F1 rules changes for 2012

[Patrick]

What they are and what they mean ...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/996751-f1-2012-rules-and-regulations-changes-and-what-they-mean




Oh, BTW, This site has some very cool F-1 wallpaper for your monitor:

http://www.f1technical.net/?sid=08c4ee86eb332708cb3347f3fb26912e

[MikeFleming]

Strange - they list 14 changes but only show 13. And another rule change specifically to benefit Ferrari.

[Bob Holmes]

My earliest prediction yet:

RBR: The only way these guys aren't on top is if Adrian Newey gets run over stepping off the curb. Probably by a "red" car.
McLaren: While I think that Ferrari has made some excellent personnel changes that will lead them to challenge McL, that isn't going to mature until 2013. McLaren can challenge for the Constructor's if they can put a good car on the track at the beginning of the year, and if Hamilton can get over his personal problems instead of bringing them to the track. Or, if Button can learn how to qualify.
Ferrari: AnybodybutAlonso will carry the team again. The amazing disappearing Brazilian (Massa) will get replaced at some point during the season. Its a rebuilding season all the way around, but they are still better than the mid-pack.
Mercedes: Better than mid-pack, not quite top tier. Two better than average drivers, but not good enough to carry a mediocre car.
Lotus (not that one, this one)....Force India.... Toss up. Lotus (Renault) is a badly gutted ghost of itself. I'm not sure that hiring Kimi can make up for the severe loss of funding and brain drain that has occurred. If they come in 5th, its still a residual effect of the glory years. They are definitely on a slide that I don't think can be righted. Force India, on the other hand, seems to be ascending. Great engines, Paul DiResta is a talent.

Does anyone really care about any of the rest? I do like the fact that Lotus (no that one, not this one)...um Caterham will likely embarrass some of the established teams...Williams comes to mind.

Anyone else care to opine?

[MikeFleming]

Hasn't Williams turned into one of the rest that no one cares about? Even though they do still have decent funding.

As far as the rest of the field, aka 'backrunners' or 'slower traffic', I would not mind having one of their cars in my garage to play with. Naturally I'd change the livery to my taste. I don't think I can afford a McLaren.

[Bob Holmes]

Hasn't Williams turned into one of the rest that no one cares about? Even though they do still have decent funding.


Hard for me to ignore a team with that many championships. Although Patrick Head gave up, maybe I should do the same.

[Raven855]

Just over 3 months till the season starts. Hard to believe and testing will soon begin. Vettle should remain dominate, sometimes he could be a second a lap faster than the rest of the field and although it will be closer, he should still be the leader. McLaren should be more competitive than last year, if they have Hamilton eating beans and rice for Christmas dinner it's a good indication they want it pretty bad. Don't count out the competitiveness of Ferrari, but they still have a boat anchor with Massa. Webber will still be competing with the middle of the field and Mercedes will still have a mediocre car and Kimi could be right in here mixing it up. DiResta should have a good year, Barricello should be back at Williams, he is still better than Malodonna. I think there is only one team running the Cosworth. I do think that the way that alguisari was handled at RB will cause problems for them, no one will trust Marco again.

[Bob Holmes]

Why would anyone trust Marco after his handling of Weber in 2010?

[MikeFleming]

With a new 2012 rule stating that all new chassis must pass crash tests before any driving testing can begin, it appears Ferrari is off to a poor start already:

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7426788/-Ferrari-chassis-failed-FIA-test-

[Patrick]

That rule was skirted last year. I don't expect any further surprises this year.

[MikeFleming]

I don't expect any further surprises this year. In Formula 1? No surprises?

I don't care who you are - That's funny.

[Patrick]

Regarding surprises, I was speaking of the pre season testing of a not yet crash tested chassis. If it happens again this year, that should no longer be a surprise, since it happened last year.

[MikeFleming]

You a politician now? Changing your story?