Race Report: India 2012 (Round 17)

Please feel free to leave positive or constructive comments on our blogs below, thank you - F1 Hub.

Lap Record: 1:27.249 S Vettel (2011)

Lap Length: 5.14km

Race Length: 60 Laps

Total Distance: 308.4km

Tyre Allocation: Soft & Hard

Start Grid - http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2012/880/7112/

Incredible India put on the opportunity for an incredible race, and in some aspects it delivered, but in its second year, there was a sense of deja vu as Vettel streaked away once again at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi to claim his fourth win in a row and his fifth of the season.

Vettel Celebrates As Alonso Hangs On To Title Fight 

Let’s face it, after turn three, we barely needed to see him on camera. The brilliant first few corners however showed the juniors of the grid how to race wheel-to-wheel at the top end of the grid with full intensity but with all battling drivers making it to tell the tale afterwards.

The real story of the race was Alonso’s battle towards finishing second from P5, emerging 4^th after this first lap tussle with the two McLaren’s. Whilst Webber had a KERS issue, Alonso still did a great job in a less able car to hunt the resident Aussie down, and as sparks from the underside of Vettel’s car started to spark with less than ten laps to go, I wondered if the unpredictable story of the 2012 season was about to get it’s mojo back. This turned out to be a mere scare for a lap, but nevertheless, with 75 points still to play for, and Alonso only 13 points behind – considering Vettel’s winning streak and two DNF’s through no fault of his own in Belgium and Japan, this seems astoundingly impressive and all is not lost yet. With Ferrari announcing updates for the rest of the races of the season, the championship is most certainly still alive.

Championship Table after Italian Grand Prix (Round 13)

Fernando Alonso – 179

Lewis Hamilton – 142

Kimi Raikkonen – 141

Sebastian Vettel – 140

Mark Webber – 132

Elsewhere, it was a setup decision before qualifying that cost Kimi Raikkonen who is admirably still third in the championship ahead of Webber’s Red Bull and both McLaren’s. Of course in Parc Ferme ruling, he could not change his fundamental setup, and paid the price in the race in particular stuck behind Massa’s Ferrari who had an uneventful race, managing fuel for the most part.

Jenson Button dropped a place to P5 after struggling with the soft compound tyre, whilst Hamilton challenged Webber well to finish P4, providing a battle to the last lap on-track. One of the highlights of the race came from the pitlane, as in a 3.3 second stop, Lewis and his mechanic impressively changed his wheel before exiting again after radio troubles early on.

Hamilton Sporting A Special Indian Grand Prix Helmet (Wait, Vettel Didn't?!)

After a lacklustre Korean Grand Prix, Williams came back with some decent pace; in particular Senna outshone his teammate on pure pace and race craft. It’s a shame Bruno didn’t maximise his potential and get into the top ten for a Q3 shootout, ending up qualifying P13, as he may have had a chance of getting more than the point he gained for finishing P10. Nevertheless, this performance may improve his chances of keeping his Williams drive for 2013, or at least his career in Formula One.

His teammate Maldonado was involved in one of many similar incidents involving punctures as a result of touching with front wings. Another of these occurrences involved Schumacher in the first corner, as his bad luck and results continue, eventually retiring for the eighth time in seventeen races, making it almost an almost 50% retirement rate. Whilst on this occasion it was for pre-cautionary races, Rosberg’s result and pace summed up Mercedes team position currently.

Having not scored any points for three races in a row and Sauber in sixth lurking twenty points behind, it wouldn’t be a great surprise to astonishingly see Sauber beat the global force, budget and resources of Mercedes AMG. What an incredible feat that potential result would be, and the prize money received for doing so would hopefully enable them to sustain such performance for future seasons, despite the departure of Perez who has gained them three podiums this season. Sergio himself had an afternoon to forget however, as he was forced to retiring following another one of the puncture plagued incidents.

Mercedes car looked tired in New Delhi getting passed by Hulkenberg’s Force India, Grosjean’s Lotus and Senna’s Williams, eventually finishing outside the points in P11. They may yet get punished for not taking advantage of some good early-season pace, with retirements, penalties and qualifying mistakes aplenty. Perhaps they have, or if not they should turn their focus to their 2013 car. With the arrival of Hamilton to partner Rosberg, there is much more to gain next year than there is to lose in the remaining three races of this year.

