The Motorsport Thread - 2012

Season final this weekend. Forcast is to rain all day Sunday, though it should be dry for qualy. A good thing too as it seems the hard tyres don't like the hot tempretures, they're overheating into oblivion after only a handful of laps on all cars. Hamilton was fastest in practice ahead of Vettel, though it looks like the Ferrari's are bang on the pace this weekend, they seem to like bumby old tracks more than Tilkedromes.

Sauber anounced Esteban Gutierrez as their second driver for next year today, sadly that pretty much means that Kobayashi wont be on the grid next year, and it's looking like Kovalainen will join him.

I must admit, I like the name, but have never heard of him. Has Gut been successful in gp2 or similar other series'??

Man With Hat wrote: I must admit, I like the name, but have never heard of him. Has Gut been successful in gp2 or similar other series'??   Sucks for Kam though. Heard on F1 debrief that Pic is going to Caterham replacing everyones other favorite finn, and Senna has no ride atm (I want to say they said a rookie was taking the spot...but I was still catching up on the Pic/Kov news )     Rain would certainly make it interesting! Looking forward to it either way.

Esteban was a race winner in F3, the first GP3 champion and finished third for ART/Lotus in GP2 this year. He's quick but a little inconsistent, to be honest the only reason he finished ahead of his rookie team mate this year was because James Calado was suffering from severe food poisoning at the series final in Singapour.

Pic is indeed on his way to Caterham on what is thought to be a multi year deal, he'll most likely be replaced at Marussia by Max Chilton who finished 4th in GP2 this year. It's not set that Kovy is on his way out but his best chance lies in the team securing 10th in the championship again this year, so they hav eto finish 12th or higher tomorrow ahead of the Marussia or HRT's for that to happen. If it's a wet race then it's possible, but if doesn't happen then he's probably gone.

Great qualy, half a tenth between the McLaren drivers, looks like Alonso is beting on a wet race. 

And Alonso's already gained a place for tomorrow. Maldonado missed the weigh bridge in qualy (thought I saw him run a red light with an official pointing at the first garage) and received a reprimand. This being his 3rd of the year means that he gets a 10 place grid drop so will start 16th.

JJLehto wrote: I may finally watch the Senna movie tonight to prepare for Brazil and the season finale.

Dude, I've had that in my Netflix queue for the longest time.  It might be time for me to watch it, too.

Same,  I thought my Netflix may go away. When I got my PS3 it was just on there, no idea why. Maybe a free trial? But its been months and is still going, and I havn't paid for it
It was a used system, I think someone never took their Netflix off it, I'll consider it a gift!

Gunna check it out now.

I wont update till much later, going right to a handegg game after the race.
Go Alonso! May the racing gods rain fortune upon you.

Is it terrible I am mildly happy Hami's last race at McLaren ends like this?
I used to love him, I really did, but god he's become such a smug t**t

Oh Hulk no idea what he was thinking...well this is huge huge news for Alonso! 


Edited by JJLehto - November 25 2012 at 11:25

What a race, congrats to Vettel on becoming the youngest ever triple champion. Amazong racing though, especially from Hulk who I dont think deserved that penalty, the move was definitely on and it was only as they reached the wetter part further into the braking zone that he started sliding.

Excellent race and end to the very exciting 2012 season.  One of the better seasons in recent years, definitely.  And I'm thrilled that Button ended the season with a fairly dominant win.  Couple that with Jeff Gordon winning the Sprint Cup finale at Homestead and I'm pretty damn happy right now.

sleeper wrote: ^Jeff certainly made up for the previous race. Also, Robert Kubica was in action this weekend as well in the Rally du Var, a French national rally thats often used as a warm up for the Monte. He was leading by 5 minutes from Freddy Loix, an ex Mitsubishi and Peageot works driver, when he crashed on the penultimate stage. I get the feeling that he may want to switch to rallying full time in the future.