CONTENTS / MARCH 2012

RACING

FIRST SECTOR: THE REGULARS

8 PARADES: THE BEST PHOTOS FROM WINTER TESTING 14 FROM THE EDITOR: IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE NOSES 17 INBOX: YOUR COMMENTS, MUSINGS AND RANTS 18 PITPASS: NEWS, OPINION AND ANALYSIS 30 PAT SYMONDS‘ TECH MASTERCLASS: 2012 TYRES 31 JACQUES VILLENEUVE: CAN ANYONE STOP RED BULL? 34 MURRAY WALKER: ER… CAN ANYONE STOP RED BULL? 37 NOW THAT WAS A CAR… THE LOTUS 49B 38 THE BEST RACE I‘VE BEEN TO: YOUR GP MEMORIES 140 SUBSCRIBE TO F1 RACING AND GET A McLAREN CAP

COVER STORY

SECOND SECTOR: F1 SEASON PREVIEW

44 NIKI LAUDA ASKS: “IS VETTEL THE NEW SCHUMACHER?” The triple world champion reckons we’re about to witness a new era of German dominance in Formula 1

43

50 RÄIKKÖNEN RETURNS It’s the most hyped comeback since some bloke called Schumacher pitched up in 2010. Can Kimi go one better?

56 WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012 Well, since you’re asking… a new circuit, new television coverage and quite a few rule changes, actually

44

VETTEL Two titles down – five to go if he wants to match Schuey

58 MERCEDES’ OTHER NUMBER ONE DRIVER Schuey might get first dibs on the higher numbered car, but he’s been beaten by his team-mate Nico Rosberg

62 THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN McLaren team manager Jonathan Neale on the rivalry between team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button

58

ROSBERG We speak to one of the best current drivers yet to win a GP

68 THE OTHER GREAT BRITISH HOPE Paul Di Resta was 2011’s rookie of the year… now he’s up against the 2010 rookie of the year, Nico Hülkenberg

74 FERRARI’S RADICAL NEW LOOK The F2012 certainly looks different, but is it enough to bring about a reversal of fortune for the Scuderia?

78 SKY’S THE LIMIT Martin Brundle on why he left the BBC and why at “about £1 a day” Sky’s not bad value for money…

82 WHEN MAURICE MET SIR FRANK Maurice Hamilton talks to an F1 legend about Williams’ glory days, and the tough times that face them now

74

FERRARI F2012 ‘Radical‘ is certainly one word you could use to describe it

91 YOUR ULTIMATE F1 GRID GUIDE All the teams. All the drivers. All the cars. Rated by us

117 2012 CIRCUIT GUIDE We take you through the 2012 calendar, track by track

138 F1 IN NUMBERS All the stats you’ll need for the season ahead

74 We keep talking about a car to match Alonso’s talents.

Could the F2012 be it…?

82 Frank Williams reflects on the triumphs and tribulations of

44 seasons in Formula 1

68 Paul Di Resta is raring to go after all the uncertainty of the winter break

138

F1 IN NUMBERS We got busy with the F1 Racing calculator…

THIRD SECTOR: FINISHING STRAIGHT

143 FRANK WILLIAMS GOODBYE RUBENS; HELLO BRUNO 145 ALAN HENRY F1’S OLDEST SURVIVING RACERS 146 AND FINALLY… ANTHONY DAVIDSON ON SEEING RED