Guess who's back?

Over the past 6 weeks The Grid F1 (F1's latest digital magazine) has been in hiding... well maybe not hiding exactly, more like on an enforced hiatus (don't ask). However, we are back!

For the rest of the 2012 season you can enjoy exclusive news, views and insights from around the world of F1. We'll be bringing exclusive insights - such as the building rumour that Barrichello is about to replace Massa for the rest of the F1 season in order to help develop the woeful F2012 or our particular favourite story that Kimi Raikkonen will be replacing Mark Webber for 2013.

Anyway, keep up to date with the latest news and gossip on our site or follow us on twitter @GridF1! 

The Ugly Face of F1

Over the past few days a wave of hysteria has spread throughout the world of F1. The sight of the 2012 cars (barring McLaren) has caused discontent and misery for F1 throughout the globe. Caterham, Lotus, Force India and Ferrari have all unveiled their latest offerings, with noses that resemble Barry Manilow pre op.

So, what is the driving force behing this revolution? Well the Technical regulations for 2012 include the reprofiling of the car's nose, the maximum allowable height is now 55 centimetres (22 in). This has caused the so call "Ugly Duckling" cars that we have seen launched. These noses cause two problems: a) They ruin the sleak image of the sport, when compared to the cars of the 1950s and the iconic late 80s - mid 90s offerings these cars look hideous and potentially could cause damage the wider appeal of the sport. b) what does it say about F1 that is supposed to lead in technilogical innovation of motorsport that cars are being produced that almost make NASCAR, on face value, appear more advanced.

Knowing Bernie's attention to detail on the sports image, its likely the "Barry Manilow" will be a one season wonder. However, in the short term at least expect to see more pre op celebrity nose jobs to appear as pre season continues. However, the big question is whether Red Bull will follow McLaren in the classical F1 shape or join with Ferrari in adopting the manilow? Our Hunch is that Newey has a trick up his sleave, that might just leave everyone else behind.

Petrov joining Lotus?

It is likely that Russia's captain excitement, Vitally Petrov, is going to be joining Caterham to replace Jarno "The Train" Trulli. After months of speculation it appears that Norfolk's finest Mike Gascoine is likely to replace his long term friend in favour of the Lada driving Russian.

Much like with the Maldonado deal at Williams, it appears the move is designed to help balance the books at Caterham after two seasons of solid Fernandez investment.

Despite showing signs of talent, Petrov was overshadowed by Kubica in 2010 and laterly by Senna in the second half of 2011. Petrov brings with him a sizeable war chest, with funds coming from companies such as Lada.

Although the Grid F1 would not be sorry to se the likeable Trulli leave the sport, he has been lingering around for some time adding little to caterham or the sport as a whole, with the infamous Trulli trains destroying many races. We question the value of signing Petrov when he is likely to join Marussia in 2013, taking his sponsorship with him, adding little to the technical development to the team.

Instead, a more beneficial move would be to sign Barrichello, giving them an opportunity to utilise his wealth of experience to improve the car and mentor the misfiring Kovalianen. He would also add a valuable wise head in an otherwise youthful set up.

However, the Petrov deal seems to be sealed with Barrichello watching from the sidelines.

Bahrain Campaign: What's your opinion?

Following our recent poll on the future of F1 in Bahrain we want to find out the reasons behind voting Yes or No. If you have an opinion on either side of the argument then email us your thoughts and we'll put them into an article on our website next week and in the first 2012 edition of our eMagazine.

To submit an article or comment email: editor@thegridf1.com

Poll Results: Do you think F1 should race in Bahrain?

We recently conducted our poll on whether the race in Bahrain should go ahead. After a week of voting, 80,151 people from around the world took part.

The result was: Yes 32% (25,676), No 67.75% (54,304), Unsure 0.21% (171) The high response rate gives credible evidence of the global opinion on the future of the race.

We would also like to thank everyone who took part in the poll.

Is alonso really the best?

The 2012 season has the potential to be one of the best with 6 World Champions on the grid, half of whom have won at least twice. Everyone’s hoping for a really competitive season with a close finish (like 2007 where the top 3 drivers were separated by a single point). Or a nail-biting finish such as 2008 where Felipe Massa was World Champion for 35 seconds until Timo Glock made sure that Hamilton didn’t throw it all away again.

Recently we conducted a poll on our website to find out who you thought was the best driver in F1. The top three results were: 37% Alonso, 17% Hamilton and 14% Vettel. We have a look at your top 3 analysing their abilities, while also taking a look at the other drivers who could be considered the best currently on The Grid.

Hamilton is certainly a very talented racing driver, but is unreliable and lacks a clinical finish. This is what sets him apart from Schumacher, Alonso and Vettel, and it’s not a coincidence that these drivers are multiple Championship winners.

Formula 1 truly is a team sport, and because of that we can never definitively say who is the best or most talented driver. Even when drivers are at the same team, they are often driving with slightly different packages than their teammates. However, it can be defined as when a driver can consistently outperform whatever car he is given that we see a real talent.

The merry-go-round of drivers at the back of the grid is in the vague search for a truly great driver to emerge. Anyone remember Scott Speed? Yuji Ide? Anthony Davidson? Unfortunately yes to the last – why is he allowed to commentate?! However these drivers raced in similarly awful cars to Alonso, Vettel and Schumacher, but why were these drivers able to stand out?

