The 2012 F1 season in 20 questions

2012 F1 season preview

March 13, 2012 at 5:28 pm by
219 comments

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Barcelona, 2012

Will Alonso win more than one race this year?

The curtain is about to come up on a new season of Formula 1.

But before then we get to anticipate what might be for just a few days longer – and that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?

With that in mind, here are 20 question on the subjects that will shape the season ahead.

Post your answers in the comments and come the end of the season we can all reflect on how wrong we were. Especially me.

1. What will be the best surprise?
2. What will be the worst surprise?
3. How many different teams will win races?
4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race?
5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win?
6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be?
7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship?
8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013?
9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season?
10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted?
11. And who will take their place?
12. Which driver will receive the most penalties?
13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012?
14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix?
15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix?
16. What will be the biggest political story of the year?
17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year?
18. How many points will the winning driver score?

The final two questions take the form of these polls:

19. Who will win the constructors’ championship?

Who will win the constructors' championship?

  • Red Bull (38%)
  • McLaren (55%)
  • Ferrari (4%)
  • Mercedes (3%)
  • Lotus (1%)
  • Force India (0%)
  • Sauber (0%)
  • Toro Rosso (0%)
  • Williams (0%)
  • Caterham (0%)
  • HRT (0%)
  • Marussia (0%)

Total Voters: 577

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20. Who will win the drivers’ championship?

Who will win the drivers' championship?

  • Sebastian Vettel (35%)
  • Mark Webber (4%)
  • Lewis Hamilton (26%)
  • Jenson Button (19%)
  • Fernando Alonso (8%)
  • Felipe Massa (0%)
  • Michael Schumacher (2%)
  • Nico Rosberg (1%)
  • Kimi Raikkonen (3%)
  • Romain Grosjean (0%)
  • Paul di Resta (0%)
  • Nico Hulkenberg (0%)
  • Kamui Kobayashi (0%)
  • Sergio Perez (0%)
  • Daniel Ricciardo (0%)
  • Jean-Eric Vergne (0%)
  • Pastor Maldonado (0%)
  • Bruno Senna (0%)
  • Heikki Kovalainen (0%)
  • Vitaly Petrov (0%)
  • Narain Karthikeyan (0%)
  • Pedro de la Rosa (0%)
  • Timo Glock (0%)
  • Charles Pic (2%)

Total Voters: 565

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Predictions Championship

If you think your powers of prediction are up to it then make sure you enter our Predictions Championship.

Not just because it’s great fun and you get to compete with other F1 Fanatics. But also because there’s some terrific prizes to be won – including one new prize that just confirmed today.

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2012 F1 season preview


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219 comments on The 2012 F1 season in 20 questions

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  1. Avatar Image

    Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum) said on 14th March 2012, 10:21

    1. What will be the best surprise?
    Force India scoring a podium
    2. What will be the worst surprise?
    HRT and Virgin not scoring points
    3. How many different teams will win races?
    4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race?
    Charles Pic
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win?
    1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be?
    victory
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship?
    10
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013?
    Yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season?
    0
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted?
    Karrhikeyan
    11. And who will take their place?
    Chandhok
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties?
    Vergne
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012?
    No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix?
    Pastor Maldonado
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix?
    Sebastian Vettel
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year?
    Ecclestone announcing that an European race has been dropped
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year?
    Monaco
    18. How many points will the winning driver score?
    300

    Reply
  2. Avatar Image

    smifaye (@smifaye) said on 14th March 2012, 10:22

    Williams getting a top 5 finish
    HRT making the grid
    4
    Narain Karthikeyan
    2
    1st
    9th
    Yes
    7
    Narain Karthikeyan
    Jarno Trulli?!
    Lewis Hamilton
    No
    Felipe Massa
    Jenson Button
    Red Bulls slot on the front of the car
    Canada
    270

    Reply
  3. Avatar Image

    Hedge (@hedge) said on 14th March 2012, 10:26

    1. What will be the best surprise? All the live BBC races are epic (and Schumacher wins one of them) and all the ones on SKY are poo
    2. What will be the worst surprise? All live races will only be shown on SKY from 2013 onwards
    3. How many different teams will win races? 4 (Red Bull, McLaren, Merc and Ferrari)
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Pic or Karthikeyen
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 1 or 2
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 3rd
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 9th or a very close 10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? I hope so
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? No idea, does it really matter?
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? unforseen circumstances aside, De La Rosa
    11. And who will take their place? Alguersuari
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Petrov
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Vettel just to make it interesting
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Schumi
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? Montezemelo running Italy
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Germany
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 302
    CC – Red Bull
    DC – Jenson Button

