229 replies to this topic

[gotosy]

Kimi Raikkonen to return to Formula 1 with Renault

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula 1 next season after signing a two-year deal with Renault, who will become Lotus in 2012.

"My hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming," said Raikkonen. "It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP."

The Finn, who won the title in 2007 with Ferrari, added: "I have been impressed by the scope of the team's ambition. Now I'm looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.

"My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver."

There was confusion last week after Renault announced that Robert Kubica, who raced for the team before he was injured in a rallying accident in February, would not return to the sport next season.

However, the Pole's manager told BBC Sport that Kubica was still focused on returning in 2012.
...

Russian driver Vitaly Petrov, who has just completed his second season with Renault, is likely to partner Raikkonen, but this has yet to be confirmed.

BBC

[RobH]

The Iceman returns!!

[gotosy]

FIA reveals entry list for 2012 season

Quote

2012 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List

RED BULL RACING (AUT)

1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber

VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES (GBR)

3. Jenson Button
4. Lewis Hamilton

SCUDERIA FERRARI (ITA)

5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1 TEAM (DEU)

7. Michael Schumacher
8. Nico Rosberg

LOTUS F1 TEAM (GBR)

9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. TBA

SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM (IND)

11. TBA
12. TBA

SAUBER F1 TEAM (CHE)

14. Kamui Kobayashi
15. Sergio Perez Mendoza

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO (ITA)

16. TBA
17. TBA

AT&T WILLIAMS (GBR)

18. TBA
19. TBA

TEAM CATERHAM (MAL)

20. Heikki Kovalainen
21. Jarno Trulli

HRT F1 TEAM (ESP)

22. TBA
23. TBA

MARUSSIA F1 TEAM (RUS)

24. Timo Glock
25. Charles Pic

http://www.fia.com/e...entry-2012.aspx

[gotosy]

FIA announces new sporting rules for 2012 Formula 1 season

From next year, all cars will have to pass all the mandatory crash tests in order to be able to take part in winter testing.

The ruling body has also confirmed there will be a three-day test during the season, which is set to allow teams to run with their drivers mid-campaign. Previously, teams were only allowed to run during the season in the Young Driver test near the end of the year.

From 2012, all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join at the back of the field during safety car periods, ensuring a clean restart without slower cars in front of the leaders.

There will now be a maximum race time of four hours during each grand prix, ensuring that lengthy suspensions do not result in events that are longer than that.

The FIA also said that from 2012, drivers will not be allowed to move back onto the racing line after having moved off it to defend their position.

Also from next year, cars which were in the pitlane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to rejoin the grid in the position they were in when the race was stopped.

The governing body has also altered the use of tyre allocations, with drivers now allowed to use all tyres from the start of practice. Previously, only three sets were permitted.

Finally, the FIA said drivers will not be allowed to leave the track - like cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or 'in' laps to save time and fuel - without a justifiable reason.

The WMSC also announced that former grand prix driver Gerhard Berger has been appointed as the new president of the Single-Seater Commission.

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/96676


Also FIA has confirmed the 2012 calendar

Quote

18 March Australian GP
25 March Malaysian GP
15 April Chinese GP
22 April Bahrain GP
13 May Spanish GP
27 May Monaco GP
10 June Canada GP
24 June European GP
8 July British GP
22 July German GP
29 July Hungarian GP
2 September Belgian GP
9 September Italian GP
23 September Singapore GP
7 October Japanese GP
14 October Korean GP
28 October Indian GP
4 November Abu Dhabi GP
18 November US GP
25 November Brazilian GP

[RobH]

I suppose if you're going to change your team name you might as well replace both your drivers. Romain Grosjean joins Lotus (Renault) next season. Petrov AND Senna out!

[DannyelBrazil]

More and more Brazilians are losing interest in Formula One.
It's sad.
Once in the past Formula One and other motorsports were the number 2 sport in Brazil in terms of passionate fans by far...
An entire generation lost... Well, by having the "controversial" Barrichello as main name, the result couldn't be other...

[Bezzi]

The only brazilian guaranteed for 2012 is Felipe Massa who is far from his best form

[RobH]

I'm not surprised Brazil is cooling to F1. Senna was always going to be a hard act to follow. And you've ended up with two drivers who are the epitomy of the "number two diver". Massa was one corner away from a world title, but apart from that his career has been about giving way to a teammate ("Fernando is faster than you!"), and Barrichello's has been much the same and he, like Massa has been in world-beating cars but has not won a championship (his best chance was at Brawn but he was outclassed by Button).

Two likeable guys, two very fast divers at their peaks, but not the cream of F1 and sadly for Brazil both having to give way for the good of their teams far too often.

Edited by RobH, 10 December 2011 - 02:07 PM.

[gotosy]

Robert Kubica has suffered another setback in his attempt to return to Formula 1 after breaking his right leg in an accident at his house in Italy.

It is the same leg he broke in a high-speed rally crash almost a year ago.

The Pole needs an operation to have a metal screw inserted just above his ankle and then faces a month in plaster.

He is said to have lost his footing in the garden of his house in Pietrasanta, near the coastal town of Viareggio.

Kubica missed the whole of the 2011 season following a crash during the first stage of the Ronde di Andora rally in February.

The 27-year-old was driving a Super 2000-specification Skoda Fabia when his car left the road at high speed and hit a crash barrier, which pierced the car and caused Kubica's injuries.

Having been cut out of the vehicle before being airlifted to hospital, the Pole underwent several operations to repair the damage to his partially severed right forearm and numerous fractures to his right elbow, shoulder and leg.

He is now out of contract with his former team Renault, who have changed their name to Lotus this season, after it was announced last November that he would not be ready to return by the start of the season.

Kubica is still hoping to make a comeback to F1 but it remains unclear when - or if - he will have sufficient mobility and feeling in his right hand to drive a grand prix car.
...

BBC

[RobH]

Poor guy