Class of 2012 set for great F1 world championship season

Formula One World Championship / RD01 / Australian GP / Melbourne / Albert Park /  16.03 - 18.03.2012
The Formula 1 Class of 2012 in Melbourne

Mar.18. (PVM) Finally the time has come – when the flag drops the talking stops – and today as the lights switch from red to blank and the fields hurtles in to Turn 1 of the packed Albert Park circuit, we will have the start of the longest F1 season in history, the first of 20 races around the globe for what is set to be an epic season.

The 24 drivers assembled in Australia for the season opener posed for the traditional ‘class’ photo in Melbourne, some no doubt wondering how long their tenure in the sport will last. Non-performance is a sure ticket out of the sport and for sure by the time the circus arrives in Brazil for the finale the grid will have a few new faces, or at least faces that are not in this Class of 2012 photo.

For fans the hype and interest preceding the 2012 season start has been enormous, with Kimi Raikkonen making a welcome return, the pecking order debate, Ferrari crisis, the rules and bending thereof all of which have ensured non-stop column inches on websites, newspapers, magazines and of course hours of TV airtime.

It will be no different as each race will generate reams of information packed with intrigue and drama, which we at YallaF1.com remain committed to bringing to our growing legion of readers as often and as comprehensively as possible. If you want to overdose then this is the hangout for F1 junkies!

The 2012 F1 world championship drivers and teams are:

#DriversTeam/ Car
Engine
1
2
Sebastian Vettel
Mark Webber
Red Bull Racing RB8
Red Bull Racing RB8
Renault
Renault
3
4
Jenson Button
Lewis Hamilton
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-27
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-27
Mercedes
Mercedes
5
6
Fernando Alonso
Felipe Massa
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro F2012
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro F2012
Ferrari
Ferrari
7
8
Michael Schumacher
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes AMG Petronas W03
Mercedes AMG Petronas W03
Mercedes
Mercedes
9
10
Kimi Raikkonen
Romain Grosjean
Lotus F1 Team E20
Lotus F1 Team E20
Renault
Renault
11
12
Paul di Resta
Nico Hulkenberg
Sahara Force India F1 Team VJM05
Sahara Force India F1 Team VJM05
Mercedes
Mercedes
14
15
Kamui Kobayashi
Sergio Perez
Sauber F1 Team C31
Sauber F1 Team C31
Ferrari
Ferrari
18
19
Daniel Ricciardo
Jean Eric Vergne
Scuderia Toro Rosso STR7
Scuderia Toro Rosso STR7
Ferrari
Ferrari
18
19
Pastor Maldonado
Bruno Senna
Williams FW34
Williams FW34
Renault
Renault
20
21
Heikki Kovalainen
Vitaly Petrov
Caterham F1 Team CT01
Caterham F1 Team CT01
Renault
Renault
22
23
Pedro de la Rosa
Narain Karthikeyan
HRT F1 Team F112
HRT F1 Team F112
Cosworth
Cosworth
24
25
Timo Glock
Charles Pic
Marussia F1 Team MR01
Marussia F1 Team MR01
Cosworth
Cosworth
 Subbed by AJN.