A round-up of the 2012 Formula 1 season so far
The 2012 Formula 1 year has been fascinating with unprecedented competitive levels seen in only the first half of the season.
The 2011 year was dominated largely by Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, the two time champion won 11 Grands Prix in the season resulting in a very predictable outcome of the season.
2012 has been anything but like 2011, the year started off with an unprecedented six world champions starting at the grid. It saw seven Grand Prix winners out of the first seven races. Reasons behind this competitiveness have been several the most impacting
of them is the decision FIA took to ban the off-throttle blown diffuser that Red Bull perfected and used to dominate 2011.
Other reasons have been the Pirelli compounds which have not been easy for teams and drivers to comprehend. Teams have faltered in tyre strategies during races and it has made the sport all the more exciting.
Not everyone feels the same way though, as McLaren driver Jenson Button struggling with the Pirelli compounds feels that the unpredictable and highly competitive nature of the season has led the viewer to be confused and thus makes the sport less entertaining.
Most viewers might disagree but it has been a season where drivers have lost their composure out of frustration and said things that needed not to be said.
Vettel the winner of two back to back championships and the reigning champion has not has his way so far in the season and during one race his frustrations showed as he crashed into the Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan during the Malaysian GP. The German’s
was not able to score any points due to the crash and called the Indian a “cucumber.”
Sauber driver Sergio Perez got into an accident with Williams driver Pastor Maldonado and the Mexican called upon the stewards to penalise the Venezuelan and tagged him as “dangerous” and a hazard to the sport.
Michael Schumacher a respected figure and one of the biggest names in the sport blamed the Pirelli compounds for his poor showing earlier in the season, though he has remained quite on that issue since as his bad luck in the season continued.
The season is also dealing with a lot of careers as quite a few drivers contracts are ending at the end of 2012and teams are looking to retain, replace and hire new drivers for their respective teams. Mark Webber has been the first one to be confirmed a
Red Bull driver for the 2013 season but was linked to Ferrari prior to his renewal.
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is fighting to retain his race seat with the team. Schumacher is contemplating whether he is going to continue after this season or not.
Lewis Hamilton is fighting for his trophies and Rubens Barrichello is looking to make a comeback.
The teams have left for the summer break and the first half of the season has ended. At this point, the leading driver is Alonso and the leading constructor’s team is Red Bull. Looking at the first half it will be interesting to see how the second half will
unfold.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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