AUTOSPORT's F1 season poll 2012

In no particular order, it was great to see Williams win again in Spain and Pastor Maldonado - flawed though he may be - deserved that victory for tapping so utterly into his undoubted potential. Valencia was a brilliant example of Alonso's dogged opportunism - his first lap, as so often in 2012, was everything. Abu Dhabi just edges Brazil for sheer not-knowing-what-the-hell-is-going-to-happen-nextness.

Mercedes had yet another trying season © XPB

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Button; 3. Hamilton; 4. Webber; 5. Alonso

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5 Lotus

I was right about Vettel, but wrong about Alonso, though I did insist he and Ferrari would recover from their awful testing form. Got Merc wrong too, that team went downhill, rather than improving as I expected.

Wrong too about McLaren winning the constructors' title, but I didn't expect such poor reliability from such a good team.

Jonathan Noble (JN)

1. Alonso; 2. Vettel; 3. Hamilton; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Hulkenberg

There can be no doubt about how brilliant Alonso's campaign was; he outperformed his car and, bar one miscalculation on the run down to Turn 1 at Suzuka, was flawless all year. Hulkenberg gets rated too for knuckling down and shining in the way he did.

Be in no doubt, Raikkonen did know what he was doing © XPB

1. Brazil ; 2. Europe; 3. Abu Dhabi

It will be hard for any event to have the drama of the title showdown in Brazil. With incidents, overtaking, controversy and a championship at stake it had it all. Valencia was spectacular and Abu Dhabi is in because... "yes, yes, yes, I know what I'm doing".

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Button; 4. Webber; 5. Rosberg

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

Well, at least I got the world champion right - although I would never have predicted that it would take him until the final race to do it. Alonso's brilliance in overcoming Ferrari's deficiencies was a surprise - which is what messed up the rest of my predictions!

Edd Straw (ES)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Hulkenberg; 5. Raikkonen

Alonso came within four points of winning the drivers' championship in what was, on average, the third fastest car on race pace and the fourth fastest on qualifying pace, so he is the only choice for top spot.

Vettel had some lows before he resumed dominating © LAT

Hamilton had probably his best F1 season and while Vettel was incredible in the final third of the season, the rest of his campaign was uneven.

Hulkenberg matched Paul di Resta, a strong team-mate, for the first half of the season, but asserted himself emphatically as the year went on. And Mr Consistency Raikkonen made an excellent comeback, even though he still hasn't hit his full potential.

1. Brazil; 2. Spain; 3. Germany

The Brazilian Grand Prix had everything; a title showdown, rain, overtaking, clashes at the front, mistakes, stunning drives... the lot. Has there ever been a championship decider that has been so gripping throughout?

Spain was fascinating, with the incredible story of Maldonado beating Alonso to end Williams's long winless run. And Germany featured a wonderfully measured drive from Alonso that was a joy to watch, with Button and Vettel both in contention and plenty of tense battles.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Button; 3. Webber; 4. Hamilton; 5. Alonso

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Lotus; 5. Ferrari

Managed to hit the nail on the head for the drivers' and the constructors' championship, although backing Vettel and Red Bull was hardly a bold call.

What the predictions do show is just how remarkable it was that Ferrari and Alonso had such a good campaign. Pre-season, Ferrari was in serious trouble and I predicted they would finish fifth in both championships, but they actually managed second. As for the rest, it seems that my skills for predicting second, third and fifth pale in comparison to predicting first and fourth!

Kevin Turner (KT)

1. Alonso; 2 Hamilton; 3 Vettel; 4 Button; 5 Raikkonen

Suzuka aside, Alonso's season was remarkable and almost delivered a rare world title in a car that undeniably wasn't the best. Hamilton was better than ever and arguably was the only driver consistently on Alonso's level, while Vettel delivered brilliantly when Red Bull got the RB8 working as he wanted.

Despite his blip, Button remains a class act and is one of the few capable of beating the Big Three in a straight fight, while Kimi was surprisingly solid - if unspectacular - on his F1 return.

1. Brazil; 2. USA; 3. Belgium

Brazil is a predictable choice, but it's difficult to ignore one of those rare occasions when a title decider provides everything - and more - that you hope for. There was mixed weather, some superb driving (especially from Hulkenberg), and two dogged performances from the championship contenders.