As the end of the field, arguably the number two drivers for each team faired the better on race day, as Caterham’s Kovalainen was beaten by Petrov, and Pic took the chequered flag before the well-experienced Timo Glock in the Marussia’s. Local driver Narain Karthikeyan finished last on the track in 21^st, as there were three retirements in total including his teammate de la Rosa following HRT’s ongoing break issues.

The beautiful Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is up next in the latest weekend of back to back races - let’s hope Alonso can bring the fight to Vettel in qualifying on this infamously circuit for difficult overtaking.

Please feel free to leave positive or constructive comments on our blogs below, thank you - F1 Hub.

Results

1. Vettel [Red Bull-Renault] 1h:31:10:744

2. Alonso [Ferrari] + 9.4 seconds

3. Webber [Red Bull-Renault] +13.2

4. Hamilton [McLaren-Mercedes] + 13.9

5. Button [McLaren-Mercedes] + 26.2

6. Massa [Ferrari] + 44.6

7. Raikkonen [Lotus-Renault] + 45.2

8. Hulkenberg [Force India-Mercedes] + 54.9

9. Grosjean [Lotus-Renault] + 56.1

10. Senna [Williams-Renault] + 74.9

11. Rosberg [Mercedes] + 81.6

12. di Resta [Force India-Mercedes] + 82.8

13. Ricciardo [Toro Rosso-Ferrari] + 86.0

14. Kobayashi [Sauber-Ferrari] + 86.4

15. Vergne [Toro Rosso-Ferrari] + 1 Lap

16. Maldonado [Williams-Renault] + 1 Lap

17. Petrov [Caterham-Renault] + 1 Lap

18. Kovalainen [Caterham-Renault] + 1 Lap

19. Pic [Marussia-Cosworth] + 1 Lap

20. Glock [Marussia-Cosworth] + 2 Laps

21. Karthikeyan [HRT-Cosworth] + 2 Laps

Did Not Finish

Schumacher [Mercedes] Lap 55

de la Rosa [HRT-Cosworth] Lap 42

Perez [Sauber-Ferrari] Lap 20

Nick, F1 Hub

Review: F1 2012 Game

As a F1 fan who enjoys the occasional video game, I had to get my hands on F1 2012 the game to both compare to previous years, and pound laps round old favourite tracks such as Malaysia’s Sepang, and a new favourite in the form of the recently completed ‘Circuit of the Americas’ track in Austin, Texas ahead of the latest inaugural United States Grand Prix outing.

Sports titles that sell yearly releases face a demanding battle to deliver noticeable improvements worthwhile of annual purchases to both fans, and newcomers to the sport or game franchise, and developer ‘Codemasters’ have done an extremely creditable effort in doing so.

Despite a few somewhat cliché gaming features in career mode such as ‘emails’ from your team, the game makes you feel responsible yet excited to be driving as you fly away to Australia, Malaysia & China for the first races of the season. Initially, on-track mistakes are almost inevitable as you perfect your craft, and as a rhythm appeared, I unquestionably have been suitably challenged and rewarded as a result.

Overall, the gameplay is excellent. My Williams car certainly feels different near the end of the season in comparison to the beginning, mainly due to the completion of R&D objectives, of which directions can be altered mid-season. The most noticeable improvement however for both gameplay and presentation is that the weather system promise has finally been delivered.

Within a Chinese Grand Prix I dropped to 11^th, but by the pitstop window it started to drizzle. I (pretending to be Jenson Button in dry to wet conditions) stayed out despite high tyre wear and a cranky race engineer reminding me to pit twice a lap. As the field pitted for their other dry tyre compound, I pitted for intermediates emerging 1st, after others re-pitted to change once again as the rain fell heavier. Nevertheless, on the last lap, my tyres impressively visibly looked worn, and ended up spinning at the slightest acceleration round sharp turns, ultimately finishing 6^th. So congratulations Codemasters, you can finally tick the boxes for weather and tyre wear!

The Williams Car Swoops Round The 'Circuit Of The Americas'

For many, a concern has been the computer’s AI being too easy or difficult, but happily I have found a perfect match for my skill capability this year. In my first career race in Australia, I fully concentrated on chasing down Alonso in P3 until the very last lap. Whilst I finished behind, it was so engaging to hook up near-perfect laps to take tenths off of his lead most laps, creating a tense finish, and immediately making me look forward to the next race. The desire to keep playing strikes me as a top rate game, no matter what the genre.

