And the 2012 Champion is.......

**zako85** · 3rd May 12, 19:51

Originally Posted by Zico

For me it looks like Red Bull have now (since China) made the progress required to move very slightly ahead of the field in understanding the tyres.. and (especialy under Newey) will continue to move forward at a faster rate than everyone else and be in overall control. I predict that McLaren will win the constructers championship due to them having a slightly better driver combination than Red Bull but that Vettel will just edge the WDC (again!

) with either Lewis or Button finishing second.. its too close to call but with this seasons Pirellis suiting Buttons driving style he probably still has the edge over the quicker Lewis.

This is a somewhat conceivable scenario. Of course, we don't have yet enough data to assert with the a good amount of certainty. On the other hand, last year after 4 races, it was a fair bet to predict that RBR wins both titles with ease. If Vettel wins the next one or two races, your prediction would become more likely.

**IceWizard** · 3rd May 12, 22:56

It's getting harder to predict as each race goes by. I reckon:

1) Hamilton
2) Vettel
3) Button
4) Rosberg
5) Webber
6) Raikkonen
7) Alonso
8) Schumacher

**F1boat** · 13th May 12, 15:07

It is very tough to predict. The logic says Lewis, but Alonso and Vettel are also very strong.

**jens** · 13th May 12, 17:43

I have to say the logic doesn't say anything any more, because the season is too insane for that. I wouldn't be surprised even if we got a shock world champion, like Maldonado.

**P3ws** · 13th May 12, 17:47

Nah, looking at who´s moving up the table. And a racewin would make 6 different winners from 6 different teams. Im still the only one guessing him to win but it´s getting more a more likely to happen.

**iva.rpm** · 15th May 12, 12:35

GO, ICEMAN!

I think he`s going to be the champion. He has put some very strong drives so far, and I think winning a race in 2012 is just a matter of time for the Finnish driver.

**The Black Knight** · 15th May 12, 12:38

The driver that should win the Championship is Lewis Hamilton. He should now be leading pretty comfortably the championship were it not for McLaren's continually messing up, which is something that McLaren are doing a lot of these past few years. If not then it will probably be Alonso or Vettel. It is great to see Lewis find his feet again and show what a great driver he is. He has really out shone Jenson these past few races.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 15th May 12, 12:41

It isn't that convoluted. I think "The Boss" is in the pound seats, followed by Alonso, Vetel, and Kimi. McLaren just need to quit sabotaging LH's races

**jens** · 15th May 12, 15:48

Well, considering that no team seems capable of impressing consistently, it is really keeping the championship fight open without a favourite. I didn't consider it earlier, but in addition to established frontrunners Räikkönen may well be a championship contender as well. It can turn around really quickly and no-one knows, how is this going to pan out. For instance Rosberg seems sort of an outsider now, but he is still only 20 points behind and if at the next race Mercedes somehow nails the tyre temperatures and Nico wins like in China, he would move right up into the front-running group of the leaderboard.

The best that drivers can do in this situation is capitalizing on any opportunity they can if the car happens to be very competitive... and do a decent damage limitation in the rest of the races. Alonso has perhaps been a textbook example of this so far. Has capitalized on two opportunities, when the car was going well - achieved a win and a second. From the rest he has taken the points he could. Co-leader Vettel has been doing fine. Capitalized on the opportunity in Bahrain by winning and doing damage limitation in other races except that needless mistake in Malaysia.

Button has capitalized on the opportunities (1st and 2nd), but hasn't got the points on bad days (Malaysia, Spain). Hamilton and Räikkönen haven't won a race yet, but have been doing fine to keep getting good points onboard without mistakes. Podiumless Webber isn't far from the leaders - until Spain was a consistent point-scorer, now needs a stellar weekend to come his way as well. Rosberg was lacklustre in the first two races, but since then has done, what he could - delivered in China and done damage limitation in Bahrain and Spain with point-finishes, so he is still just 20 pts behind and needs to wait for the circumstances to present an opportunity.

**F1boat** · 15th May 12, 18:38

Originally Posted by The Black Knight

The driver that should win the Championship is Lewis Hamilton.

Depends on the point of view. He is very fast and consistent, but does the combo between him and McLaren deserve the victory? Kimi and Alonso are also very consistent, their cars are not as fast, but the teams do a better job, so their combos are equally deserving, IMO.

**jens** · 15th May 12, 18:49

I think it is very relative and unclear to evaluate, whose cars are faster than others at the moment. Even Ferrari, while criticized heavily, seems to be going well in certain circumstances.

**F1boat** · 15th May 12, 19:04

About preference, I am split between Fernando and Sebastian.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 15th May 12, 19:35

Originally Posted by F1boat

About preference, I am split between Fernando and Sebastian.

I'm not pulling for Seb I'd rather see it go to Kimi. Maybe because when a Brit wins a race the mutual masturbation legion take over the boards

**D-Type** · 15th May 12, 19:48

Five races in and no clear contender. I'd like it to be Webber, but ...

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 15th May 12, 20:10

Originally Posted by henners88

You're always going to get that on a 'British' discussion board matey lol

As usual I’ve been contacted expeditiously by a Capo in the Anglo/Mafia. Excuse me I thought this was a Canadian Site. Oh that’s right Canucks are like Brit’s that aren't rude.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 15th May 12, 21:15

I was just joking my man. I actually dig the boss. I find it hard to get behind Bunsen, because it will remind me of

St.Devote and that conjurs up all the real bighting, scratch your eyes out kind of stuff that went on when he got rolling. But I still don't think he was right. Now for what ever reasons LH is playing at JB's level, and JB's level is on a two race vacation. This should be the most interesting Monaco in some time.
Cheers

**steveaki13** · 15th May 12, 21:29

I thnk before season I said Button, but now I fancy Vettel, Hamilton or Raikkonen Championship.

**christophulus** · 16th May 12, 19:00

I'm still sticking with my first choice of Vettel. Despite the fact they don't have a dominant car this year he's still top of the standings with just one race win. If they can get the car a little faster I'd expect him to string together a few wins in the second half of the season. No other team/driver seems consistent enough to challenge them.