Austin delivered a superb layout and a thrilling lead chase © LAT

Austin hosted a great return to America, featuring lots of overtaking and a real racer's chase of Vettel by Hamilton that was richly rewarded.

Despite the first corner shunt, there was great action at Spa too, as well as a finely judged victory by Button.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Button; 4. Webber; 5. Alonso

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Ferrari; 4. Mercedes; 5. Lotus

Like many, I'm surprised how well Ferrari bounced back from its pre-season problems, albeit helped by the weather and Alonso's brilliance.

In terms of pace, McLaren should have been second in the constructors' table, but was undone by unreliability. With Red Bull's 2011 level of dominance not being repeated, Webber fell further in the points than I anticipated, while Mercedes started well enough but dropped away badly and could have been jumped for fifth by Sauber.

Glenn Freeman (GF)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Hulkenberg; 5. Raikkonen

Alonso's relentless never-say-die approach to the season was a joy to watch, although you have to question if Ferrari deserved to be carried to a world championship after producing such a poor car. Hamilton bounced back from a scrappy 2011 to have a great season, which this time was derailed by situations out of his control.

How Hulkenberg remains overlooked by the top teams is a mystery, and Raikkonen's performances were impressive given he had spent two years tree-dodging in rally cars.

1. Brazil; 2. Europe; 3. Spain

Even without the championship implications, the Brazilian GP was great viewing (when is a wet/dry race not a thriller?). The Valencia track surprised us all by finally producing an action-packed race, and the added spice of Williams going head-to-head with Ferrari for a victory at Barcelona made it one you couldn't take your eyes off.

Button plunged into the midfield for a spell before mid-season © XPB

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Button; 4. Webber; 5. Alonso

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

Predicting three in a row for Vettel was a pretty safe bet pre-season, although it didn't look so great at times once the campaign was under way. Hamilton's performances (if not results, mainly thanks to poor reliability) backed up my suspicion that he would bounce back from 2011. Unfortunately I gave Webber too much credit and underestimated Alonso.

As for the teams, without reliability woes and Button's mysterious mid-season slump, a first constructors' crown since 1998 for McLaren was there for the taking. As expected, Mercedes and Lotus didn't become regular frontrunners, although I didn't expect the Silver Arrows to fall quite so far back!

Jamie O'Leary (JOL)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Hulkenberg

Well it could only ever be Alonso at the top of my list for the way his unexpected Malaysian victory lifted Ferrari out of the trough of despair and gave it hope for the rest of the year, and for the way he gamely hung on when momentum was going elsewhere.

Hamilton was far better than his points total would suggest, while Hulkenberg continued to show why he is the man to watch in the future, and would have placed higher had he started beating di Resta a bit earlier in the year.

If Perez becomes a superstar with McLaren, Malaysia 2012 will be remembered as the race where his rise commenced © LAT

1. Brazil; 2. Europe; 3. Malaysia

As the title-deciding race, Brazil had a subtext to it anyway, which simply added to the drama created by the variable weather conditions. That Vettel used the safety cars to his advantage to carve through the pack with a damaged car while Alonso failed to match those right at the front created more tension, while Hulkenberg's drive was nothing short of sensational.

Valencia finally provided us with a race there worthy of the name - and a stonking move for the lead by Alonso - while the rain at Sepang introduced the world to the potential of Perez.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Webber; 4. Button; 5. Alonso

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

At least I managed to correctly predict both champions, but I hugely underestimated Ferrari's ability to react quickly to its pre-season testing maladies and Raikkonen's determination to be right back at the sharp end after two years on the loose surfaces. Hamilton would have been higher up had his McLaren proved more reliable, while Mercedes... Well, perhaps I should stop right there.

Mark Glendenning (MG)

1. Alonso; 2 Vettel; 3 Raikkonen; 4 Hamilton; 5 Webber

Webber's campaign lost momentum after his Silverstone heroics © LAT

Alonso gets the nod in my book because the limitations of the Ferrari forced him to work harder for his 278 points than Vettel had to for his 281. Otherwise, my selections are pretty conventional, although I gave Webber the nod over Button on the strength of the first half of his season. His inconsistency from Silverstone onwards was baffling, but there was a point mid-way in where he looked like he might be a title contender.

