Every Scuderia’s driver most beloved race was next at the Autodromo Nazionale. Monza, being a high speed track always is a risky game for cars that show lacks in performance and after Spa’s accident leaving no points for Alonso combined with obviously big progress on the competitors’ car –Red Bull, McLaren and Renault- it became very clear that the season’s success would be very much addicted to Alonso’s ability combined with a little luck.
Luck failed already in qualifying, when a broken rear balancer stopped Alonso in Q3 and achieving the last position on the top ten in the grid. Massa really showed improvement and found himself on P3 after the qualifying.
The race became another demonstration of Fernando Alonso and he picked up another podium, becoming third. Massa was close behind on 4th position. Vettel went away empty-handed and Lewis Hamilton took the second position in the drivers’ Championship. Sergio Perez’ performance was a highlight when he made it from p13 in the grid to p2 in the race. Rumours had it, that he would be a candidate to replace Massa for the 2013 season. Perez was a member of the Ferrari young drivers’ academy.
296 F2012
7. – 9.9.12 - LXXXIII Gran Premio Santander d'Italia, Autodromo Nazionale Monza F. Alonso #5, FP session 1 4th 1.25.800 +0:00.378 22 Laps Sunny 23/26 °C, track 27/34 °C. session 2 3rd 1.25.348 +0:00.058 17 Laps Sunny 29 °C, track 40/43 °C.session 3 2nd 1:24.579 +0:00.001 15 Laps Sunny 25-26°C track 32-36°C Q1 1st 1:24.175 6 Laps Q2 1st 1:24.242 4 Laps Q3 10th 1:25.678 +0:01.668 6 Laps, broken rear balancer. Sunny 28°C track 39-41°C
9.9.12 - LXXXIII Gran Premio Santander d'Italia, Autodromo Nazionale Monza F. Alonso #5, 3rd 53 Laps +0:20.594 229,953 km/h Sunny 28-29°C track 39-41°C
294 F2012
7. – 9.9.12 - LXXXIII Gran Premio Santander d'Italia, Autodromo Nazionale Monza F. Massa #6, FP session 1 5th 1.25.861 27 Laps +0:00.439 Sunny 23/26 °C, track 27/34 °C. session 2 4th 1.25.430 +0:00.140 43 Laps Sunny 29 °C, track 40/43 °C.session 3 4th 1:24.909 +0:00.331 16 Laps Sunny 25-26°C track 32-36°C Q1 6th 1:24.882 +0:00.707 6 Laps Q2 5th 1:24.505 +0:00.263 4 Laps Q3 3th 1:24.247 +0:00.237 6 Laps Sunny 28°C track 39-41°C
9.9.12 - LXXXIII Gran Premio Santander d'Italia, Autodromo Nazionale Monza F. Massa #6, 4th 53 Laps +0:29.667 229,519 km/h Sunny 28-29°C track 39-41°C
Singapore always is a highlight - in the truest sense of the word. A night race with fully illuminated track is something special for drivers and spectators. The Scuderia was not able to provide the long expected new rear wing for the F2012 and Massa failed to reach Q3 again with Alonso starting from P5. Vettel managed to win the 14th stage of the F1 season – the start of four consecutive wins for him making the season even more thrilling. Alonso once again cut his losses coming in on P3 once again. Massa did a brave race and became 8th after he found himself at the end of the field after a puncture.
295 F2012
21. – 23.9.12 – Singapore GP, V Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay, F. Alonso #5 First session 4th 1.51.525 +0:00.959 20 Laps wet in the beginning, drying later 31/33 °C, track 30/32 °C.Second session 3rd 1.48.896 +0:00.556 26 Laps air dry, 30/29 °C, track 31/30 °C.Third session 3rd 1:48.623 +0:00.676 11 Laps Dry, 30°C track 33°C Q1 10th 1:49.391 +0:01.703 5 Laps Q2 5th 1:47.567 +0:00.902 6 Laps Q3 5th 1:47.216 +0:00.854 3 Laps Dry 28°C track 29-30°C
23.9.12 – Singapore GP, V Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay, F. Alonso #5 3rd 59 Laps +0:15.200 148,937 km/h Dry 28-29°C track 29-30°C
294 F2012
21. – 23.9.12 – Singapore GP, V Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay, F. Massa First session 16th 1.53.080 +0:02.514 17 Laps wet in the beginning, drying later 31/33 °C, track 30/32 °C.Second session 9th 1.50.039 +0:01.699 28 Laps air dry, 30/29 °C, track 31/30 °C.Third session 6th 1:49.458 +0:01.511 13 Laps Dry, 30°C track 33°C Q1 16th 1:49.767 +0:02.079 6 Laps Q2 13th 1:48.344 +0:01.679 6 Laps Q3 dnq Dry 28°C track 29-30°C
23.9.12 – Singapore GP, V Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay, F. Massa 8th 59 Laps +0:42.800 148,370 km/h Dry 28-29°C track 29-30°C
In Japan it even became more obvious that the F2012 was missing improvement. Only being 7th (Alonso) and 11th (Massa) on the grid it was clear that the start to the race would be something difficult and Kimi Räikkönen slashed one of Alonso’s rear tires and he spun off – another “no result”-race for him closing the gap between him and Vettel to 4 points. It was only cold comfort that Massa achieved a remarkable second place – a step to save his cockpit for 2013!
295 F2012
5. – 7.10.12 - XXXVIII Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka F. Alonso #5, free practice First session 11th 1.35.484 +0:00.977 26 Laps Sunny 26/27 °C, track 34/38 °C. Second session 5th 1.33.093 +0:00.600 28 Laps Sunny at first, then overcast skies at the end 27/26 °C, track 39/32 °C. Third session 11th 1:33.184 +0:01.048 14 Laps Overcast 26-27°C track 35-37°C.Q1 5th 1:32.459 +0:00.430 8 Laps Q2 4th 1:31.833 +0:00.332 6 Laps Q3 7th 1:32.114 +0:01.275 3 Laps Overcast 26°C track 32-37°C.
7.10.12 - XXXVIII Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka F. Alonso #5, dnf, spun off after a start collision, 0 laps cloudy, 23°C, track 32°C
294 F2012
5. – 7.10.12 - XXXVIII Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka F. Massa #6, free practice First session 7th 1.35.283 +0:00.776 24 Laps Sunny 26/27 °C, track 34/38 °C. Second session 9th 1.33.614 +0:01.121 32 Laps Sunny at first, then overcast skies at the end 27/26 °C, track 39/32 °C. Third session 3rd 1:32.824 +0:00.688 13 Laps Overcast 26-27°C track 35-37°C.Q1 10th 1:32.946 +0:00.917 6 Laps Q2 11th 1:32.293 +0:00.792 6 Laps Q3 dnq Overcast 26°C track 32-37°C.
7.10.12 - XXXVIII Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka F. Massa #6, 2nd, 53 laps +0:20.639 206,631 km/h cloudy, 23°C, track 32°C