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25px Brazil  2012 Brazilian Grand Prix
Race details[1]
Race 20 of 20 in the 2012 Formula One season
Autódromo José Carlos Pace (AKA Interlagos) track map.svg
Date 25 November 2012
Official name Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil 2012
Location Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil
Course Permanent racing facility
4.309 km (2.677 mi)
Distance 71 laps, 305.909 km (190.067 mi)
Weather Race start: drops of rain, light rain shower getting heavier at the end.[2]

Air Temp 19C (66.2F)[2]
Track Temp 21C (69.8F)[2]

Pole position
Driver 25px UK Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Time 1:12.458
Fastest lap
Driver 25px UK Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Time 1:18.069 on lap 38
Podium
First 25px UK Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
Second 25px Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari
Third 25px Brazil Felipe Massa Ferrari

The 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil 2012)[1] is a Formula One motor race that took place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil on 25 November 2012.[3] The race was the twentieth and final round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship, and marks the forty-first running of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The race was won by Jenson Button.[4][5][6]

It was at this race that Sebastian Vettel won the 2012 World Drivers' Championship[7]

Report[]

Background[]

The 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix marks Michael Schumacher's final race before his second retirement.[8]

Tyre supplier Pirelli provided teams with early prototypes of their 2013 compounds during Friday practice for testing and review.[9]

Pirelli brought its silver-banded hard compound tyre as the harder "prime" tyre and the white-banded medium compound tyre as the softer "option" tyre, as opposed to the previous year where Pirelli brought the medium and soft compound dry tyres.[10]

Qualifying[]

The qualifying on Saturday was run under difficult weather conditions. Q1 started on a damp track and therefore on intermediate tyres, while by Q2 the track was almost dry and slick tyres were used. In Q1 Romain Grosjean collided with the slower running HRT of Pedro de la Rosa and lost his front wing. While he succeeded in nursing the car back into the pits, he was not able to change his tyres and was therefore left on an unsatisfying 18th position on the grid. His last ever qualifying did not go well for Michael Schumacher either. He took 14th position, almost half a second down on his teammate, admitting he had perhaps compromised his setup too much for an expected wet race.[11] The McLarens were fastest all weekend and easily took the front row, with Lewis Hamilton securing his last pole position with the team. Title contenders Vettel and Alonso both struggled, taking 4th and 8th position on the grid respectively.[12] Pastor Maldonado was handed a 10-place grid penalty for missing the weighbridge in the second part of qualifying. He dropped from sixth to 16th, moving Alonso one place up to seventh.[13]

Race[]

Title contender Alonso and his Ferrari-Team were hoping for damp conditions during the race, stating: "Wet races are a bit more unpredictable so we need some kind of damp race with many things happening, because we know that in normal conditions, fighting for the championship will be very difficult".[14] The race on Sunday then turned out to be one of the most exciting in the history of the sport, with three-time world champion Niki Lauda stating that he had never seen a race like it.[15]

Vettel started poorly, dropping to seventh position, while his rival Alonso moved up into fifth. Vettel was then hit by Bruno Senna in turn 4 and spun while Senna ended up hitting the rear of Perez, Vettel taking damage to his left diffuser but was able to carry on racing in 22nd position. The reigning world champion soon moved up the order, while there were heavy fights for position at the front of the field. Local Massa helped his teammate overtake Mark Webber on lap 2 going into the Senna-S, giving the Spaniard the crucial third position he would need to grab the title. But Alonso lost the position again to the fast running Force India of Nico Hülkenberg after running wide on lap 4. Maldonado crashed out on Lap 2 but the crash wasn't shown to the public.

Rain began to fall during the next few laps and the first cars pitted for intermediate tyres, including the two title contenders, while Button and Hülkenberg stayed out. This proved to be the right decision since rain decreased shortly after and all cars on intermediates were forced to pit for slick tyres once again. Hülkenberg continued his stunning performance by overtaking Jenson Button for the lead on lap 19.

