2012 F1 Season

The 2012 Formula One World Championship, the 66th season of FIA Formula One motor racing, was a testament to the competitive nature of the sport, with Sebastian Vettel securing his third consecutive World Championship in a dramatic finale. The season, featuring the 63rd FIA Formula One World Championship, was contested over twenty rounds, starting in Australia and concluding in Brazil. This season was particularly notable for the return of the United States Grand Prix, hosted at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and the reinstatement of the Bahrain Grand Prix after its cancellation in 2011.

The season began with an unprecedented level of competition, as the first seven races were won by seven different drivers, a record in Formula One history. Fernando Alonso, driving for Ferrari, emerged as a strong contender, winning multiple races and leading the championship for several rounds. However, a series of setbacks, including retirements in Belgium and Japan, allowed Vettel to close the gap and eventually overtake Alonso in the championship standings. The final race in Brazil was a nail-biter, with Vettel finishing sixth, securing enough points to clinch the title by a mere three points over Alonso. Red Bull Racing also claimed their third consecutive Constructors’ Championship. The season was also marked by the retirement of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, concluding an illustrious career in Formula One.