F1's new face of 2012 is polarising the sport. It seems teams, drivers and spectators alike either love or hate the new great influence brought largely by Pirelli's new generation of tyres. An admitted critic is Michael Schumacher. "It's a 1000 piece puzzle that you need to put together at each race," said the seven time world champion, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
Not for three decades have four different drivers driving for four different teams won the opening four grands prix of a season.
"From the standpoint of competition," wrote Livio Oricchio in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, "there is no doubt that the Pirelli 2012 generation meets fully the objective of promoting the show. But if you think purely about the engineering challenge that is formula one, and the genius of the people and the immense financial and technical resources needed for success, the tyres have now taken on such an importance that the results don't seem compatible. Myself, and many in formula one, hope the new versions of tyres that Pirelli is developing returns a little more predictability in terms of how they behave, without affecting the show too much."
For now, however, the teams need to put their puzzles together, and that will undoubtedly be the focus of this week's three-day in-season test at Mugello. "He who understands the tyres first," McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh astutely noted, "will have a huge advantage in the world championship."
A broad understanding is already developing, including why 2012 winners Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel won from the very front of the field. "When you're in a battle, you can't take the lines that are best for the tyres," said Mercedes' Ross Brawn.
All eyes are now turning to Mugello, where the understanding will continue. "These test days could change the balance of power in formula one," Norbert Haug predicted dramatically in Bild newspaper.
Not everyone is enthusiastic, however, including McLaren who oppose the Mugello test on cost grounds. Williams' chief engineer Mark Gillan agrees: "The days of test teams are gone, so this is not logistically easy," he is quoted by Germany's Sport1. Bruno Senna added: "Mugello is not an ideal test track, as it's very different to most of the tracks that are on the calendar." (GMM)
Schumacher: "F1 in 2012 is a 1000 piece puzzle"
- Published on 01 May 2012 11:52
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
F1 News
Fernando Alonso
Jenson Button
Nico Rosberg
Sebastian Vettel
Pirelli
Mercedes
Williams
McLaren
.
Trending news
-
Why Bernie Ecclestone thinks Formula 1 is heading the wrong wayBernie Ecclestone has launched a broadside against Formula 1's current trajectory, arguing that the sport has los...
29 Jun 2026 16:21 -
What Verstappen really thinks about Antonelli's championship leadMax Verstappen has described Andrea Kimi Antonelli's championship-leading rookie season at Mercedes as "some...
29 Jun 2026 15:19 -
Is Webber already planning Piastri's Red Bull escape route?Oscar Piastri's manager Mark Webber is preparing contingency plans for the Australian driver to leave McLaren, ac...
29 Jun 2026 14:17 -
Red Bull intensifies talks with Verstappen's manager as exit loomsRed Bull Racing held another round of talks with Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen on Saturday, seeking ...
29 Jun 2026 13:16 -
What Zak Brown really said about signing Max VerstappenZak Brown has addressed speculation linking Max Verstappen to McLaren for the first time, stating that while he has n...
29 Jun 2026 12:14
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 629
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 199
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,793 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Pirelli
- Base Milan, Italy
- 37,476 comments on Pirelli
- 3 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Pirelli
Replies (0)
Login to reply