With the two cars in front leading the field by almost a minute, debris on the track brought out the safety car on lap 23. At this point Alonso and Vettel were running in fourth and fifth place. At the restart in lap 29, Kamui Kobayashi took fifth position from Vettel, with the Red Bull unable to answer. Massa helped his teammate once again by overtaking Vettel. Meanwhile at the front, Hamilton took second from his teammate and was able to pass Hülkenberg when the German half-spun. Hülkenberg pursued the McLaren but slid into him on lap 54, leaving Hamilton out of the race with damage to the left front suspension and himself with a drive-through penalty, handing Button the lead.

When the rain started again, Vettel was one of the first to pit for intermediates, but since his radio had failed the team was not ready for him, causing a long delay. Ferrari timed Massa's pit stop perfectly, letting Alonso take second position from him. Vettel took sixth position from Michael Schumacher which proved sufficient to retain the title even with Alonso finishing second.

The race then ended quite underwhelmingly when Paul di Resta crashed on the start/finish straight, bringing out the safety car once again until the conclusion of the race. Caterham's Vitaly Petrov took 11th position which meant his team surpassing Marussia in the constructors' championship. Former world champion Kimi Raikkönen had an eventful race as well, almost crashing into Vettel after the start and later trying to use an escape road only to find it being a dead end. He also had an exciting tussle with the retiring Michael Schumacher, who finished 7th after recovering from an early puncture, but gave up sixth to Sebastian Vettel in order to help him extend his small point advantage over Fernando Alonso in the championship.[16] This was the same position he qualified in his first ever race at Spa in 1991.[17]

Classification[]

Qualifying[]

Pos. No. Driver Constructor Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Grid
1 4 25px Great Britain Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.075 1:13.398 1:12.458 1
2 3 25px Great Britain Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.456 1:13.515 1:12.513 2
3 2 25px Australia Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:16.180 1:13.667 1:12.581 3
4 1 25px Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:15.644 1:13.209 1:12.760 4
5 6 25px Brazil Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:16.263 1:14.048 1:12.987 5
6 18 25px The flag of Venezuela Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1:16.266 1:13.698 1:13.174 161
7 12 25px Germany Nico Hülkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:15.536 1:13.704 1:13.206 6
8 5 25px Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:16.097 1:13.856 1:13.253 7
9 9 25px Finland Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:16.432 1:13.698 1:13.298 8
10 8 25px Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:15.929 1:13.848 1:13.489 9
11 11 25px Great Britain Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:15.901 1:14.121 10
12 19 25px Brazil Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1:15.333 1:14.219 11
13 15 25px Mexico Sergio Pérez Sauber-Ferrari 1:15.974 1:14.234 12
14 7 25px Germany Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:16.005 1:14.334 13
15 14 25px Japan Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:16.400 1:14.380 14
16 16 25px Australia Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:16.744 1:14.574 15
17 17 25px France Jean-Éric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:16.722 1:14.619 17
18 10 25px France Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:16.967 18
19 21 25px The flag of the Russian Federation Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1:17.073 19
20 20 25px Finland Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1:17.086 20
21 24 25px Germany Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1:17.508 21
22 25 25px France Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1:18.104 22
23 23 25px Flag of India Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1:19.576 23
24 22 25px Spain Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1:19.699 24
107% time: 1:20.330
Source:[18]
Notes
  • ^1  — Pastor Maldonado received a ten-place grid penalty after receiving his 3rd reprimand of the season, for missing a call in to the weighbridge from the FIA.[19]

Race[]