    Reply
  4. Avatar Image

    Master firelee (@master-firelee) said on 14th March 2012, 10:28

    1. What will be the best surprise? Force india score a few podiums
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Caterham still no points
    3. How many different teams will win races? 5
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Pic
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 1st
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 10th again
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 5
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? karthikayan
    11. And who will take their place? idk
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Maldonado
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? no
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Glock
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Vettel
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? idk
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? China
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 130+

    Reply
  5. Avatar Image

    verstappen (@verstappen) said on 14th March 2012, 10:30

    1. best surprise: F1 teams take over of F1 from CVC.
    2. worst surprise: an exciting wet race ends under code red because of the new time restrictions
    3. different teams that win races: 5 seems realistic
    4. driver to fail to qualify: Pic
    5. Fernando Alonso wins: 2
    6. Kimi’s best result: 1
    7. Caterham finish: 10
    8. Michael Schumacher contract for 2013: yes
    9. FOTAteams: 0 (see question 1)
    10. first driver to be replaced or substituted: Vergne, because of insubordination against Marko.
    11. takes place: María de Villota, because of the opposite…
    12. most penalties: Hamilton
    13. Kubica in 2012: yes – wishfull thinking
    14. first retirement in Australian GP: Massa, together with Hamilton
    15. winner of United States GP? Schumacher
    16. biggest political story: see 1, teams take over F1 from CVC for only 2 billion.
    17. most entertaining race of the year: Spa
    18. points ofl the winning driver score: 234
    19. WCC: Mercedes – champions of the winter sandbagging contest as well
    20. WDC: Schumacher

    Reply
  6. Avatar Image

    barkun (@barkun) said on 14th March 2012, 10:56

    1. What will be the best surprise? Caterham
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Massa
    3. How many different teams will win races? 4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Karthikeyan
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 1 (Monaco)
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 9
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? The same
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? De la Rosa
    11. And who will take their place? Clos
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Hamilton
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Perez
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Button
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? Ferrari complaining
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Spa
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 250 or less

    Reply
  7. Avatar Image

    skodarap (@skodarap) said on 14th March 2012, 10:57

    1. What will be the best surprise? – Sauber
    2. What will be the worst surprise? – Ferrari
    3. How many different teams will win races? – 4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? – de la Rosa
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? – 1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? – 2nd place
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? – 10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? – no, he will retire
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? – 6
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? – Karthikeyan
    11. And who will take their place? – no idea
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? – Maldonaldo
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? – No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? – Pic
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? – Hamilton
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? – Budget cap
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? – Canadian Grand Prix
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? – 247

    Reply
  8. Avatar Image

    Adam Blocker (@blockwall2) said on 14th March 2012, 11:09

    1. Kimi Raikkonen on form
    2. Ferrari not getting a podium
    3. Three (Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes)
    4. Karthikeyan
    5. Alonso will NOT win any
    6. 4th (Spa)
    7. 9th
    8. Yes
    9. Six
    10. Karthikeyan
    11. Dani Clos
    12. Jean-Eric Vergne
    13. Sadly No.
    14. Grosjean
    15. Lewis Hamilton
    16. Bahrain
    17. Spa-Franchorchamps
    18. 273
    19. McLaren
    20. Sebastian Vettel

    Reply
  9. Avatar Image

    goofy (@goofy) said on 14th March 2012, 11:19

    1. What will be the best surprise? Mercedes winning races
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Disaster in Bahrain
    3. How many different teams will win races? Four
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Narain Karthikeyan
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? One
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 2nd
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? Yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 7
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? P. de la Rosa
    11. And who will take their place? Dani Clos
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Kobayashi
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Kobayashi
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Vettel
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? Concorde Agreement
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Canada
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 303
    19. WCC? RBR
    20. WDC? Vettel