1. Brazil; 2 Abu Dhabi; 3 Europe

On past form, there are two tracks there that I never dreamt would one day make my list of top three races of the year (I mean, seriously - Valencia?) but the sheer drama of Brazil will ensure that it lives long in the memory. Even if you're a neutral, title deciders don't get much more gripping than that.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Button; 4. Webber; 5. Schumacher

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Lotus; 5. Ferrari

Well it's clear that I underestimated Ferrari - apologies to everyone at Maranello! And it also seems that I overestimated Mercedes, which for my money was one of the disappointments of the season. It didn't take a genius to pick Vettel as number one, although I'm pleased to have at least got the McLaren drivers in the right order.

Pablo Elizalde (PE)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Hulkenberg

I'm not going to say Alonso was more deserving of the title, because at the end of the day 'deserving' is subjective and, with Formula 1 being a team sport, the whole package should be taken into account. Having said that, I do believe he was the better driver in 2012, making the most of the inferior equipment he had all year.

The reason Hamilton is second is because I can't pick two #1 drivers, but in my mind the Briton was equally strong and should have been in the title fight until the end had it not been for the fragility of his McLaren.

Vettel is a very close third because I get the feeling that - while he drove brilliantly all year - his two rivals would have done a bit more with the Red Bull when the car was not the class of the field. Nonetheless, he delivered when it mattered and is a worthy champion.

Raikkonen surprised me, not so much with his speed, but with his consistency in a car that was always a bit off the pace of the leading ones. As for Hulkenberg... How come he is driving a Sauber and not a McLaren or a Ferrari next year?

1. Brazil; 2. Europe, 3. Spain

Perhaps because it's fresher in my memory, but the Brazilian GP continues to strike me as one of the most dramatic races of the past couple of years. It had it all, and just when you thought it was over, Ferrari fans found a YouTube video and the drama was extended for a few days.

No one predicted a Maldonado/Williams win in Spain © XPB

Alonso's win in the European GP was superb, and having one of the best races of the season in Valencia was a shock that made it one of the highlights of 2012. Maldonado's maiden GP win at Barcelona also sports the shock factor that makes me remember it as a thriller.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Alonso; 4. Rosberg; 5. Button

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

Except for Mercedes, I'm pretty proud of my prediction. Vettel was champion, and I feel that only reliability issues stopped Hamilton from securing a better position in the standings and McLaren beating Red Bull.

I expected Mercedes to be stronger, but probably so did the team itself. That Ferrari struggled to match the pace of its main rivals was no real surprise, and only Alonso's amazing season avoided what could have been a very poor year.

Henry Hope-Frost (HHF)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Button

Ferrari's Spanish saviour drove beyond his car's level for most of the year, so he gets the nod over McLaren's departing Brit after what I think was his best year for the Woking squad. That reliability record's got to hurt.

The world champion takes my final podium slot for really knuckling down once the Red Bull was to his liking. Kimi was on it all year, pipping McLaren's other British ace - his mid-season wobble ranking as disappointing.

1. Brazil; 2. Abu Dhabi; 3 Europe

The season finale at Interlagos was a classic thanks to the weather, Vettel's first-lap spin that necessitated a charge back up the order, and a Force India doing the business up front.

Abu Dhabi featured another Vettel burn from the stern and that never-to-be-forgotten Raikkonen radio banter ahead of a comeback win for Lotus. Valencia warrants inclusion for unexpected thrills on an otherwise awful layout. Alonso's feisty charge up the order was superb.

There were stumbles along the way, but ultimately Vettel earned the third title many had predicted © LAT

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Button; 4. Webber; 5. Alonso

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Ferrari; 4. Mercedes; 5. Lotus

I was right about Vettel doing the title triple - perhaps without the steamroller bit. I said Hamilton would have the edge over Button this time, too, but I was well off the pace to suggest Webber would lift his game to see off Alonso.

No surprise my constructors' title protagonists were all there - they just weren't in the right order. Disappointingly, McLaren again fell short in the makes' race. Its 1998 win seems so long ago. Mercedes was, as I predicted, "mega at some tracks, mediocre at others", while Lotus came in ahead of the Brackley squad, as well as Sauber, Force India and Williams.