Still, there are areas could be created with greater realism however, and more involvement in what is going on in the rest of the field would be appreciated to give a more complete experience, such as notifications and replays of crashes, mechanical failures, key overtakes, etc. Even with ‘full’ damage on, the worst I can seem to do is break the front wing. Whilst some would find occasional failures or having to retire after being hit by Grosjean or Maldonado frustrating, I believe it would make a virtual championship as exciting and unpredictable, just like the REAL thing. Perhaps this could be included as an option in the future.

Existing features have been refined and expanded, but thankfully fans voices have been heard, with many new modes both off and online being introduced. For some a whole career has been too long, particularly for newcomers to the sport or only wanting a short race occasionally. ‘Season challenge’ was introduced to address this, with a comparison to career mode of 10 instead of 20 races, 10% rather than 25% amount of laps, and ‘one-shot’ qualifying, in which only one flying lap is completed to determine grid position rather than multi-stage format of real race weekends. This doesn’t hit the mark personally, but it has definitely opened up a new market for casual racers and fair play for this creditable addition.

‘Champions mode’ has a super concept of challenging the six champions on the grid in various scenarios, yet this great opportunity has disappointingly been delivered too straight-forward on the hardest difficulty. They are not distinct enough to ‘proving grounds’ which are back, setting scenario based challenges designed to give the less familiar F1 fan and gamer an arcade-style mode to settle in to. Nevertheless it is a useful way to measure and develop your skills, before embarking into ‘Racenet’.

Racenet is the most desirable addition for me, as unknown fresh weekly challenges are presented which allow you to see where you stand against the whole F1 community through leaderboards. This makes a limitless challenge for all and gives great value for money.

Singapore Visually Is Fantastic & With Wet Conditions Is A Spectacle

The presentation of the race tracks are as immaculate as always, with track layouts and surrounding environments being represented to a tee. The new circuit in Austin, Texas as mentioned is a delight to drive, and as a result of playing F1 2012 has made me look forward to the new event more than any since the first night race in Singapore in 2008. The track is unbelievably flowing with some classic style complexes, unique new turns and elevation changes yet several opportunities for the real event come November 18^th.

Essentially, it is easy to assume F1 2012 is just tracks you’ve raced 95% of on previous titles, but like the evolution of popular series like FIFA, with new game-modes, an enhanced gameplay feel, arguably the best new track since Sepang was inducted in 1999, and fresh online community challenges weekly, there is plenty of content to keep F1 newcomers and experienced gamers alike engrossed as equal to any other high quality title. If you’re a true Formula One fan and enjoy a gaming challenge, you will be rewarded as you sit in that cockpit and strive for the perfect lap(s) strategy and hunt down anyone in front of you - to be the best.

Pro's & Con's

+ Racenet & Other New Varied Modes

+ Austin Track

+ Weather System Improvements

+ Listening To Gamers Feedback

+ R&D Implications on Car

- Poor Champions Mode Attempt

- Damage, Crash & Safety Car Realism

F1 2010 = 7.5/10

F1 2011 = 7/10

F1 2012 = 8.5/10

Realistic & Far-Fetched Suggestions For Future Titles

• Classic drivers/races/cars scenario replicas
• Rise of damage/mechanical realism
• Cut scenes with Team Principles/similar
• Safety car appearances more realistically frequent especially when not involved
• Special guest appearances e.g Bernie Ecclestone, Murray Walker
• GP2 feeder series includement?

Lastly - in a few months, 'F1 Race Stars' is released in a Mario Kart type arcade version of F1 - should be interesting!

Nick, F1 Hub

Will The Last Quarter Of The 2012 Season Live Up To Expectation Or Be An Anti-Climactic Flop?

For so long, many have believed the championship would be so close at the end of the season it would be decided at the last round in Brazil, but based on the last few results, many could easily to come to the conclusion that one car could dominate and a champion could be crowned prematurely at the penultimate round in Austin, Texas.

Alonso looks on as Vettel takes the lead he had held for months

For the vast majority, 2012 has been an uplifting campaign for the Formula One world audience with enriched on-track competition, development of rising stars and the controversial decisions of line ups for next year as stand-out topics. However, Vettel has now won the last three races and as the competition falters behind, going by his Red Bull’s outright performance he has ominous pace to keep going making motorsport what it’s not designed to be - predictable.

