Ferrari’s car was the weakest link in their 2012 season campaign, and Alonso strained every sinew as he took the drivers’ championship battle down to the last race.
2012 F1 season articles archive
2012 F1 season
Vettel “never wasted a thought” on Ferrari protest
2012 Brazilian Grand Prix
Posted onSebastian Vettel says he was never concerned about a potential threat to his world championship victory from Ferrari’s ‘clarification request’ to the FIA.
Hamilton’s McLaren career in pictures
2012 F1 season review
Posted onA look back at Lewis Hamilton’s six years at McLaren in pictures. In 110 races he’s set 26 pole positions and scored 21 wins.
McLaren’s mistakes cost them championship success
2012 F1 season review
Posted onMcLaren began and ended the season with wins but reliability problems and costly mistakes in the pits cost them a chance of championship success.
Raikkonen helps Lotus to fourth with comeback win
2012 F1 season review
Posted onThe former Renault team which turned into Lotus returned to winning ways in 2012 as Kimi Raikkonen made a successful comeback.
‘I wouldn’t have kept Massa’, says Horner
2012 F1 season
Posted onRed Bull team principal Christian Horner says he would not have made Ferrari’s decision to retain Felipe Massa for 2012.
Late front wing development on 2012’s fastest car
F1 technology
Posted onThe McLaren MP4-27 was the fastest car of 2012 – and it won the final two races of the year after a subtle but significant front wing tweak.
De Villota, Watkins & Bahrain: The low points of 2012
2012 F1 season review
Posted onMaria de Villota’s crash, the death of Sid Watkins and the Bahrain Grand Prix controversy were named by F1 Fanatic readers as the worst moments of 2012.
Kobayashi’s podium leads fans’ top moments of 2012
2012 F1 season review
Posted onKamui Kobayashi’s first ever podium appearance at his home race in Suzuka was picked as one of the best moments of the year by F1 Fanatic readers.
Vote for the best F1 driver of 2012
2012 F1 season review
Posted onWho do you think was the best F1 driver of the year? Review the rankings in full and cast your vote below.
2012 F1 Driver Rankings #1: Fernando Alonso
2012 F1 season review
Posted onWith a car that was rarely the quickest, Alonso came within four points of clinching the drivers’ title. Here’s why he is F1 Fanatic’s driver of the year.
2012 F1 Driver Rankings #2: Hamilton
2012 F1 season review
Posted onHamilton was back to his best in 2012 and there is every reason to believe he’d have been in the thick of the championship contest had his car and team performed better.
2012 in statistics part one: The year in context
2012 F1 season review
Posted onHow the drivers in the top four teams compare since 2010, updated statistics on all the world champions and how ever-increasing reliability is changing F1.
Vettel and Red Bull’s title ‘triple double’ in pictures
2012 F1 season review
Posted onSebastian Vettel and Red Bull have clinched all six of the championship trophies up for grabs in the last three seasons. This picture gallery looks back on how their success was achieved.
2012 F1 Driver Rankings #3: Sebastian Vettel
2012 F1 season review
Posted onSebastian Vettel had to fight hard for his third world championship victory which he clinched after a superb run of finishes late in the season.
Haug to step down at Mercedes
2012 F1 season
Posted onNorbert Haug will leave Mercedes-Benz Motorsport “by mutual agreement” at the end of the year.
2012 F1 Driver Rankings #4: Kimi Raikkonen
2012 F1 season review
Posted onKimi Raikkonen’s highly anticipated Formula One comeback in 2012 proved a success and included a return to the top of the podium
“Vettel is a worthy champion”, says Alonso
2012 F1 season
Posted onFernando Alonso praised his world championship rival Sebastian Vettel while speaking to journalists in Madrid today.
2012 F1 Driver Rankings #5: Nico Hulkenberg
2012 F1 season review
Posted onIn a year characterised by an extremely close field, challenging tyre compounds and several hectic races, Nico Hulkenberg had a quietly impressive season.
Three years, zero points: HRT’s short life in pictures
2012 F1 season review
Posted onA collection of pictures reflecting on HRT’s short-lived Formula One campaign.