Fernando Alonso outperformed the dreadful Minardi in 2001 and was picked up by Renault after a single season in the sport, with whom he went on to win 2 World Championships during the period of Ferrari dominance no less. Even when he has had a good car he has still outperformed it – his second spell at Renault, and the 2011 season at Ferrari. No one thought that car was much good and Massa showed us the capabilities of what it should achieve, but Fernando consistently finished on the podium with that car.

Sebastian Vettel. What can you say about the young German sensation? Like Alonso he impressed at the back of the grid – scoring points in his first ever GP with BMW Sauber, and winning a race with Toro Rosso. No one gives him enough credit for that – this was a Toro Rosso, the reject car of the (at the time) joke Red Bull team, which Vettel put on pole and then won the race! In an absolutely flawless 2011 season, he cemented just how good he is onto the potential shown in his Championship winning 2010 season, as well as the 2009 season, which Brawn absolutely walked through, yet he still finished as the 2nd placed driver.

Michael Schumacher has won the World Championship 7 times. That should be the end of the argument over who is the best driver, but Schumacher has not performed as well when his car isn’t great. Yes he won 5 in a row, but the only real challenge then was from Barrichello who was contractually instructed to move over and let him win. Secondly, what happened between ’96 and ’99, Michael? I mean Damon Hill won a title. Jacques Villeneuve won. These are average drivers who won titles. Average drivers don’t win World Championships in a time of great drivers. Otherwise, we would now be hailing 5-time Champion Nick Heidfeld. Thirdly, in his return to F1 he has struggled to outperform his teammate, let alone the car and this is just not great driver form.

Should the other World Champions on the grid be in this list? Hamilton and Button are very good drivers but need at least another title to be considered with the other three. And anyone who saw Kimi racing in WRC will know why he doesn’t make the list.

Had Webber finished a close second behind Vettel this year then we could have said that the success was car related, rather than down to the driver. However 134 points behind speaks for itself. Alonso was my driver of the season, the Ferrari should never have been able to keep up with the Red Bulls and Mclarens. If you have learnt nothing from last season Ferrari, don’t name a Formula 1 car after a pick-up truck (that’s an F150 joke which is slightly obscure, but well done if you got that).

At this stage it is too early to say for definite who is the best, but I believe that the 2012 Champion will be either Seb or Fernando, and it is likely that this season will settle the argument. Well, for another year at least.

Who is the best driver?

In this Golden Era for F1, with the highest number of champions to race on the grid at the same time, we want to know who you think the best driver is. Your driver may not have won anything yet, but forgetting the car they are currently in, we want your opinion.

Sutil: Locked Out and locked up?

Last seasons success story Adrian Sutil has found himself locked out of a drive for next season and now could potentially find himself behind bars, following an alleged assault of Lotus co-owner Eric Lux. The alleged incident happened in a Shanghai nightclub following last seasons Chinese Gran Prix. 

Following a significant amount of rumour on Twitter, it was confirmed on Thursday that Legal proceedings would be taken, with the trial running from the 30 - 31 January 2012. Prosecutors are pushing for a suspended sentence for the former Force India driver.

For F1 fans around the world this answer a question that has been lingering around for months; Why isn't Adrian Sutil in a decent car for 2012? The answer it seems is the threat of the trial as well as the likely influence of Lux, on any potential suitors. It is likely that Lux's influence on the supply of Renault engines will have forced Williams' hand, who are getting a supply of Renault engines from 2012, into reassessing their options and making a move for Bruno Senna instead. Leaving one of 2011's driver's of the season left out in the cold.

The only place left for Sutil is going to be as a reserve driver for Mercedes, with a view to finding a full time drive in 2013. 

The other twist of fate is that 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, is likely to be called up to give evidence, as he witnessed the incident.

A bad start to 2012 for all concerned.

Poll on the race in Bahrain

Let us know what you about the future of the race in Bahrain and we'll publish the results on our site and in the first digital edition of the magazine.

Game over for WRC?

Last Friday the FIA served notice to terminate its contract with North One Sport, the Promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship. The FIA sought urgent unequivocal assurances from NOS that it could fulfil its contractual obligations and deliver the promotion of the upcoming Rally Monte Carlo and the Championship for 2012 and for the future. It is with regret and disappointment that no such assurance has been given to the FIA, and therefore today the FIA has been driven to terminate its contract with NOS.

However, not only has NOS failed to perform in accordance with its contract, it has also been unable to secure the essential investment required to enable it to deliver the Championship. This has placed the FIA in an unprecedented situation just 10 days before Rally Monte Carlo in that the FIA will now have to take urgent action to secure the staging of the Championship. The Fédération is now working tirelessly to ensure the WRC goes ahead as fully as planned to mitigate the consequences of the breach of NOS. At the start of the 2012 season, the FIA wishes to take this opportunity to reassure all its stakeholders - the Automobile Club de Monaco and Rally Monte Carlo which makes a welcome return as the opening round of the Championship, the other vital commercial partners, Rally Organisers, the Manufacturers and Teams, and the vast loyal worldwide fan base - of its full on-going commitment to the World Rally Championship and its determination to see 2012 take place as planned.

The FIA has now launched urgent discussions with several partners and suppliers to guarantee the key organisational and promotional components of the Championships, including timing and tracking, TV production and distribution, as well as sponsorship servicing are put in place. The FIA is fully confident that it will deliver a safe, successful and exciting 2012 season, adding that in the current context, and while there are still on-going discussions, it would not be appropriate for the Fédération to discuss these matters publicly until a final solution has been reached.