Is magician designer Adrian’s Newey’s ‘evolution of details’ on Red Bull’s car seeing the championship race become deflated in the hands of Vettel? Or will a turn of fortune and car upgrades for those now trailing the young German see the twentieth and last race decide the championship, keeping us on the edge of our seats?

After the first seven races of the season being won by seven different drivers in 5 different cars, with other results including Perez’ three wonderful podium drives, many have enjoyed the non-pole to win tedious dominance that Vettel emulated throughout 2011 of the Schumacher-Ferrari 2000-2004 years (excluding a close 2003). Yet based on Vettel’s domination of Japan and Korea, and his history of success at the end-of-season higher downforce tracks, this exciting season could seize to have an utterly disappointing conclusion if Vettel carries on to repeat his end-of-season upturn in pace for a fourth year running.

In 2011, he won five of the last eight races, not winning in Japan only due to a superb Button performance and a cautious drive to clinch the title; an Abu Dhabi first lap tyre blowout and subsequent suspension failure from pole position, and a gearbox failure in Brazil handing the lead over to his teammate. If it wasn’t for his 2010 engine failure, he’d have won a hat-trick of Korean Grand Prix wins this weekend in only its third year.

The success that he seems to be repeating has become even more noticeable due to the downturn in car performance and unfortunate incidents for Alonso & Hamilton. Whilst Vettel & Alonso have had an inevitable bit of bad luck, most notably Vettel’s alternator failure in Valencia from the lead, and Alonso being taken out by ‘the Grosjean train’ in Belgium; Hamilton has had a list-worthy amount of disturbances this season, which stack up in lost points. This has effectively taken him out of the championship race as of this weekend’s Korean Grand Prix result with four races to go.

•  Start of season McLaren pitstops disasters = 10+
• Australian Grand Prix - safety car timing losing position to Vettel by luck = 3     
• Spanish Grand Prix - Pole Position exclusion due to team’s fuel error losing a likely  win/podium (finished 8^th from starting 24^th) = 21
• European Grand Prix - Maldonado collision in Valencia costing a podium/fourth = 15
• German Grand Prix - Lap 3 puncture losing an estimated fourth/podium = 12
• Belgium Grand Prix – Grosjean’s caused first corner pile-up = 10
• Singapore Grand Prix - Gearbox failure losing a certain win = 25
• Korean Grand Prix – Anti-roll bar failure = 10
  
       = 90-110 approximate points lost dependant on how cynical/realistic it is viewed
  
  

  

  Alonso & Hamilton innocently get caught in Grosjean's 'attempt' to get to Turn 1 at the Belgium Grand Prix, whilst the more fortunate Vettel takes advantages to take P2 & 18 points behind Button

  
  

Neither Alonso nor Vettel have lost as much as that through no fault of their own. Apart from the last lap of 2008 in which Hamilton sealed his world title, Lewis is swiftly becoming this generation’s Nigel Mansell - a world class driver with the complete package like Alonso: raw speed, spectacular overtaking ability, but like Nigel has no luck at vital times of a championship race.

Nevertheless, the points standings are what they are, and the worldwide audience is craving a last gasp decider. Therefore I sincerely hope Alonso & Hamilton’s bad luck with reliability and incidents through no fault of their own end, so they along with Raikkonen and Webber (and even Massa with his new turn of speed) at least have an opportunity to challenge Vettel’s pace and the championship fight goes right down to the wire. No matter who takes the title, let’s hope it stays as close and exciting as everyone has imagined since the first few races, and not fade away into a one-way battle.

I regrettably believe the 2012 season’s legacy has the potential to unfortunately crumble, despite such an early and mid-season hype and so many exciting competitive races until now, if Vettel and Red Bull show no mercy and ‘the bull’ charges towards the chequered flag at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil first once again. Let’s hope otherwise.

Nick, F1 Hub

Race Report: Korea 2012 (Round 16)

Lap Record: 1.39.605 S Vettel (2011)
Lap Length: 5.615 km
Race Length: 55 Laps
Total Distance: 308.630 km
Tyre allocation: Super Soft & Soft

Start Grid - www.formula1.com/results/season/2012/879/7094/


Vettel claims third consecutive win in Korea

From my position it looked like another very easy win for the World Champion, with even his team-mate not even to contend with him. This win now takes him to the top of the driver’s championship above Fernando Alonso by 6 points.