Marcus Simmons (MS)

1. Hamilton; 2. Alonso; 3. Vettel; 4. Button; 5. Raikkonen

I don't buy Alonso's soundbite self-proclamations that he's been "perfect" this season, because he didn't look that perfect at the start of the Japanese GP. Yes he was mostly utterly brilliant, but I thought Hamilton was even more so in 2012. Vettel and Button were top quality, and I reckon Raikkonen did a terrific job on his comeback.

Few picked the Indian GP as a highlight... © XPB

1. Europe; 2. Brazil; 3. India

Valencia was sensational; Interlagos was fantastic because it was a great race on a classic circuit. And I enjoyed India because it was flat-out driving by the world's best drivers - and the missus and kids were out so I could enjoy it in peace! China was pretty good too, but the track just leaves me cold.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Button; 3. Webber; 4. Hamilton; 5. Raikkonen

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Lotus; 5. Ferrari

I underestimated Alonso's and Ferrari's turnaround and overestimated the likely form of Mercedes, but other than that I don't think I did too badly by my standards - you have to bear in mind here that I once told all my mates at school that Andrea de Cesaris and his Alfa were going to win the 1982 British GP...

Ben Anderson (BA)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Button

This was perhaps the greatest Alonso season to date, as he dragged his Ferrari relentlessly into the title fight and almost held on. Hamilton was back to his best after a troubled 2011, but was let down too often by McLaren's unreliability. Vettel was unstoppable once the Red Bull RB8 came good.

Raikkonen proved to be just what Lotus (or was it Toleman...?) needed © LAT

Raikkonen played himself in brilliantly in a superb comeback season at Lotus/Renault/Benetton/Toleman, while Button was untouchable when the McLaren was to his liking.

1. Brazil; 2. USA; 3. Spain

Brazil was the top GP of 2012 by a mile - I can't remember a more treacherous and tense championship finale. Up until that point, Austin was in top spot: great circuit, fantastically battle for the lead, plus overtaking all the way through the field.

I think the Spanish Grand Prix has to make the podium this year - simply because of Maldonado's remarkable performance in returning Williams to the winners' circle.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Button; 3. Hamilton; 4. Webber; 5. Alonso

1. Red Bull; 2; McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

The Red Bull and McLaren (at different points in the season) were the fastest cars of 2012, as I predicted, but although I picked the right champions (both driver and constructor), I underestimated the unreliability of the team from Woking, and the extent to which Hamilton would rise to the occasion in 2012.

Although I knew Alonso would drag every last ounce of performance from his Ferrari, I failed to predict just how well he would do this year. And I don't think anybody could have predicted just how competitive Lotus would be this year, or how woeful Mercedes would become after a strong start.

Matt Beer (MB)

1. Alonso; 2. Hamilton; 3. Vettel; 4. Raikkonen; 5. Webber

Vettel may have claimed that Alonso was overhyping Ferrari's underdog status to score psychological points. Most saw a truly great driver producing one of the greatest season-long performances in F1 history.

Hamilton and Vettel are split by the toin-coss-flimsy reasoning that Hamilton was hurt most by poor luck and Vettel underwhelmed when Red Bull was in the doldrums.

Raikkonen's muted 2009 exit from F1 and woeful World Rally stint made his no-nonsense comeback form a pleasant surprise. Both Webber and Button took some sublime wins and had some costly slumps. Webber edges into fifth as Button fell so far when perplexed by Pirellis in early summer.

A classic race starts to unfold at Interlagos © XPB

1. Europe; 2 Brazil; 3 Malaysia

My favourite races are always those that generate so many themes that the opening paragraph of your race report is absolutely bulging.

Valencia, Interlagos and Sepang all delivered grands prix with multiple fascinating storylines, heroic drives, shock twists, underdog sensations. On each occasion it felt at the chequered flag like lap one had been from a totally different race. Infinitely preferable to the days of the finish mirroring the first-corner order.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Button; 3. Hamilton; 4. Alonso; 5. Grosjean

1. McLaren; 2. Red Bull; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Lotus

A correct champion prediction again, but hard to claim stunning foresight there given that Vettel already had two titles on the bounce. I should have had more faith in Alonso and Ferrari, and I was right that Lotus would do something pretty special. But I was also certain that Romain Grosjean would blow Raikkonen away and would have got over his predilection for carnage. Maybe 2013 will show I was premature rather than woefully inaccurate...