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 3 25px Great Britain Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 71 1:45:22.656 2 25
2 5 25px Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari 71 +2.734 7 18
3 6 25px Brazil Felipe Massa Ferrari 71 +3.615 5 15
4 2 25px Australia Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 71 +4.936 3 12
5 12 25px Germany Nico Hülkenberg Force India-Mercedes 71 +5.708 6 10
6 1 25px Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 71 +9.453 4 8
7 7 25px Germany Michael Schumacher Mercedes 71 +11.907 13 6
8 17 25px France Jean-Éric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 71 +28.653 17 4
9 14 25px Japan Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 71 +31.250 14 2
10 9 25px Finland Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 70 +1 Lap 8 1
11 21 25px The flag of the Russian Federation Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 70 +1 Lap 19
12 25 25px France Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 70 +1 Lap 22
13 16 25px Australia Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 70 +1 Lap 15
14 20 25px Finland Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 70 +1 Lap 20
15 8 25px Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes 70 +1 Lap 9
16 24 25px Germany Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 70 +1 Lap 21
17 22 25px Spain Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 69 +2 Laps 24
18 23 25px Flag of India Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 69 +2 Laps 23
19 11 25px Great Britain Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 68 Accident 10
Ret 4 25px Great Britain Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 54 Collision 1
Ret 10 25px France Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 5 Accident 18
Ret 18 25px The flag of Venezuela Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1 Accident 16
Ret 19 25px Brazil Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 0 Collision 11
Ret 15 25px Mexico Sergio Pérez Sauber-Ferrari 0 Collision 12
Source:[20]

Championship standings after the race[]

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos. Driver Points
1 25px Germany Sebastian Vettel 281
2 25px Spain Fernando Alonso 278
3 25px Finland Kimi Räikkönen 207
4 25px Great Britain Lewis Hamilton 190
5 25px Great Britain Jenson Button 188
Constructors' Championship standings
Pos. Constructor Points
1 25px Austria Red Bull-Renault 460
2 25px Italy Ferrari 400
3 25px Great Britain McLaren-Mercedes 378
4 25px Great Britain Lotus-Renault 303
5 25px Germany Mercedes 142

Notes:

  • Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil 2012". Formula One. http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/brazil_883/. Retrieved 15 October 2012. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2012 (Race)". formula1.com (Formula One Administration). 25 November 2012. http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2012/883/7155/live_timing_popup.html#. Retrieved 22 February 2013. 
  3. Collantine, Keith (7 December 2011). "United States Grand Prix remains on unchanged 2012 F1 calendar". F1 Fanatic (Keith Collantine). http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/12/07/united-states-grand-prix-remains-unchanged-2012-f1-calendar/. Retrieved 15 October 2012. 
  4. "Brazilian Grand Prix 2012: as it happened". Daily Telegraph UK. 25 November 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9701489/Brazilian-Grand-Prix-2012-as-it-happened.html. Retrieved 26 November2012. 
  5. "Brazilian Grand Prix 2012: as it happened". Guardian UK. 25 November 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/25/formula-one-brazilian-grand-prix-live?intcmp=239. Retrieved 26 November2012. 
  6. "Brazilian Grand Prix 2012: as it happened". BBC Sport. 25 November 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20481809. Retrieved 26 November2012. 
  7. Beer, Matt (18 November 2012). "Hamilton wins from Vettel and Alonso, title battle goes to wire". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104366. Retrieved 18 November 2012. 
  8. Collantine, Keith (4 October 2012). "Michael Schumacher announces F1 retirement". F1 Fanatic (Keith Collantine). http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/10/04/michael-schumacher-announces-f1-retirement/. Retrieved 20 November 2012. 
  9. "Teams to trial 2013 prototype Pirelli tyres in Brazil". Formula One. 19 November 2012. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/11/14086.html. Retrieved 20 November 2012. 
  10. "Pirelli reveal tyre choices for final three rounds". Formula One. 16 October 2012. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/10/13931.html. Retrieved 22 February 2013. 
  11. www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104539
  12. "Hamilton on pole as Vettel and Alonso struggle". Eurosport UK. 24 November 2012. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-hamilton-pole-vettel-alonso-struggle-155645941.html;_ylt=AhIp5KBUVjk9A39zw.g7fKVYkcAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvOGw2YmxsBG1pdANMSVNUUyBTdG9yeSBMaXN0IFNwb3J0cyBNYWluIEFyY2hpdmUEcGtnA2U5ZWUyNzQ5LTlkOWMtMzIxYi04ZjYwLTFjODQ0ZDUxZmUwZARwb3MDOTgEc2VjA01lZGlhU3RvcnlMaXN0VGVtcAR2ZXIDYTg3ODk2NzAtMzY2OC0xMWUyLWFkN2QtYzgzY2QzMGJmM2Yy;_ylg=X3oDMTFlMTluMDVoBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3. Retrieved 30 November 2012. 
  13. "Maldonado handed 10-place grid penalty". Eurosport UK. 24 November 2012. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/maldonado-handed-10-place-grid-190006693.html;_ylt=AntoOoZQ2pPzozSQtCL0WapYkcAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvcWgzM25xBG1pdANMSVNUUyBTdG9yeSBMaXN0IFNwb3J0cyBNYWluIEFyY2hpdmUEcGtnA2Y2YTk0ZTM1LTgxZGItM2FkMS1iYTcyLWVjYzZhNWMxOWZlZQRwb3MDODUEc2VjA01lZGlhU3RvcnlMaXN0VGVtcAR2ZXIDOTc0MmYxNDEtMzY3MC0xMWUyLWFiZDktNTBhYWY0Yzg2Yjhi;_ylg=X3oDMTFlMTluMDVoBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3. Retrieved 30 November 2012. 
  14. "Alonso keen to just enjoy race now". Eurosport UK. 25 November 2012. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/alonso-keen-just-enjoy-race-145005219.html;_ylt=AthAjnpp3H3Bbh2zqLMlGdFYkcAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvMXNmbWk5BG1pdANMSVNUUyBTdG9yeSBMaXN0IFNwb3J0cyBNYWluIEFyY2hpdmUEcGtnAzkxZTgwMTk4LTJiOGUtMzYzYy1hZWY1LWMyZDk1ZmI5NTE2OQRwb3MDNjgEc2VjA01lZGlhU3RvcnlMaXN0VGVtcAR2ZXIDNzA2NTE1ZDEtMzcxNS0xMWUyLWI3ZmItMDkxMTg5MzdiZTA5;_ylg=X3oDMTFlMTluMDVoBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3. Retrieved 30 November 2012. 
  15. ""So ein Rennen habe ich noch nie erlebt”" (in German). Welt Online. 25 November 2012. http://www.welt.de/sport/formel1/article111489271/So-ein-Rennen-habe-ich-noch-nie-erlebt.html. Retrieved 30 November 2012. 
  16. "Red Bull thanks 'gracious' Schumacher for giving Vettel sixth". Autosport. 27 November 2012. http://http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104626. Retrieved 2 March 2013. 
  17. "Vettel is champion, Button wins thriller". Eurosport UK. 25 November 2012. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/vettel-champion-button-wins-thriller-175207676.html;_ylt=AlLVRr2WU7_DSuWclzRlcuVYkcAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvcmpqZGpyBG1pdANMSVNUUyBTdG9yeSBMaXN0IFNwb3J0cyBNYWluIEFyY2hpdmUEcGtnA2I0MTc1MzJlLTViZTItMzhkYy1iMGNiLThhMzlhMjY5OGJhMgRwb3MDNjYEc2VjA01lZGlhU3RvcnlMaXN0VGVtcAR2ZXIDYzA1NzI5ZDEtMzcyZC0xMWUyLWJhZTctZDA4NTI4ZjdlNDE5;_ylg=X3oDMTFlMTluMDVoBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3. Retrieved 30 November 2012. 
  18. Beer, Matt (24 November 2012). "Hamilton leads all-McLaren front row". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104526. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  19. "Maldonado relegated ten places". ESPN F1. 24 November 2012. http://en.espnf1.com/brazil/motorsport/story/96185.html. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  20. . 



Previous race:
2012 United States Grand Prix
FIA Formula One World Championship
2012 season
Next race:
2013 Australian Grand Prix
Previous race:
2011 Brazilian Grand Prix
Brazilian Grand Prix Next race:
2013 Brazilian Grand Prix
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