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Grand Prix of Brazil: All Great Things Happen in Threes

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Philippe Defechereux
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media and Planet F1

Before reaching Brazil, its grand and final destination, the 2012 Formula 1 season had already given us a thrilling cornucopia of high excitement. A relentless unfolding of momentous events throughout the year – eight different winning drivers and six different manufacturers, for instance – had already marked it for the history books once the teams had taken to the air in Texas only days earlier. And we all knew the World Driver Championship would be at last decided in São Paulo.
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Indian Grand Prix 2012

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A second place for Alonso in India.

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

For a season that offered so much hope and competition just a few months ago, 2012 F1 has suddenly degenerated into another Red Bull Route with Vettel in charge. He’s on a roll now, the earlier problems with reliability seem to have faded, the speed has returned, and it is unlikely that even Alonso will catch Vettel for the Championship. After India, Alonso is now thirteen points behind Vettel for the Championship, and that has never been a lucky number in racing.
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Korean Grand Prix 2012: Red Bull Rising

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Red Bull Rising...

By Philippe Defechereux
Photos by Ferrari Media and Planet F1

Coming four days after a strong performance in Suzuka the previous weekend, and in parts thanks to a new “Double DRS” device, the Red Bull team arrived in Korea on Thursday as the favorites. Fans of the three other leading teams, especially Ferrari and McLaren, were hoping for a magic aero trick out of the proverbial magic bag. It was not to be. Still, the Korean race had plenty of intense moments.

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Japanese Grand Prix 2012

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Massa all the way.

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

For what was a yawn of a race, the Japanese Grand Prix has certainly set up an exciting end to the 2012 Grand Prix season. That’s great for fans, Ecclestone, Red Bull, winner Vettel and the remaining five races on the calendar.

Not so good for Ferrari and Alonso, who is now going to have to fight tooth and nail for another crown. After being knocked out in Japan, Alonso is now a mere four points in front of Vettel for the World Championship. Every race, every position will now count heavily and each race may be a nail-biter.
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Grand Prix of Singapore

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Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Time Enough
If there is one thing we will remember about Singapore 2012, it will not be the great drive by Massa, not the winning excellence of Vettel, not the intelligent drive by Alonso for third, nor the sudden race-changing retirements of both Hamilton and Maldonado, nor that the race was foreshortened by the clock. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Singapore

British Grand Prix 2012

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Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Sebastian Vettel

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

For being a pretty boring race, all in all, the British Grand Prix was a real nail-biter. Jimmy Clark would have felt right at home as thousands of Ferrari faithfuls chewed the keratin to the quick waiting to see if Webber would catch Alonso or if Alonso would hold off Weber. [Read more…] about British Grand Prix 2012

European Grand Prix 2012: Proper Attire

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Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Alonso and team manages tires to win Grand Prix of Europe

Valencia, Spain, June 24 2012
What Pirelli taketh away, Pirelli giveth. Last Sunday in Spain, on lap 35 Fernando Alonso took the lead from a confident Sebastian Vettel, whose Red Bull mysteriously stopped on the course. [Read more…] about European Grand Prix 2012: Proper Attire

Canadian Grand Prix 2012

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Williams-Renault's Pastor Maldonado leads Ferrari's Felipe Massa
Copyright Williams F1

By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari unless otherwise noted.

Tiresome and trite, tire degradation issues are degrading our sport.

Alonso’s loss at the Canadian Grand Prix is not just a loss for the Spaniard, but a loss for the Scuderia, the engineers, the designers, the sponsors, Fiat and Formula One. His loss is also our loss, for we are all held hostage to the same idiotic tire game that is dominating, and we think, ruining the sport. [Read more…] about Canadian Grand Prix 2012

Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2011

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By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

The look in the eyes was crystal clear despite the layers of tinted tear-aways and a full face helmet. “I can’t believe this is really happening…I can’t believe this is really happening, to me..”

The simplest form of immobility ever devised by automotive gremlins, a flat tire, had sidelined the most technically sophisticated car ever to lay rubber on a race track and disabled the hero of the German F1 fans, the kid who could practically do no wrong nor did so throughout an entire brilliant and overly long season of F1 events whose borders now far exceed the reach of the fabled British Empire.
[Read more…] about Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2011

Korean Grand Prix 2011

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Race Report by Pete Vack

2 AM Eastern Daylight time. Last thing we needed to stay awake was a boring Grand Prix race, which Korea almost was. But just almost. Yes Vettel won and wrapped up the constructor’s Championship for Red Bull (for us who care more about engines than sugar drinks, that’s Renault Red Bull) and even Webber placed well in third to bolster the points for Renault Red Bull. But underneath and behind was a very palpable sense of frustration that was clearly evident among the drivers and made for an exciting race–at least for second and third places. [Read more…] about Korean Grand Prix 2011

Grand Prix of Singapore 2011

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Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

This weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix was more or less the end of the season. Sebastian Vettel has for all practical purposes clinched the title. Yes, there is a mathematical chance that Button could catch up, but it would involve the Brit winning every race and the German gaining no points. And quite possibly, requiring a particle to move faster than the speed of light. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Singapore 2011

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