The F2012 was launched on February 3rd, 2012 in Maranello. It might have been some kind of hint for a difficult season, the presentation was held without any visitors because of heavy snow in Northern Italy that day.
We do not have to judge the design of the car, the duckbill design was no Scuderia-specific gimmick but a design that followed regulation. Focusing on the top-teams, only McLaren presented a car with a lowered nose that did allow a stay with the F1-car-design of the past.
The Scuderia shipped the new car to Jerez for the winter tests the same day and it was on February 8th already that the first doubts occurred that the F2012 wasn’t that expected hot shot. The experts were still wondering if the Scuderia was testing with “still having the brakes on” but through the first winter test-period the Scuderia achieved the top position only once:
7.2.12 - Circuit de Jerez F. Massa #6 9th 1:22.815 +3.145 69 laps 305.532 km sunny, 5-18°C, Track 6-26°C
8.2.12 - Circuit de Jerez F. Massa #6 7th 1:20.454 +1.893 95 laps 420.660 km sunny, 4-12°C, Track 3-16°C
9.2.12 - Circuit de Jerez F. Alonso #5 7th 1:20.412 +2.799 67 laps 296.676 km sunny, 3-14°C, Track 4-23°C
10.2.12 - Circuit de Jerez F. Alonso #5 1st 1:18.877 39 laps 172.692 km sunny, -2-17°C, Track 0-26°C
It is unknown, what chassis was used for the tests, #292 never showed up in a Grand Prix, what might allow a guess of this chassis being either used for the official FIA crash test or for the winter tests.
Even with the first race coming closer, the second winter test, now held in Barcelona, did not really brought too much improvement. Whilst other teams already did race simulations, the Scuderia was stuck in further aerodynamic tests and the results became something, the Ferraristi should become used to in the season’s free practices and qualifyings.
21.2.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya F. Alonso #5 5th 1:24.100 +0.835 75 laps 349.125 km sunny, 5-17°C, Track 7-24°C
22.2.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya F. Alonso #5 4th 1:23.180 +0.572 87 laps 404.985 km sunny, 6-19°C, Track 9-24°C
23.2.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya F. Massa #6 6th 1:24.771 +2.380 84 laps 391.020 km sunny, 6-21°C, Track 9-26°C
24.2.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya Massa #6 5th 1:23.563 +1.251 103 laps 479.465 km sunny, 9-21°C, Track 11-30°C
The third winter test was held in Barcelona again and again the Scuderia was testing many new parts on the car, but was able to do a complete race simulation finally on March 1st. The results of the test days ended in Alonso’s statement, that the Scuderia would be facing some trouble in the first races of the 2012-season.
1.3.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya Massa #6 8th 1:24.318 +1.066 105 laps 488.775 km sunny, 9-22°C, Track 11-27°C
2.3.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya F. Alonso #5 4th 1:23.447 +0.833 125 laps 581.875 km foggy at first then clear skies, 8-21°C, Track 9-30°C
3.3.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya Massa #6 4th 1:22.413 +0.319 122 laps 567.910km Sunny, showers in the afternoon, 15°C, Track 31°C
4.3.12 - Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya F. Alonso #5 2nd 1:22.250 +0.220 115 laps 535.325 km overcast, 9-20°C, Track 11-24°C
The Scuderia raced a total of 4,994.040 km in the winter tests, making a 416.170 km in average per test day.