After starting P2 in Korea Sebastian Vettel managed to claim another victory in Korea this weekend, his third consecutive win and forth win of the season. At the start P1 man Mark Webber got more wheel spin away from the lights allowing Vettel the inside line for the first corner (hang on, shouldn't P1 have the inside line off the grid anyway?). Hamilton who started P3 had a better start than both the Red Bull drivers but they both managed to close down the available gap to deny him the opportunity to pass. Further back on the grid Jenson Button’s 2013 team mate Sergio Perez hit him in the first corner and then the other Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi finished the job in turn 3 by damaging the Brits front right suspension and ending his race.

Sebastian Vettel takes the initiative overtaking Webber into the first corner before exiting in the long drag race to Turn 3

Throughout the race Vettel was able to control the race in his trademark style holding back his team-mate  Alonso behind them but never really having the pace to really bother either of the Red Bull drivers. Raikkonen finished fifth after an uneventful race for him, with Hulkenberg sixth, Grosjean seventh (and avoiding a first corner shunt), and the two Toro Rosso’s eighth and ninth.


McLaren all in all had what can only be described as a disastrous day. With Button’s early retirement Hamilton did not manage to do much better suffering from tyre wear meaning he was the first to pit for a new set. A botched pit stop did not help his cause and then to top it all of he caught a strip of astroturf that had come loose and got caught on his left side pod. This affected his aero in the closing stages in the race making it very close between him in tenth and Perez in eleventh.


After another dull race at the Korea International Circuit the Constructors Championship has reshuffled with Ferrari now ahead of McLaren by 6 points with Red Bull extending their lead to 367. Maybe it’s time to start engraving the trophy already.


Kimi Raikkonen is now the sole driver to finish every lap of this year’s calendar. Hulkenberg managed to out perform team-mate di Resta resulting in him overtaking the scot in the championship. Towards the back of the grid Petrov finished ahead of Kovalainen after they had swapped placed all race. To finish of the grid HRT driver Karthikeyan finished in twenty-first.


After a successful day for Felipe Massa with a solid third place finish it is not believed that Ferrari’s lineup for 2013 is all but sealed. Stefano Domenicali revealed that the Maranello outfit would be making the announcement imminently.


Results

01. Vettel [Red Bull-Renault] 1h36:28.651

02. Webber [Red Bull-Renault] + 8.200

03. Alonso [Ferrari] + 13.900

04. Massa [Ferrari] + 20.100

05. Raikkonen [Lotus-Renault] + 36.700

06. Hulkenberg [Force India-Mercedes] + 45.300

07. Grosjean [Lotus-Renault] + 54.800

08. Vergne [Toro Rosso-Ferrari] + 1:09.500

09. Ricciardo [Toro Rosso-Ferrari] + 1:11.700
1
0. Hamilton [McLaren-Mercedes] + 1:19.600

11. Perez [Sauber-Ferrari] + 1:20.000

12. Di Resta [Force India-Mercedes] + 1:24.400

13. Schumacher [Mercedes] + 1:29.200

14. Maldonado [Williams-Renault] + 1:34.900

15. Senna [Williams-Renault] + 1:36.900

16. Petrov [Caterham-Renault] + 1 lap

17. Kovalainen [Caterham-Renault] + 1 lap

18. Glock [Marussia-Cosworth] + 1 lap

19. Pic [Marussia-Cosworth] + 2 laps

20. Karthikeyan [HRT-Cosworth] + 2 laps



Did Not Finish


Kobayashi [Sauber-Ferrari Lap 16
de la Rosa [HRT-Cosworth] Lap 16
Rosberg [Mercedes] Lap 1

Button [McLaren-Mercedes] Lap 1


Andy, F1 Hub

Talking Point: Driver Line-Ups 2013 Grid

What an exciting time to be a Formula One fan…

As 2012 is still fizzing with drama from the twists and turns of on-track action, the 2013 season is already starting to bubble as the mad rush to complete team driver line-ups begins off-track. Arguably, never has such the game of chess in the F1 paddock been so widely spread throughout the field, with vast possibilities for current and potential drivers. Of course the recent dominating stories and speculation has regarded two of the six world champions on the 2012 grid, Lewis Hamilton & Michael Schumacher.

As a fairly patriotic fan, supporting the British driver’s and teams, I have thoroughly enjoyed three years of having two British champion teammates in McLaren and was initially disappointed to hear the news Lewis was breaking his fourteen year association with McLaren to join the German manufacturer Mercedes, yet like many I am relieved to see Michael retire. My personal reasoning for this is that there are so many up and coming names; the legend is making way for new opportunities, stories, battles and rivalries to be made. Perhaps a drive could have been salvaged for him but as Anthony Davidson quoted in this weekend’s Sky Sports F1 qualifying coverage, ‘too many drivers - not enough teams’!

