Formula One 2012

[Adam]

That sucks, Sid Watkins was a very influential member of the sport and somebody who did a lot of great work as part of his job. A phenomenal asset who will be missed.

I believe he once saved Mika Hakkinen's life due to his actions after Mika suffered a bad crash in Australia.

[MJB]

That sucks. Such a great man.

At least him and Ayrton can now go fishing again

[Lineker]

(AP) ROME -- Still regaining his strength from a severe rally accident last year, former Formula One driver Robert Kubica has come away unscathed from another rally crash.

The Pole drove his Subaru off the road and into the trees during the San Martino di Castrozza Rally on Saturday, but organizers say Kubica and navigator Jakub Gerber escaped injury.

Kubica sustained massive injuries to the right side of his body in a crash at the Ronde di Andora Rally in Italy in February 2011, almost severing his forearm and fracturing a leg and shoulder.

He marked his return to racing in another rally this month.

After four F1 seasons with BMW Sauber, Kubica drove for Renault in 2010 and finished eighth in the drivers' standings.

>_<

STOP CRASHING ROBERT

[Adam]

If I were Renault/Lotus/whatever I'd be telling him not to race in rally contests or anything like that. What's the point? They don't want him getting re-injured yet again because he went racing elsewhere before coming back to the team.

[Lineker]

Lotus don't give a fuck, his contract is up soon and they won't be renewing it, I imagine.

[Adam]

Oh, I thought they intended on bringing him back once he got back to full health.

[Lineker]

Doubt it, Kimi has been doing well and has triggered a clause in his contract for an extension. And Grosjean has done remarkably well. He's too much of a risk to commit to a contract renewal, I'd have thought.

[Katsuya]

If Perez goes from Sauber, I could see them hiring Kubica back to give him a chance at least.

[Lineker]

Formula 1's 2013 season will kick off in Australia on March 17 and finish in Brazil on November 24, according to a provisional calendar submitted to teams in Singapore this weekend.

After weeks of uncertainty about the exact timing of the schedule for next season's races, AUTOSPORT has learned that a first draft has now been put forward for a 20-race campaign next year.

There are no big surprises in the schedule after Bernie Ecclestone revealed at the Hungarian Grand Prix that there would be 20 races - with the race in New Jersey replacing that in Valencia.

The British Grand Prix is, however, moving forward a week to take place on June 30, while there will be a lengthy summer break from the Hungarian GP on July 28 to the Belgian GP on September 1.

There remain question marks about some events, however, with the New Jersey, Singapore and Korean GPs all being on the calendar subject to contracts being finalised and the tracks being ready.

The calendar will be submitted for approval at the new meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council that takes place on September 28.

2013 Formula 1 calendar (Provisional)


March 17         Australia (Melbourne)

March 24         Malaysia (Sepang)

April 14         China (Shanghai)

April 21         Bahrain (Sakhir)

May 12           Spain (Barcelona)

May 26           Monaco (Monte Carlo)

June 9           Canada (Montreal)

June 16          America (New Jersey) *

June 30          Britain (Silverstone)

July 21          Germany (Nurburgring)*

July 28          Hungary (Hungaroring)

September 1      Belgium (Spa)

September 8      Italy (Monza)

September 22     Singapore (Marina Bay) *

October 6        Japan (Suzuka)

October 13       Korea (Yeongam) *

October 27       India (Buddh International Circuit)

November 3       Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

November 17      United States (Austin)

November 24      Brazil (Interlagos)


* subject to confirmation[/code]

[Katsuya]

VALENCIA'S GONE

That's an annoyingly long break, though.

[MJB]

They get rid of Valencia the year where it was arguably the best race of the calendar

[Adam]

As long as it starts in Australia, ends in Brazil and has Monaco and Silverstone in between I've got to say I'm happy. So I'm happy!

[Katsuya]

Singapore remains on the calendar until 2017 at the earliest.

[Katsuya]

EJ suggesting that Adrian Sutil is one of the people who might replace Massa. That'd be a bizarre one.

[Gazz]

I want one of these F1 2012 driving rigs.

[Rich]

I liked it when the season ended at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, it made a great spectacle and the track is pretty good too.

Also I like the BBC Sport app on PSN that allows me to watch in HD.

[Summers]

YES

HAHAHA FUCK YOU HAMILTON

[Gazz]

Clutch or gearbox failure

[Summers]

sounds like it was an issue they knew about too.

[Rich]

Box full o'neutrals