Top ten passes of 2012: Vote for the best
2012 F1 season review
F1 Fanatic readers nominated 109 different overtaking moves for best pass of the year. Here’s the top ten – now it’s time to vote for the best.
Vettel on Rosberg, Australian Grand Prix
Having dominated qualifying in 2011 it was a surprise to see reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel only sixth on the grid for the first race in Melbourne.
He was beaten off the line by Nico Rosberg, but he soon set that right with this daring around-the-outside pass. This set him up to claim a useful second place on the first race day of the season.
Kobayashi on Button, Spanish Grand Prix
Overtaking at the Circuit de Catalunya is notoriously difficult, which perhaps explains why two passes from the Spanish Grand Prix earned enough of your nominations to reach the final ten.
Kamui Kobayashi took seventh place off Jenson Button with a characteristically thrusting move on lap 33. He went on to pass Rosberg ahead to finish fifth.
Hamilton on Ricciardo and Vergne, Spanish Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton lost pole position and had to start from last place when the stewards discovered insufficient fuel in his car after qualifying.
He climbed through the field to salvage eighth, passing both Toro Rosso drivers in superb style on the way.
Grosjean on Hamilton, European Grand Prix
This pass by Romain Grosjean on Hamilton on lap ten of the European Grand Prix moved the Lotus driver into second place. He was still in that position 30 laps later when he retired with alternator failure.
Vettel on Webber, Belgian Grand Prix
The Red Bull drivers had a hard time making progress in Belgium with their typically poor straight line speed. But Vettel found a way by carrying graeter speed through Blanchimont to attack drivers at the chicane.
He used the tactic to great effect on several of his rivals including team mate Mark Webber on lap nine for ninth place. He continued his ascent through the field to finish second.
Raikkonen on Schumacher, Belgian Grand Prix
Along with Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen is the other driver who featured twice on this list. And both his nominations are for passes on the same driver – Michael Schumacher.
The pair had a lengthy battle in Belgium which was finally settled when Raikkonen got alongside him on the run towards Eau Rouge.
Massa on Senna, Singapore Grand Prix
Felipe Massa was recovering from a delay due to a puncture earlier in the race when he caught Bruno Senna on lap 43.
The Williams driver appeared not to see him, and after losing control Massa gathered his car back up in time to get it stopped for the hairpin and complete the move. He complained to the stewards that Senna had blocked him – they ruled the move was legitimate, but it made for dramatic viewing.
Hulkenberg on Hamilton and Grosjean, Korean Grand Prix
Nico Hulkenberg was in superb form in the closing stages of the year. This savvy double-pass on Hamilton, who was struggling with a car problem, and Grosjean, netted him a sixth-place finish in Korea.
Alonso on Webber, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
With title rival Vettel starting in the pit lane, Fernando Alonso had to make the most of his opportunity in Abu Dhabi. He got off to a god start by passing Webber on lap one, leaving his braking to the last possible moment as he came unnervingly close to Pastor Maldonado’s Williams.
Raikkonen on Schumacher, Brazilian Grand Prix
Raikkonen on Schumacher part two was an impressive display of precise driving by both racers. During his last retirement in 2006 Schumacher had passed Raikkonen at the same corner – this time the roles were reversed.
But what about…
This top ten list was compiled from the best passes nominated by F1 Fanatic readers throughout 2012. If your favourite pass doesn’t appear, it’s because it didn’t get enough nominations.
You can find all the nominations pages here.
Vote for the best pass of 2012
Which of these ten moves was the best pass of 2012? Cast your vote and leave a comment below.
What was the best pass of 2012?
- Vettel on Rosberg, Australian Grand Prix (2%)
- Kobayashi on Button, Spanish Grand Prix (3%)
- Hamilton on Ricciardo and Vergne, Spanish Grand Prix (7%)
- Grosjean on Hamilton, European Grand Prix (1%)
- Vettel on Webber, Belgian Grand Prix (2%)
- Raikkonen on Schumacher, Belgian Grand Prix (20%)
- Massa on Senna, Singapore Grand Prix (16%)
- Hulkenberg on Hamilton and Grosjean, Korean Grand Prix (12%)
- Alonso on Webber, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (4%)
- Raikkonen on Schumacher, Brazilian Grand Prix (33%)
Total Voters: 642
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Vote for the best overtaker of 2012
Which driver made the best passes during the 2012 season? Vote here and have your say in the comments.
Who was the best overtaker of 2012?