I could easily create a late article regarding Lewis’ controversial departure, but I believe aside from the actual championship, the driver market is currently the most exciting talking point. After a two and a half hour discussion in the local pub with some friends, some ideas (some sensible, some not so) have been thrown around.

Red Bull: We start with a team that needs no speculation, with the confirmed line-up of Vettel and Webber continuing after Webber renewed his one-year rolling contract once again. Will he still be at Red Bull in 2014? If his 2013 showing is poor, it’s doubtful.

McLaren: Mexican star Sergio Perez who has widely impressed this season in races securing three podiums, unlike many mid-field counterparts. Whilst Maldonado for Williams won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Perez has double the points of the Venezuelan driver, and has only three less points than Massa’s Ferrari. If Sergio can deliver better qualifying, I cannot wait to see him in grey Vodafone sponsorship covered overalls, and be compared directly to 

long-term signed Jenson Button.

Ferrari: Now that McLaren and Mercedes have confirmed their line-ups, speculation is drawing to Felipe Massa’s future which has long been debated. If Ferrari doesn’t choose the safe option and resign Massa, di Resta and Hulkenberg are replacement favourites, but I put forward Heikki Kovalainen’s name. Perez was dismissed for the drive due to experience, but whilst Perez is younger than the Force India drivers, they have the same two years of Formula One experience. Why are they so different? Kovalainen has six years developing his craft and deserves one more top of the grid opportunity. If the other flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen doesn’t surprise many and re-join his championship winning team, Alonso could work well with Kovalainen and I would relish seeing Heikki drive for the Prancing Horse.

Mercedes: Nico Rosberg will partner his old karting teammate Lewis Hamilton becoming the first pair of GP2 champions to join forces in F1 (2005 & 2006). With Rosberg entering his eighth season since joining Williams in 2006, he needs to step up from a four to a five star driver. Despite his China GP win and lack of top-three team machinery, Nico has never had a teammate at the top of their game, and now he will have one to compare to. Out of all inter-team rivalries, this will be the one to watch for me.

Lotus: It’s extremely likely Lotus’ line-up will stay the same for next season, but should Raikkonen jump ship to Ferrari, or crash-kid Grosjean who isn't secure, maybe the two guys at Force India will quickly be linked with the seat(s). This would be a fantastic fit and much more suitable than the rumoured Ferrari drive which has the greatest expectation in the paddock, hence the suggestion of the more experienced Kovalainen. Nevertheless, I believe the two will stay before a more likely change perhaps in 2014.

Force India: Similarly, this constructor look destined to keep at least one driver, if not both, if they can keep them from the Ferrari and Lotus drives. Certainly Force India would love to do so. Failing this, there is not a shortage of options. Reserve driver Bianchi would no doubt be a favourite, with others including 2011 evictees Buemi, Sutil and Alguersuari, Kovalainen if overlooked by Ferrari, Senna if outcast by Williams and Italian GP2 champion Valsecchi.

Sauber: With Perez McLaren-bound, one seat is open with Kamui Kobayashi’s in danger of being lost. This weekend’s podium at his home Japanese Grand Prix will certainly boost his chances of a fourth season, of which may be a career-decisive one. With the same backing as Perez and a successful season in GP2, reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez looks a likely rookie debutant replacement. Should KK be exiled, any of the names above could in with a shout. Could Massa even take a career step backwards and re-join his former team he left in 2005? Hmm…

Toro Rosso: Riccardo and Vergne have done a respectable but not spectacular job this year. For a programme finding the next Vettel, I’d love to see the two of them and Vettel in Red Bull cars just for one day to compare. Nevertheless, it is likely they will keep their seats and hope for better machinery the year after next. A few have mentioned Felix de Costa picking up a seat having being backed by Red Bull this year, but having only been in GP3 for only one full season, I believe quite a premature association.

Williams: With Maldonado likely to stay after his Spanish Grand Prix win, general good pace and definitely because of his financial backing; Bruno Senna’s place looks in danger with every passing race weekend. Bottas has impressed in Friday practice sessions, and is suspected will take the second race seat next year, making it three Finnish drivers in Formula One. Erm, why don’t we have a race in Finland yet?!

