the end...
5th: Webber-All by himself announces retirement.
6th: Rosberg-Nico pips Massa after Mercedes sort their act out and give a decent car.
7th: Massa-struggles towards the end with media pressure for his replacement...
8th: Schumacher-Repeats 2011 form, just loses out to 7th but beats Kimi/Hulkenberg to 8th by a decent margin...

 

That genuinely sounds believable, but as a McLaren fan I hope your wrong

 

2012 - the race to become triple world champion?

 

If Ferrari design a decent car in 2012 then I am positive Alonso will win the championship.

 

1st: Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Vettel - After count back goes to sudden death on Mario cart
5th: Webber
6th: Rosberg
7th: Massa
8th: Kimi
9th: Schumacher
10th: di Resta

 

1. Vettel
2. Alonso (very close fight with Seb)
3. Button
4. Massa
5. Hamilton
6. Webber
7. Rosberg
8. Raikkonen

 

I'm going to put my neck on the chopping block here with this prediction... but I have this niggling feeling that Valencia will be naff.

 

How dare you, what about that move that guy once did maybe apparently ??? and the thing with the thing?

 

How dare you say that!!!

[NSFW]It's almost as good as Abu Dhabi [/NSFW]

 

Obviously it is too early for me to make a prediction, but I would say those who do not expect Red Bull to produce the best car, do so at their peril. I also expect a better performance from Ferrari.

I know there are many McLaren supporters here (naturally so in a British forum), but they have a tradition of starting the season poorly. They have also announced the intention for their 2012 campaign to retain just 5% of the parts used in the 2011 car, which has implications upon reliability as well as considerable reliance upon simulators.

Mercedes are also coming to grips with tyre wear, although as with Hamilton and Webber, this has plenty to do with driving style.

Lotus Renault must be next on the list. It will be interesting to see how their new signing fares under my least favourite Team Principal (unless Flab persuades enough people at Ferrari): Boullier.

 

Massa ahead of Hamilton and Webber!!???