2012: What We Know So Far

There are news reports splashed across the Internet that many of the teams in the paddock are starting to shift their focus to their respective 2012 cars. Considering the 2011 season is half over and it seems that the Constructor's Title is out of grasp.  We have also been reading about possible technical and regulation changes that could (or could not) take place for the 2012 season.

Yet what most fans are searching for in papers, magazines or online is the drivers. Some want to know if their favourite driver is signed with the team for 2012.  Some others are waiting to see if their driver will be on the same team and others, well they are just wait to see IF their favourite driver will still be in the paddock (with a racing seat) in 2012.

So after a few days of search all across the Internet, this is what we know about the 2012 season ... so far.

Red Bull Racing: Starting with the team that owns numbers 1 and 2 for the current season.

It was announced (here) on March 14, 2011 that Red Bull Racing managed to secure their World Championship driver for another 3 years.  To much of the delight of new (and steadfast) fans, Red Bull essentially secured their young driver that gained them a new fan base.

Mark Webber is a bit more tricky to decipher the information.  Some sites have published that Webber is set to retire for the 2012 season (leaving his seat open to up and coming Riccardo) as others are saying that a signature on the contract is just a formality. That he is set to drive.

If you take a step back and look at the situation, Red Bull Racing holds in their command the top two racers (currently) in the 2011 season. There is no way that the team would let either go.

McLaren: Hold championship numbers three and four. After much research, McLaren has also released their 2012 driver line up (contractually of course).

 Lewis Hamilton has been linked with a move to Red Bull (as seen in Montreal) but has since been dismissed. Last time Hamilton signed a contract was in 2007. He had signed a 5 year deal with McLaren which does not expire until the end of the 2012 season.

Jenson Button has a different contract obligation. Though he is know to have had talks with teams such as Ferrari, his contract with McLaren has a clause that allows the team to extend his contract to the end of the 2012 season.

Scuderia Ferrari: Essentially the most recognized name in Formula One history.  Holding many F1 records to their name, have seem to be the one team that has been straightforward in announcing their 2012 drivers.

Ferrari were quick to announce that they had managed to maintain Fernando Alonso's contract. On 19 May 2011, it was announced that Alonso committed the rest of his Formula One career to his 'second family' Ferrari, saying that he would be staying until at least the end of 2016.

With Felipe Massa, many people have been wondering where his place would fall in Formula One's 2012 season. On the 9 June 2010, Ferrari had announced that they had extended their contract with Felipe Massa, until the end of the 2012 racing season.

Mercedes GP: Like McLaren being the total British team, there is Mercedes who is currently German. Being a German manufacturer, they currently have two German drivers. It seems a logical choice to sustain the heritage of the team to continue their current line up and yet Mercedes has only hinted at the fact.

Michael Schumacher. A name that know around the world. You would think that any team would be happy to snap him up. There are rumours that he may retire again, but it has been published that Schumacher has a three year contract with Mercedes bringing him to the end of 2012.

Lotus Renault GP (LRGP): The team that officially launched the career of Fernando Alonso, are in a different situation. As the world of Formula One learnt Robert Kubica was seriously injured in a rally accident prior to the 2011 season.  LRGP has initially signed both the injured Kubica and Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov  until the end of the 2012 season. Kubica is making a remarkable recovery but there is still an air of uncertainty of exactly when the Polish driver will be well enough to find himself behind the wheel.

Sauber: Who doesn't love Sauber?  They seem like such a genuine team. Their two young drivers seem only too happy to be driving. Sure they had seem to poke fun at Kobayashi in his rookie year but the team seemed to have chosen the right drivers for the job. Both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Pérez were quick to sign 'on the dotted line' when the chance presented it's self.

As said before, Kobayashi been a rookie himself in 2010 has become the talk of the media.  Learning to pass without fear (and without collision) great things are expected of this 24 year old driver.


Partnering Kobayashi is Mexican rookie Sergio Pérez. We he first arrived on the scene it was hard to believe that he was old enough to hold a valid road licence let alone a super-licence. Pérez was quick to point out just why he was offered a seat at Sauber.

Force India: The team that used to be known as a back marker (like some teams this year) have proven that with a skill and determination you can take on the likes of Mercedes and Sauber. Currently Force India have Adrian Sutil and Scottish rookie Paul di Resta driving.  It is well known that Force India's team boss Vijay Mallya says he is in no rush to make a decision about his driver line-up for the 2012 F1 season.

Toro Rosso: Scuderia Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has indicated that he is unaware of who will be included in the team's 2012 driver lineup. Like some of the other teams, Toro Rosso is giving the current driver's a chance to prove themselves of a 2012 seat. Unlike other teams, Toro Rosso must also wait for the parent company of Red Bull to reveal their decision.

It can be found online though that Sébastien Buemi has originally signed a contract taking him to the end of the 2013 season. No word though on who will be pairing with the Swiss driver, if it would be current driver Alguersuari, or up and coming rookie, Daniel Ricciardo.

Williams: Being 'gossiped' in press preseason Venezuelan rookie, Pastor Maldonado, was only hired on as a financial backer to the team. In the 2011 season while partnering seasoned F1 driver Rubens Barichello, Maldonado has proven to the media that he is more than just a paycheck, he is also a fine driver. And yet both drivers are still unannounced whether or not they will remain with Williams in 2012.

Team Lotus: Telling the press that it is 'still very early' when talking about contracts, there have been a few media articles stating that Team Lotus is still deciding on who their 2012 driver line up will consist of.

“Heikki is a consistent performer and always gets 100 per cent from the car. He gives a lot of energy to the team. Heikki has become a good friend, so if he is satisfied with us, I see no reason to change.” so stated Tony Fernandes Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat. Yet no announcement from the team on if Kovalainen has been signed.

Just as many sources of media had been counting his days, Jarno Trulli is out to prove them wrong. Proving that he still has what it takes to be competitive in Formula One and was quoted saying that he has signed a contract till the end of 2012.

Hispania Racing (HRT): As their team logo is still absent from the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) website, there is not much news on who HRT is looking at for the 2012 season drivers.

Maruissa Virgin Racing (MVR): MVR has quickly become a fan favourite. Being know as one on the most approachable teams with the world of social media, have currently (and consistently) being stated as 'surprising team / driver of the race'.

Timo Glock joined MVR one year after he began his own career in Formula One. Quickly setting out to grow with a team as other famous drivers had. It seemed only too likely that MVR would sign on Glock for the 2012 season and above all, wait until the German GP to announce it.

A contract is only a contract and like any contract either side can buy out of it. Though we have compiled a list of what driver's are being announced as to driving where in the 2012 Formula One season, both team and driver have the opportunity to back out.  It could be something as simple as being told that you are second fiddle to the teams other driver or the opportunity present itself that would allow you a better seat, nothing is set in stone.