Yeah, I know the 2011 season is not over but the 2012 Calendar has been released. Figured it was good time to start the thread and place the calendar as the first item in the thread. 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar: 03/18 Australia 03/25 Malaysia 04/15 China 04/22 Bahrain 05/13 Spain 05/27 Monaco 06/10 Canada 06/24 Europe 07/08 Great Britain 07/22 Germany 07/29 Hungary 09/02 Belgium 09/09 Italy 09/23 Singapore 10/07 Japan 10/14 Korea 10/28 India 11/04 Abu Dhabi 11/18 United States 11/25 Brazil
I'm so pleased they saw the light (and heat/humidity!) and moved the Austin date to November, now all I have to do is figure out how to get some affordable tix. I have lodgings arranged, my brother lives about 10 miles from the track!
Raikkonen's visit with Williams at their digs isn't news. Here's a bit of recent speculation re his possible interest in a return to F1. Kimi Raikkonen chases F1 return with Williams in 2012 (news.bbc.co.uk)
Whilst a mid pack ride in F1 could make him some very good money, it would be short lived and podium free.... Kimi is a very good driver who can't seem to find a new home or series for his talents. Might this fan humbly suggest that the Fin could fit perfectly in Rolex Grand Am racing. His talents in a DP car could be a real winner in a series that could use some new blood and the panache of a successful former F1 piloti!!
I figure Williams probably won't go for it unless they think it will draw sponsors interested in associating themselves with an ex-champ without having to pay the premium to sponsor one of the top teams. Raikkonen might bring his own sponsors along as well. Rolex might be a good fit for him, though I'm liking that series less and less and I'd rather see him in ALMS or maybe the FIA's GT1.
Exactly and drivers like Kimi could be the shot in the arm that series needs! Problem with Rolex is you have great cars in a series where the dominate driver is......Scott Pruitt...... even Kimi would seem positively animated next to him and bring a new higher level of talent to Grand Am.....possibly attracting more past champs to the fray. Did someone say Rubins?
Hard to argue with a series that can put the number of cars they can on the track. Great action and diversity. Too bad Ganassi/Pruett are the RedBull/Vettel this year, but things can change with the new year and car. And Audi and Ferrari are both coming on board with their new cars. That will certainly add some more spice to the pot!
Not to take the F1 thread too far off.... I really think Grand Am has a heck if a lot going for it but do think it needs to elevate the top class a bit. The addition as mentioned of Ferrari and Audi will be very good. The addition of such drivers as Kimi in DP would be even better. The DP cars are pretty light with lots of downforce, a formula Kimi and others with his background, should excel in!!! Fantasize a red Ferrari DP with Rubins behind the wheel!!!! OK back to reality and F1!
For me the best thing about Rolex is GT, and Audi and Ferrari joining GT next year (not DP) just tip that scale even further.
Exactly, know they are going into GP, that's why DP needs to step up their game... DP cars are pretty awesome to watch in person, seeing one go up through the climbing S's at VIR is jaw dropping and leaves the GP cars looking like they are towing a parachute!
Robert Kubica's doctor says the question as to whether the Pole can return to F1 racing next season has been answered - and it's a yes. Source - Ceccarelli: Kubica can race in 2012 | Planet F1 | Formula One News
Yes, but where will he be driving? Renault pays lip service to keeping him on, but they have two paying drivers now who are really funding the team well, and not doing badly behind the wheel either, at least till the second half drop off..... Ferrari expressed interest before the crash, but now? That would be taking a real chance, wouldn't it? Williams? Not if the Kimi rumors come true.... Force India? maybe....he would certainly enhance their performance, and they're not bad now. Big Mac? Same as Ferrari - plus I think they're gonna give the Jens/Hamster show one more go.... Red Bull? Claim they've already signed Vettel and Webba to another year - however if Ferrari or Big Mac came calling for Seabass with enough $$$$$, that could change, leaving an opening at RB, but then that would shuffle everything, wouldn't it? Tis the silly season, it will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. BTW, with both Renault power and KERS next year, watch for Lotus to leave perennial backmarkers HRT and Virgin behind next season and start playing in the middle ranks.
Yep, can't tell the players without a scorecard, can you? Lotus (the green ones) may be rebranded as Caterham next year anyway, which would be a shame I think, not to trade on a famous name. Caterham, while successful in their own right, just don't have the same cachet as Lotus.
I'm a fan of Caterham and don't mind the potential Caterham branding at all, as long as they switch from the Lotus color scheme... They should be more concerned with performance of course but here's hoping they come up with something that looks good as well.