    Reply
  10. Avatar Image

    Miles (@miles) said on 14th March 2012, 11:37

    1. What will be the best surprise?
    Mercedes
    2. What will be the worst surprise?
    Williams
    3. How many different teams will win races?
    Four
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race?
    Narain Karthikeyan
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win?
    1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be?
    3rd
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship?
    10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013?
    Yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season?
    0
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted?
    Filipe Massa
    11. And who will take their place?
    Robert Kubica
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties?
    Fernando Alonso
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012?
    Yes
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix?
    Bruno Senna
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix?
    Sebastian Vettel
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year?
    Teams owning part of F1
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year?
    Chinese GP
    18. How many points will the winning driver score?
    298
    19. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
    Red Bull
    20. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
    Vettel

    Reply

  11. Tyler said on 14th March 2012, 11:40

    1. What will be the best surprise? Mark Webber pushes Vettel all the way
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Ferrari were not sandbagging. The finish 4th in the CC
    3. How many different teams will win races? 3
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Karthikeyan
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? none
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 2nd
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship?10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? No
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 6
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? None, all of the drivers make it full season
    11. And who will take their place? n/a
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Petrov
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No. Sadly, he will not return to F1
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Karthikeyan
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Webber
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? There will be debate about Bahrain until it is again cancelled
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Monaco
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 280
    19. Who will win the constructors’ championship? Red Bull
    20. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Vettel

    Reply
  12. Avatar Image

    Tayyib (@m0nzaman) said on 14th March 2012, 11:41

    . What will be the best surprise? kimi raikonnen
    2. What will be the worst surprise? losing spa every other year
    3. How many different teams will win races? 4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? charles pic
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 3
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be?3rd
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 9th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? no
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? none
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? karthikeyan
    11. And who will take their place? dani clos
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? hamilton
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012?no
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? de la rosa
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? webber
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? concorde agreement
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? canada
    18. How many points will the winning driver score?250+
    19. Who will win the constructors’ championship? Red Bull.
    20. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Vettel.

    Reply
  13. Avatar Image

    Anthony_MR (@anthony_mr) said on 14th March 2012, 11:42

    1. What will be the best surprise? Not another red bull/vettel fest
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Still, vetted winning the championship
    3. How many different teams will win races? 3
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? Karthikeyan
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 1
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 4th
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? Yes
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 7
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? Karthikeyan
    11. And who will take their place? Dani Clos
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Maldonado
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Maldonado
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Hamilton
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? The new concorde agreement
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Canada
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? Around 310 +/- 5 points
    19. McLaren
    20. Vettel

    Reply
  14. Avatar Image

    OEL F1 (@oel-f1) said on 14th March 2012, 11:44

    1. What will be the best surprise? Kimi Räikkönen
    2. What will be the worst surprise? Mercedes
    3. How many different teams will win races? 4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race? None
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 3
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 1st
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 10th
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? No
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 12
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? Karthikeyan
    11. And who will take their place? Dani Clos
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Hamilton
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? No
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Hamilton
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Webber
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? None
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year?
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 220
    19. Who will win the constructors’ championship? Red Bull
    20. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Webber

    Reply
  15. Avatar Image

    Cristian (@cristian) said on 14th March 2012, 11:45

    1. What will be the best surprise?
    Someone else to win a race beside McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull
    2. What will be the worst surprise?
    Massa not reaching a podium
    3. How many different teams will win races?
    4
    4. Who will be the first driver to fail to qualify for a race?
    Charles Pic
    5. How many races will Fernando Alonso win? 2
    6. What will Kimi Raikkonen’s best result be? 3
    7. Where will Caterham finish in the constructors’ championship? 10
    8. Will Michael Schumacher announce a new contract for 2013? no
    9. How many teams will still belong to FOTA at the end of the season? 5
    10. Who will be the first driver to be replaced or substituted? Charles Pic
    11. And who will take their place? Heidfeld :)
    12. Which driver will receive the most penalties? Hamilton
    13. Will Robert Kubica start an F1 race in 2012? no
    14. Who will retire first in the Australian Grand Prix? Pic
    15. Who will win the United States Grand Prix? Vettel
    16. What will be the biggest political story of the year? to race or race not in USA
    17. What will be the most entertaining race of the year? Spa
    18. How many points will the winning driver score? 305

    Reply
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