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Apexhead's 2012 F1 Chinese Gp Preview
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Jack Acid
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F1 2012 Season,
F1 Commentary
23 April 2012
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Preview Chinese GP Formula One Formula 1 F1
Malaysia Summary
It’s only been two races, but already 2012 is shaping up to be vastly different than 2011 – and thank heavens. No one (sans the team/driver in question) wants to see a WDC title wrapped by Suzuka.
McLaren looks like the team to beat, but dodgy weather ensured a strange, yet thrilling result in Round 2 in Malaysia where Alonso became the early surprise in the less than impressive F2012 Ferrari. And of course, the young Sergio Perez emerged 2nd and could be filling the potential we’ve been hearing about since his rookie season last year. He became the first Mexican driver to have a podium finish in 41 years. 41 years!
Now, looking ahead to Shanghai…
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1. Will Sauber continue to impress?
It’s difficult to look at Malaysia and chalk up all the results as strong indicators of pace or what to expect — look no further than Ferrari’s win to see that. Still, the pace of Sauber has been strong and one has to wonder if this podium will propel Perez into a routine top 8 finisher. Kobayashi had a disappointing retirement after 46 laps due to a brake problem, but do not discount that both drivers finished in the top 10 in Melbourne (KOB 6th, PER 8th).
China will be a another test for the BMW team.
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2. Williams could be the surprise Constructor – if Maldanado can finish a race.
Bruno Senna finished an impressive 6th, which coincidentally, is what his teammate Pastor Maldanado was set to finsih in Melbourne – until his senseless crash on lap 57. However, Maldy was not to blame at Sepang — that would be his engine failure.
Even without the potentials yet unrealized, it’s clear Williams could be a dark horse for a top 5 team by years end.
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3. Will Massa be unseated before mid-season?
For all the accolades Alonso deserves for his drive in an unruly car, the opposite can be said for Massa.
In recent years, the Ferraris finish within a few places of each other, but not so this year and certainly not at Kuala Lampur. A whopping 15 positions seprated Massa from Alonso, which left the Brazilian scratching his head post-race.
Even a new chassis didn’t help, which Ferrari provided Massa to help separate ”car” from “driver” as root causes for the F2012′s slow pace. In his defense, Massa had tire degredation problems and had an extra pit stop, but it’s hard to imagine that making up the entire gap.
Following the Malaysian GP, rumors immediately began swirling that Ferrari would bring in Sergio Perez if things didn’t improve. This on top of rumors that Robert Kubica, still re-habbing from his rally accident last year, is the Marinello team’s choice for 2013.
Even Rubens Barrichello’s name couldn’t avoid the media scrum, when the former F1 ironman recently publicly lobbied his willingness to step in and help, should Massa be dismissed.
My gut feeling is that Massa gets through this season, albeit on a very short leash. The gap between he and Alonso will dictate how long he sticks around.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odds & Ends
1. McLaren still looks to be the pace leader. Hamilton is itching for a win, let’s see if his newfound “zen” patience gets him through these narrow miss disappointments.
2. Toro Rosso looks like a solid midfield. Both Vergne and Ricciardo have scored or flirted with the points. Perhaps Vergne can teach his fellow countryman, Romaine Grojean, how to finish.
3. Speaking of Grojean, he is very quick but unlucky through two races. He needs to finish in China or concerns may start to grow that he is not ready. On the flipside, Kimi scored a solid 5th at Sepang.
4. Vettel & Karthikeyan aren’t exactly Senna vs. Prost, but at least we can always look forward to the backmarker lap(s)?
5. Mercedes, please, resolve your tire problems so your qualifying pace shows up on Sunday. Rosberg has been especially disappointing.
It’s only been two races, but already 2012 is shaping up to be vastly different than 2011 – and thank heavens. No one (sans the team/driver in question) wants to see a WDC title wrapped by Suzuka.
McLaren looks like the team to beat, but dodgy weather ensured a strange, yet thrilling result in Round 2 in Malaysia where Alonso became the early surprise in the less than impressive F2012 Ferrari. And of course, the young Sergio Perez emerged 2nd and could be filling the potential we’ve been hearing about since his rookie season last year. He became the first Mexican driver to have a podium finish in 41 years. 41 years!
Now, looking ahead to Shanghai…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Will Sauber continue to impress?
It’s difficult to look at Malaysia and chalk up all the results as strong indicators of pace or what to expect — look no further than Ferrari’s win to see that. Still, the pace of Sauber has been strong and one has to wonder if this podium will propel Perez into a routine top 8 finisher. Kobayashi had a disappointing retirement after 46 laps due to a brake problem, but do not discount that both drivers finished in the top 10 in Melbourne (KOB 6th, PER 8th).
China will be a another test for the BMW team.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Williams could be the surprise Constructor – if Maldanado can finish a race.
Bruno Senna finished an impressive 6th, which coincidentally, is what his teammate Pastor Maldanado was set to finsih in Melbourne – until his senseless crash on lap 57. However, Maldy was not to blame at Sepang — that would be his engine failure.
Even without the potentials yet unrealized, it’s clear Williams could be a dark horse for a top 5 team by years end.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Will Massa be unseated before mid-season?
For all the accolades Alonso deserves for his drive in an unruly car, the opposite can be said for Massa.
In recent years, the Ferraris finish within a few places of each other, but not so this year and certainly not at Kuala Lampur. A whopping 15 positions seprated Massa from Alonso, which left the Brazilian scratching his head post-race.
Even a new chassis didn’t help, which Ferrari provided Massa to help separate ”car” from “driver” as root causes for the F2012′s slow pace. In his defense, Massa had tire degredation problems and had an extra pit stop, but it’s hard to imagine that making up the entire gap.
Following the Malaysian GP, rumors immediately began swirling that Ferrari would bring in Sergio Perez if things didn’t improve. This on top of rumors that Robert Kubica, still re-habbing from his rally accident last year, is the Marinello team’s choice for 2013.
Even Rubens Barrichello’s name couldn’t avoid the media scrum, when the former F1 ironman recently publicly lobbied his willingness to step in and help, should Massa be dismissed.
My gut feeling is that Massa gets through this season, albeit on a very short leash. The gap between he and Alonso will dictate how long he sticks around.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odds & Ends
1. McLaren still looks to be the pace leader. Hamilton is itching for a win, let’s see if his newfound “zen” patience gets him through these narrow miss disappointments.
2. Toro Rosso looks like a solid midfield. Both Vergne and Ricciardo have scored or flirted with the points. Perhaps Vergne can teach his fellow countryman, Romaine Grojean, how to finish.
3. Speaking of Grojean, he is very quick but unlucky through two races. He needs to finish in China or concerns may start to grow that he is not ready. On the flipside, Kimi scored a solid 5th at Sepang.
4. Vettel & Karthikeyan aren’t exactly Senna vs. Prost, but at least we can always look forward to the backmarker lap(s)?
5. Mercedes, please, resolve your tire problems so your qualifying pace shows up on Sunday. Rosberg has been especially disappointing.
