F1 2012 Championship Thread

[MacLeod]

Vettel has more to lose by trying a risky overtake than Alonso.

[Geckothan]

So, almost time. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing that stupid finger, that stupid smug face, and hearing a generic 'YES WE DID IT THANKYOU BOIZ RING DINGDINGDING DING DING DING' over the radio from Vettel this evening, unfortunately, but we can still hope for otherwise!

[Roger Wilco]

Haha, German tv commentators are unhappy.

[Geckothan]

He's about to do it. Lame!

[Lonemagpie]

"This race has summarised the 2012 season" says the commentator- yeah, a Safety Car granting Vettel the glory. That's 2012 all fucking right.

Still, lovely race win for Jenson. Felipe Massa's best result in ages too - maybe this year as a whole, I don't remember when we last saw him on the podium.

[Whizzer]

Gratz to Sebastian Vettel, pretty exciting race.

[Roger Wilco]

I intensely dislike Alonso, so I'm glad with Vettel winning the championship, although the ending to the race was lame.

[Geckothan]

Lonemagpie wrote:

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"This race has summarised the 2012 season" says the commentator- yeah, a Safety Car granting Vettel the glory. That's 2012 all fucking right.

Still, lovely race win for Jenson. Felipe Massa's best result in ages too - maybe this year as a whole, I don't remember when we last saw him on the podium.

Yep. Vettel gets his way as usual.

Also, if Alonso wasn't in the running for the championship and got through on team orders, Massa could've got several podiums in the last few races, imo. Either the car has suddenly become a lot more suited to his style, or he's really getting back on form.

[MacLeod]

It might not be over yet, Sky had footage that appeared to show Vettel overtaking under yellow flags. Which if true could mean a post race penalty of 20 seconds.

[Geckothan]

It could've been a striped yellow and red, though, which means slippery track or debris. Need to have another look at it.

[Lonemagpie]

Did I imagine it, were they in error, or did Jake have it right when he just said all the F1 races in 2013 would be live on BBC1?

[MacLeod]

Well Sky have re-run the the footage and there was a Yellow Flag and a Yellow and Red Flag, there was then a green light. And then another yellow light.

If it was an overtake under yellow the problem is the Sauber pitted after being overtaken. If it was an overtake under yellow, Vettel couldn't give the place back. Which means the only penalty available would be a drive through or a time penalty for breaking the rules.

[Geckothan]

Regardless of that, what about Vettel's idiocy at the start of the race? That accident was clearly his fault, and it's a shame that he didn't have to retire the car, because he deserved to.

[MacLeod]

Would that be the drive through penalty for causing an avoidable accident. We saw Hulkenberg get one for taking out Hamilton.

[Holdfast]

Lonemagpie wrote:

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Did I imagine it, were they in error, or did Jake have it right when he just said all the F1 races in 2013 would be live on BBC1?

Live on BBC, not BBC1 i.e. half the races will be live on radio only as in this year. Like you, I did a double-take after he said that at the end of the race, but no such luck.

I will miss Jake though. His rapport with DC & EJ is great, and it seems he's been able to get on well with lots of the drivers too esp. Lewis & Jenson. Big loss. I wonder who'll replace him. Hopefully not the rather dull Lee McKenzie.

Anyway, I thought the last race was lots of fun. Action throughout. A slight shame to finish under SC conditions, but the outcome was clear by then anyway.

2013 will be a bit of a transitional year I think as I understand that some big formula changes are coming for 2014 which will throw things a bit more up in the air. So 2013 will probably have the same main 3 competitors as 2012 of McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull. It will be interesting to see how Lewis does at Mercedes, but I understand he's already focusing more for 2014 onwards.