Caterham: With Petrov seemingly out of sponsorship pocket and going out of F1 before the inaugural Russian grand prix, and unless Kovalainen decides to endure another season being lapped; both Caterham seats are up for grabs. Alguersuari is a favourite to be a successor, perhaps being joined by fellow ex-driver Sutil. Don’t be surprised if another GP2 graduate takes a place though.

Marussia:  Timo Glock is committed for next year, but has Charles Pic done enough to become Timo’s first teammate for a second year, or is a fourth new teammate ominous? One candidate is Britain’s Max Chilton who was recently promoted to the team’s reserve driver.

HRT: The Spanish outfit have a contract with de la Rosa, which similarly to Schumacher I believe is a shame, particularly if they keep Karthikeyan too. They aren’t going to achieve anything significant and are closing opportunities for future names of Formula One. I’d personally like to see GP2’s runner up Luiz Razia at least be considered.

Reserve Driver: Having finished 2^nd in the 2011 GP3 season and 5^th including two race wins in the 2012 GP2 season, I would love to see Britain’s James Calado become an occasional Friday practice driver in the 2013 season for a mid-field team with the aim of a 2014 full time drive if a successful 2013 GP2 campaign is achieved.

In summary:

1. I can’t wait for the Mercedes match-up especially if Mercedes give them the goods to work with
2. Massa’s seat is becoming a main talking point after Hamilton & Schumacher’s 2013 team conclusions and his Japanese podium place
3. I hope Kovalainen is given a chance he arguably deserves, if not Ferrari to at least a high mid-field team again or perhaps even Lotus
4. Someone needs to tell Bernie to seriously consider having a Finnish race
5. Oh, and lastly congratulations Jack Harvey (promising Brit in McLaren’s young driver programme) for securing the British Formula 3 crown

My mixed preferred/predicted line-ups:

Italics = confirmed (those who have a 2013 contract but have not been officially confirmed have not been highlighted)

Red Bull: Vettel, Webber

McLaren: Button, Perez

Ferrari: Alonso, Kovalainen

Mercedes: Hamilton, Rosberg

Lotus: Raikkonen, Grosjean

Force India: di Resta, Hulkenberg

Sauber: Kobayashi, Gutierrez

Toro Rosso: Riccardo, Vergne

Williams: Maldonado, Bottas

Caterham: Senna/Alguersuari, Valsecchi

Marussia: Glock, Chilton

HRT: de la Rosa, Razia

Nick, F1Hub 

Personal & F1 Hub Introduction & Welcome

Before I begin spontaneously deliberating preferences and predictions for the widely deliberated 2013 season as my first proper blog, here are a few words on me and the business I am founding along uni friends Paul Breading & Andy Thomas: the F1 Hub. 

Hi! This is me (and my keyring).

I'm Nick Drake, a graduate of the University of Winchester, and have watched Formula One since the age of five seeing Damon Hill and the Williams team win the 1996 championship in spectacular fashion. Aside from my fascination of the sport and racing, I enjoy rock gigs, clever television series such as Dexter, learning Spanish and of course have a rather large appetite for pub grub accompanied by a cold pint (or three). Oh, and I have a McLaren keyring on my car keys which I dropped a few days ago now has three wheels.

Best of all, I have never written an article, blog or anything similar in my life, so good luck reading this... My ideal ambition is to travel the world following the destinations of a whole Formula 1 season, to experience every lap, overtake, crash, rain shower, engine roar and magical history making moment. Some day eh?! 

My claim to fame is my great uncle Ted Drake played for England & Arsenal, and holds many records to this day including 42 goals in the 1934/35 season. It’s a shame that his skills weren't passed down in my genes then!

F1 Hub Website

Anyhow, enough about me. This blog is the starting point towards The F1 Hub, an up and coming comprehensive website community of all things Formula 1. Whilst features of the site will be added in stages, in time it will contain (without giving too much away) day-to-day news articles, a licensed and innovative gift shop, live-race forums and best of all we have the ambition to offer flexible Formula One package holidays to every race round the world, with fully flexible options personalised and chosen by you. In summary it will be a community that if you are a fan of Formula One, small or like me massive, that you can be and feel a part of.

If you are reading this in 2012, thank you for taking an interest at this stage. Until the site fulfils its potential and until the site launches for the first time even, I hope you take some enjoyment out these blog articles.

Nick, F1Hub.