[E90SLAM]

This Thread is to combine all the news, new car launch, preseason testing, and regulation changes in 2012 until the weekend of the first race in Australia.

2012 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar

01 16 - 18 Mar 2012 FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne)
02 23 - 25 Mar 2012 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur)
03 13 - 15 Apr 2012 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai)
04 20 - 22 Apr 2012 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Sakhir)
05 11 - 13 May FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA SANTANDER 2012 (Catalunya)
06 24 - 27 May FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2012 (Monte Carlo)
07 08 - 10 Jun FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2012 (Montréal)
08 22 - 24 Jun 2012 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia)
09 06 - 08 Jul 2012 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone)
10 20 - 22 Jul FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2012 (Hockenheim)
11 27 - 29 Jul FORMULA 1 ENI MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2012 (Budapest)
12 31 Aug - 02 Sep 2012 FORMULA 1 SHELL BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps)
13 07 - 09 Sep FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2012 (Monza)
14 21 - 23 Sep 2012 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore)
15 05 - 07 Oct 2012 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka)
16 12 - 14 Oct 2012 FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Yeongam)
17 26 - 28 Oct 2012 FORMULA 1 AIRTEL GRAND PRIX OF INDIA (New Delhi)
18 02 - 04 Nov 2012 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Yas Marina Circuit)
19 16 - 18 Nov 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX (Austin)
20 23 - 25 Nov FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2012 (São Paulo)

FIA ratifies 2012 rule changes

Following Wednesday’s meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in New Delhi, India, the FIA has confirmed a number of Formula One rule changes for the 2012 season, most of which were already public knowledge.

The FIA is clamping down on engine mapping and exhaust positioning to effectively outlaw blown diffusers. There will be tougher side impact testing and new cars must now pass all crash tests prior to on-track testing.

During races, lapped drivers will be allowed to unlap themselves during a safety-car period, meaning no backmarkers will hinder the leaders at the restart. If in defending his position a driver leaves the racing line, he will not be allowed to retake it, and drivers will not be able to leave the track without good reason, thus banning such strategic moves as cutting chicanes during in-laps to save time and/or fuel.

In a change to the tyre rules, drivers will now be able to use all tyres allocated to them for the Grand Prix weekend on the Friday. They were previously limited to just three sets on the opening day. And on the testing front, there will now be one three-day in-season test in addition to the usual pre-season tests.

The full FIA statement:

FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Changes to the 2012 Technical Regulations

- All engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, which were formerly contained only within a Technical Directive, are now contained within the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations.
- The exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.
- Better marking of in-car emergency switches operated by marshals are now stipulated.
- The side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.

Changes to the 2012 Sporting Regulations

- Cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests.
- There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated.
- Before the safety car returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.
- Cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended.
- Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or ‘in’ laps to save time and fuel.
- Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.
- One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none.
- All stewards’ decisions which are not subject to appeal are now in one place instead of being in various places within the regulations.
- All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../12/12876.html

[jonasaurus]

Now that Redbull and Ferrari and more recently Sauber have left FOTA should make for potentially greater disparity in R&D and ultimately dominance in the next season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/form...e/16009873.stm

[BrokenVert]

Can wait until March.

[BrokenVert]

Looks like they managed to strike a deal with Bernie.

Austin is on!

[xchosun1x]

is anyone planning on going to Texas for next year? I'm starting to try to plan stuff out with some friends....hope to see some of you there!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by xchosun1x

is anyone planning on going to Texas for next year? I'm starting to try to plan stuff out with some friends....hope to see some of you there!

I will be in 2013. My friends are doing the hat trick for NA Grands Prix

[raisemyrent]

i'll be there, plus á montréal

[UltimateBMW]

Might not be a bad idea to keep a running roster for the drivers this year. As many seats are still left open.

I'll help get it started. Below is only the confirmed drivers and team names.

Red Bull
1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber


McLaren Vodafone Mercedes
3. Jensen Button
4. Lewis Hamilton


Scuderia Ferrari
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa


Mercedes AMG Petronas
7. Michael Schumacher (The Schum has it in his contract never to be the even number)
8. Nico Rosberg


Lotus
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Romain Grosjean


Sahara Force India
11. Paul di Resta
12. Nico Hulkenberg


Sauber
13. Kamui Kobayashi
14. Sergio Perez


Scuderia Toro Rosso
15. Daniel Ricciardo
16. Jean-Eric Vergne


Williams
17. Pastor Maldonado
18. Bruno Senna


Caterham
19. Heiki Kovalainen
20. Vitaly Petrov


HRT
21. Pedro de la Rosa
22. Narain Karthikeyan

Marussia
23. Timo Glock
24. Charles Pic

[Echo M3]

Anyone catch this article?

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...s-at-caterham/

Caterham could end up being a formidable force with the lead Mclaren designer jumping ship.

[E90SLAM]

Good Luck and enjoy retirement and thank you for everything you've done for Formula 1!!!!

http://planetf1.com/driver/18227/736...s-away-from-F1

Safety pioneer Professor Sid Watkins has retired as president of the FIA Institute, ending his involvement in professional motorsport.

Watkins has played an integral part in improving safety in Formula One, ensuring that there has not been a death in the sport since that of the great Aryton Senna in 1994.

A neurosurgeon by trade, Watkins began his service to F1 in 1978 when he took up the role of medical delegate. It was a position he held for more than 25 years and during that time the Briton is credited with saving the lives of a number of racers.

Working together with Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, Watkins ensured that increased safety measures were implemented and played a major role in pushing them to the level they stand at today.

In 2004, Watkins took up the role of president of the FIA Foundation for Automobile, an organisation formed to work on the safety and sustainability of the sport.

It is from this position that Watkins retires, although he will remain on the foundation in an honorary capacity. He will be replaced by Professor Gerard Saillant.

[STIto335]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Mercedes AMG Petronas
7. Michael Schumacher (The Schum has it in his contract never to be the even number)
8. Nico Rosberg

aka #2 driver. I wonder what would happen if his teammate won the title? Good thing we don't have to worry about that

[Impervious]

Why is March so far away...

[az34]

we are just two weeks away from the last season,give us a break!

[UltimateBMW]

Hopefully sky will cover the testing rounds.

[UltimateBMW]

Updated the Roster:

Roman Grosjean joins Lotus.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Updated the Roster:

Roman Grosjean joins Lotus.

[UltimateBMW]

Bets on Petrov to Williams?

They seem to like their pay drivers there.

[raisemyrent]

shame for Bruno.
did anyone notice the return to the racing line nonsense??? W-T-F

[abisson]

Di Resta has no spots? He was doing very well this season!

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by abisson

Di Resta has no spots? He was doing very well this season!

Force India has yet to announce 2012 driver's line up, which I thought they were suppose to confirm that after the Abu Dhabi GP or something.

[yakev724]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Bets on Petrov to Williams?

Fingers crossed, though I'm not convinced he's capable of driving relatively well on a consistent basis. As a russian, it would be nice to see him keep driving for another team.

di resta better be driving.

[raisemyrent]

maybe Sutil's "attack" on some Genii influential dood had something to do with it?