- Sebastian Vettel (14%)
- Mark Webber (0%)
- Lewis Hamilton (13%)
- Jenson Button (2%)
- Fernando Alonso (18%)
- Felipe Massa (1%)
- Michael Schumacher (0%)
- Nico Rosberg (0%)
- Kimi Raikkonen (40%)
- Romain Grosjean (0%)
- Paul di Resta (0%)
- Nico Hulkenberg (2%)
- Kamui Kobayashi (4%)
- Sergio Perez (1%)
- Daniel Ricciardo (0%)
- Jean-Eric Vergne (0%)
- Pastor Maldonado (0%)
- Bruno Senna (0%)
- Heikki Kovalainen (0%)
- Vitaly Petrov (3%)
- Narain Karthikeyan (0%)
- Pedro de la Rosa (0%)
- Timo Glock (0%)
- Charles Pic (0%)
- Jerome d'Ambrosio (2%)
Total Voters: 602
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timi (@timi) said on 7th December 2012, 14:23
Raikkonnen Schumacher was just class. Two world champions, showing excellent control of their cars, whilst also respect for eachother. That’s how it’s done
Suave (@suave) said on 7th December 2012, 14:51
This is tough. In the end I voted Raikkonnen on Schumacher in Belgium. Watching the onboard footage from Raikkonnen’s car solidified my decision. Barreling down the straight at almost 200 MPH, with the daunting uphill cork screw merely a few hundred meters away, yet not a moment’s hesitation on Kimi’s part to to make the move, that’s incredible racing.
It was everything a great pass should be – precise, calculated, clean and really ballsy. The fact that Kimi had planned to put the pass on Schumacher at that point so that Kimi could use his own DRS while ahead of Schumacher was brilliant.
Honorable mention to Massa’s pass on Senna. Not really a clean pass, and it seemed forced, but great to watch!
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl) said on 7th December 2012, 15:30
Kimi on Michael in Brazil and Kimi as the best overtaker. Shut up, he know’s what he’s doing.
kbcusa (@kbcusa) said on 7th December 2012, 15:36
Raikkonen on Schumacher at Spa.
coringa (@coringa) said on 7th December 2012, 15:40
Why Does Nobody Vote For Narain&
Pete (@repete86) said on 7th December 2012, 15:47
No love for Grosjean passing Alonso in T1 of Spa? That’s the one that I’ll probably remember the most.
uan (@uan) said on 7th December 2012, 15:56
well, only if he had been able to make it stick…
Brace (@brace) said on 8th December 2012, 3:55
He sure made it stick, it sticked so well, that 4 other cars stopped in awe of the move. :)
Adrian (@adrianbdino) said on 7th December 2012, 16:09
Vettel on Button in Abu Dhabi. Was DRS assisted, but so gutsy!
LoreMipsumdOtmElor said on 7th December 2012, 16:21
Alonso on Grosjean after the SC in Valencia.
matt90 (@matt90) said on 7th December 2012, 16:46
@keithcollantine How were these chosen? Was it simply a total of all the votes in every race? Because if, say, Singapore, only had one half-decent overtake, then that overtake would get almost all the votes for that race, giving enough for it to make the cut despite maybe being worse than many others.
claudioff (@claudioff) said on 7th December 2012, 16:57
Hulkenberg on Hamilton and Grosjean because, beyond the fact that the passes were very well executed, you have a Force India passing a McLaren and a Lotus driven by Hamilton (no introductions needed) and Grosjean (a very fast driver).
DaveF1 (@davef1) said on 7th December 2012, 17:02
I also voted for it. It was a brilliant overtake by Hulk, I hope he can find a top seat soon.
Also voted for Kimi as the best overtaker of the season. He makes it look so easy and not to mention he’s one of the cleanest overtakers along with Alonso and Webber in my opinion.
matt90 (@matt90) said on 7th December 2012, 17:01
So many stand outs. Particularly Hamilton, both of Raikkonen’s, Hulkenberg’s and maybe Kobayashi.
Best overtaker would probably be Vettel or Raikkonen based purely on this, but I need to remember if anybody else stood out over the season.
Tough choices.
xjr15jaaag (@xjr15jaaag) said on 7th December 2012, 17:19
Really couldnt decide between Massa on Senna and Hulkenberg on Hamilton and Grosjean.
Both of them were absaloutely amazing to watch, but Massas had a sense of more jeopardy about it when Senna squeesed him and then he lst control of the ar briefly.
Has to be massa on Senna.
melkurion (@melkurion) said on 7th December 2012, 17:32
some impressive ones there, Hamilton on the torro rosso’s is great, but hulk on grosean and hamilton is scimilar, and the drivers involved better, raikonnen on schumi, both awesome, but the one that had my heart in my throat, even in replay was massa on senna. It’s do or die with 200% luck, but still awesome :)
chemakal said on 7th December 2012, 17:42
Kimi on schumi from the ones on the list.
But that great fight Alonso cs McLaresns in lap 1 Indian GP
tmax (@tmax) said on 7th December 2012, 18:36
Kimi on Schumi at Brazil and Vettel overall
As the stats emerge it looks like Kimi was the most consistent and best driver of the season. Had he had a little faster car, especially one which can qualify a little better he would have been WDC.
It is a pity that he does not Tweet boasting his achievement like the Matador and the Samurai nor does his team call a press meet after every race to say how good he was and how bad the car was…… He just did his driving do the talking. I felt he was the really worthy of the WDC this year especially given that he was off the grid for 2 consecutive years. I mean the guy completed every lap on 2012 barring one technically due to the detour in Brazil. That is amazing consistency with a car which was 4th strongest of the year. He was in contention in the WDC longer than Button and Hamilton who possibly had the best machine of the year.
5150 (@5150) said on 7th December 2012, 21:19
I totally agree with you