The mixed start of the season was continued in Bahrain. Ignoring the “Green Revolution”’s movement in the Gulf state, the F1-circus competed like nothing happens around the track. The Scuderia’s performance was stable 1.5 seconds behind the top teams. Massa once again missed Q3 and Alonso refrained from setting a time in Q3 what gave him p9 on the grid. Finally, both cars finished within the Top Ten (Alonso 7th and Massa 9th) and the whole team was longing for the upcoming test days.
295 F2012
20. – 22.4.12 - GP Bahrain, Manama, F. Alonso #5, free practice, 1st session 13 th 1:35.436 +0:01.864 21 laps. Sunny, 27-29°C track 37-41°C, 2nd session 8th 1:34.449 +0:01.633 31 laps, sunny, 30-32°C, track 32-40°C, third session 10th 1:34.895 +0:01.641 11 laps Sunny, 27-30°C, track 40-42°C, Q1 14th 1:34.760 +0:00.946 3 laps, Q2 5th 1:33.403 +0:00.194 6 laps, Q3 9th 2 laps no time set Sunny, 30-31°C, track 43-43°C
20. – 22.4.12 - GP Bahrain, Manama, F. Alonso #5, 7th 57 laps +0:57.803 192,459 km/h. Sunny, 31-33°C, track 27°C
294 F2012
20. – 22.4.12 - GP Bahrain, Manama, F. Massa #6, free practice, 1st session 15th 1:35.719 +0:02.147 19 laps. Sunny, 27-29°C track 37-41°C, 2nd session 12th 1:34.941 +0:02.125 30 laps, sunny, 30-32°C, track 32-40°C, third session 16th 1:35.536 +0:02.282 15 laps Sunny, 27-30°C, track 40-42°C, Q17th 1:34.372 +0:00.558 8 laps, Q214th 1:33.912 +0:00.703 6 laps, Q3 dnq Sunny, 30-31°C, track 43-43°C
20. – 22.4.12 - GP Bahrain, Manama, F. Massa #6, 9th 57 laps +1:04.999 192,220 km/h. Sunny, 31-33°C, track 27°C
During the spring tests, the F2012 received major updates. Speculation began if the evolution of the car would be called F2012B from the start of the European races on, but the name remained. Once again, it is unknown what specific chassis was used for the three test day in Mugello.
1.5.12 – F1-Spring Test, Mugello, Autodromo del Mugello F. Alonso #5, 1st 1:22.444 46 laps,light rain then heavy rain, 16-24°C, track 17-27°C, 5,245 km/lap
2.5.12 - F1-Spring Test, Mugello, Autodromo del Mugello F. Massa #6, 5th 1:22.257 +0.654 106 laps,cloudy then sunny 14-22 °C, track 15-40 °C, 5,245 km/lap
3.5.12 - F1-Spring Test, Mugello, Autodromo del Mugello F. Alonso #5, 3rd 1:21.363 +0.328 98 laps, dry 14-23°C, track 15-28°C, 5,245 km/lap
The result of the tests obviously worked well for Alonso. After staring from 2nd position on the grid he achieved a 2nd place in the race in Spain as well. It was the start of a good run through the forthcoming Grand Prix. Massa stuck in the struggle with his F2012. Not qualified for Q3 he came in on 15th position only in the race.
295 F2012
11. – 13.5.12 – Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, F. Alonso #5, free practise, First session 1st 1.24.430 20 Laps 23/27 °C, track 28/34 °C. Sunny.Second session 14th 1.24.600 +0:01.201 33 Laps 30/29 °C, track 44/43 °C. Sunny.Third session 6th 1:23.807 +0:00.639 15 Laps. Sunny, 26-26°C, track 30-40°C.Q1 3rd 1:23.276 +0:00.693 6 laps Q2 6th 1:22.862 +0:00.757 6 laps Q3 2nd 1:22.302 +0:00.017 3 laps Sunny 28°C track 37-41°C
13.5.12 – Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, F. Alonso #5, 2nd 66 laps +0:03.195 185,738 km/h. Overcast & sunny 22-23°C track 33-35°C
294 F2012
11. – 13.5.12 – Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, F. Massa #6, free practise, First session 12th 1.25.433 +0:01.003 21 Laps 23/27 °C, track 28/34 °C. Sunny.Second session 11th 1.24.418 +0:01.019 35 Laps 30/29 °C, track 44/43 °C. Sunny.Third session 11th 1:24.179 +0:01.011 16 Laps. Sunny, 26-26°C, track 30-40°C.Q1 14th 1:23.886 +0:01.303 6 laps Q2 17th 1:23.444 +0:01.339 6 laps Q3 dnq Sunny 28°C track 37-41°C
13.5.12 – Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, F. Massa #6, 15th 65 laps +1 lap 182,472 km/h. Overcast & sunny 22-23°C track 33-35°C
Monte Carlo is unique every time. F1-Godfather, Michael Schumacher, achieved his first pole position after he departed from Ferrari. I assume you agree, we all would have loved to see him back in Red. He received a penalty for an incident during the Spanish GP and Alonso made up one position on the grid to start from 5th position. Massa improved and started the race from p7. Alonso, coming in 3rd, made another podium whilst Massa finished in 6th position.
295 F2012
24. – 27.5.12 – Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo F. Alonso # 5, Free Practise First session 1st 1.16.265 22 Laps 22/21 °C, track 28/30 °C. Sunny.Second session 4th 1.16.661 +0:00.915 23 Laps 21/22 °C, track 31/27 °C. Covered skies, rain at times.Third Session 4th 1:15.210 +0:00.051 20 Laps Sunny 24°C track 31-35°C Q1 14th 1:16.153 +0:00.735 10 Laps Q2 6th 1:15.128 +0:00.217 9 Laps Q3 6th 1:14.948 +0:00.647 (started from 5th position because of Schmacher’s sentence resulting from the Spanish GP) 3 Laps Sunny 23°C track 40-41°C
27.5.12 – Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo F. Alonso # 5, 3rd 78 Laps +0:00.947 147,290 km/h cloudy, drizzle close to the finish, 21°C, track 31-35°C
294 F2012
24. – 27.5.12 – Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo F. Massa # 6, Free Practise First session 6th 1.16.843 +0:00.578 19 Laps 22/21 °C, track 28/30 °C. Sunny.Second session 3rd 1.16.602 +0:00.856 21 Laps 21/22 °C, track 31/27 °C. Covered skies, rain at times.Third Session 2nd 1:15.197 +0:00.038 21 Laps Sunny 24°C track 31-35°C Q1 9th 1:15.983 +0:00.565 7 Laps Q2 1st 1:14.911 7 Laps Q3 7th 1:15.049 +0:00.748 5 Laps Sunny 23°C track 40-41°C
27.5.12 – Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo F. Massa # 6, 6th 78 Laps +0:06.195 147,169 km/h cloudy, drizzle close to the finish, 21°C, track 31-35°C