2012 Spanish Grand Prix Thread

**steveaki13** · 7th May 12, 12:57

So we had the first in season test for a few years, so now its time to put the test results into practice.

What have the teams found and what do we think the results will be, who will have made gains and who will be left behind.

Should be an interesting weekend coming up.

**P3ws** · 7th May 12, 13:33

Expecting Lotus to show form again. And predicting a win by either one of the drivers.
Don´t think it was one off when the got both on podium last time.

**N4D13** · 7th May 12, 15:39

This is going to be an important test for Pirelli. Will they be able to turn the Spanish GP into an exciting race? THAT would be a surprising change.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 7th May 12, 22:38

Originally Posted by P3ws

Expecting Lotus to show form again. And predicting a win by either one of the drivers.
Don´t think it was one off when the got both on podium last time.

I also think that Lotus should show well in Spain. Grosjean seems to think that it is partly dependant on the weather, specifically:

Tyre management will be the key for a good performance in the race. Let's see what the temperatures are like. If it's as hot as Bahrain, the E20 should work well...

Lotus preview the Spanish GP | Planet F1 | Formula One News

I hesitate posting anything from Planet F1, this time because they end R.G.'s comment with the notorious ...
I'd actually like to know the rest of that comment. I don't think he really expects it to be as hot in Barcelona, as it was in Bahrain. As of today according to 6 to 10 Day Extended Weather Forecast for Barcelona - weather.com
it should be relatively mild, with a long range forecast of rain on Sunday. I'm not holding my breath on that one, but it could actually be a little cool. Kimi is upbeat and has made it known he will be racing for the win. It looks like they will have the silver hard tires and yellow soft tires.
Myself I'm going to wait until a little closer to the deadline to put in my final picks.

**truefan72** · 8th May 12, 03:44

it's been a long 3 weeks, my prediction

hamilton
button
Kobayashi

(wishful thinking)

I have no idea what the outcome will be, but I expect the mclaren team to perform a disappointing pitstop

**F1boat** · 8th May 12, 11:03

I think that Red Bull may win again. Aero is most important in Spain and the Red Bulls are designed by Newey, after all.

**pino** · 8th May 12, 12:00

I expect Alonso to fight for the win and Massa fight for the podium

**jens** · 8th May 12, 19:49

How intriguing is this going to be. If anything can be said about 2012, the keyword would be completely unpredictable so far. I personally like to make all kinds of analysis, calculations and predictions before events, but this year most of them have gone straight out of the window. So shall we keep going with this?

Not only that, races have proven to be completely unpredictable even after qualifyings!

Quick recap of the unusual season so far:
Australia – perhaps the only race with more or less „normal order“ – McLaren and Red Bulls at the front, although few would have thought RBR is that slow in qualifying trim.

Malaysia – who would have thought that guys, who qualified at the rear end of Q3 (Alonso and Pérez), would emerge at the front and consequently run away from the rest of the field?

China – before the race only very few thought Mercedes actually had a shot at the win, but there they were – running away from others and winning in style.

Bahrain – although pole-sitter Vettel marched on to win the race, this race also had an unexpected scenario to offer. Like in Malaysia, two cars from the midfield – this time the Lotus duo – fought their way to the front and Räikkönen quite incredible went on to challenge the race win.

What can we expect from Spain? Can we predict it at all?

If we look at past years, Barcelona has almost never brought any kind of surprises or upsets. I can remember only very minor ones (1996 wet weather and Ferrari, 1997 tyre (again!) war and Prost, 1999 BAR and Villeneuve in 3rd for a while). But other than that, the pecking order at Barcelona has been as ordinary as it can get.

Are we finally going to see a „completely normal“ order? Based on 2012, how would it even look like? Perhaps still Red Bulls and McLarens at the front, with Lotus, Mercedes, Alonso and, say, a Sauber rounding out the points. Are we going to see this or do we have another twist in reserve?

Originally Posted by N4D13

This is going to be an important test for Pirelli. Will they be able to turn the Spanish GP into an exciting race? THAT would be a surprising change.

Considering that even Bahrain was exciting, clearly they have a good chance of doing it.

**truefan72** · 10th May 12, 16:40

cmon

16 more hours until FP1

**steveaki13** · 10th May 12, 20:41

Only 12 odd now

**Wasted Talent** · 10th May 12, 21:57

Originally Posted by pino

I expect Alonso to fight for the win and Massa fight for the podium

Maybe, but not the 1-2-3 podium.....

WT

**SGWilko** · 11th May 12, 09:25

Originally Posted by truefan72

cmon

16 more hours until FP1

You need to get out more!!!

**P3ws** · 11th May 12, 15:45

Anyone have the lap times? not the fastest ones but lap by lap for each driver. Wondering how well they are doing with some fuel onboard.

**Warriwa** · 12th May 12, 12:26

Booo!! Three weeks is too long! Even worse now that i just discovered the deadline for my pics was friday! I"m out of the race.
Kettle for the win again. Mark seems to have resumed his half second gap to his team mate. What has happened?
Lotus will be strong. I love boobs.