Tony Dodgins (TD)

1. Alonso; 2. Vettel; 3. Hamilton; 4. Hulkenberg; 5. Raikkonen.

You could put the first three in any order and defend it. I think Alonso just shades it given that at one stage it looked like he'd taken out a mortgage on grid slot five, given the Ferrari's shortcomings. His Valencia drive was brilliant.

Vettel finished the job brilliantly and is a top class act. If you factor in team choice as an important element of achieving then Hamilton's decision to forsake McLaren for Mercedes relegates him to third.

Hulkenberg continues to provide huge hints that he should be in a top car but still waits. And when was the last time that a driver finished every race like Kimi?

1. Brazil; 2. Abu Dhabi; 3. Canada

While not quite as dramatic a finish as Interlagos 2008, Brazil had spellbinding drama - Vettel's comeback, Hulkenberg's drivethrough, strategy calls, the title on the line. Abu Dhabi, given the championship situation and the drama, ditto. It also had Raikkonen crowning his comeback season with a win.

Canada was another great strategy race that was alive to the end but neither Valencia nor Silverstone would be out of place in a top three either.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Webber; 4. Button; 5. Rosberg

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Lotus; 5. Ferrari

Alonso and Ferrari emerged from a miserable pre-season to nearly claim the title © LAT

Well, at least I got the champions right. Knew it was iffy leaving Alonso out of the top five, even given the pre-season testing, and paid the price. Should have known better! Ferrari should also have been higher therefore.

While I suspected that Mercedes and Lotus would do a stronger job than 2011, I got the extent of it the wrong way around. Mercedes didn't do as well as I expected and Lotus did better.

Dieter Rencken (DR)

1. Alonso; 2. Vettel; 3. Raikkonen; 4. Hamilton; 5. Hulkenberg

It was close, but ultimately Fernando gets the nod over Sebastian on account of taking the title fight to the last lap of the final race in a car that should have been out of the running by Monza. Focused, relentless and calculating - that was Alonso. Vettel, though, played the long game and it paid off, while Kimi Raikkonen proved it is possible to make a winning comeback.

Hamilton was as up and down as his moods, but when he was on it he was peerless, while The Hulk clearly has a bright future, as his drive in Brazil proved.

Kobayashi's moment of glory at Suzuka © XPB

1. Brazil; 2. USA; 3. Japan

For mouth-drying excitement Interlagos has no equal, proving classic circuits, wet weather and enthusiasm mix wonderfully, particularly when titles are at stake.

Austin's first effort was fine... but one wonders what contribution was made by the artificially slippery surface. For fairytale stuff look no further than Suzuka, where Kamui Kobayashi's podium drove the inscrutable home crowd delirious as chaos reigned behind him.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Webber; 3. Hamilton; 4. Button; 5. Alonso

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Ferrari; 4. Mercedes; 5. Lotus/Force India

Had it dead right on Vettel and Red Bull, with the balance of drivers/teams much as predicted, although I did Alonso a major disservice by suggesting he would be fifth. But who in March could have guessed he would carry that Ferrari to such great heights? Which is why he is the season's number one driver...

Sam Tremayne (ST)

1. Hamilton; 2. Alonso; 3. Vettel; 4. Hulkenberg; 5. Raikkonen

It seems a touch bizarre that the man sitting pretty with three straight world championship crowns is only third in my list, but there are genuine cases for both Hamilton and Alonso to be ranked ahead of him.

Hamilton ended rather too many races on foot © LAT

For the Briton, read a qualifying advantage of 16-4 against Button and a return of four victories even after retirements from the lead in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. For Alonso - well, dragging an uncompetitive car to within three points of the title is a testament alone.

1. Brazil; 2. Spain; 3. USA

How could Brazil not be top? A championship finale that was also a decider; a first-lap collision for the champion-elect and a fantastic fight back even as the heavens played havoc. Breathless and irresistible, it was pure theatre.

Barcelona was less wild, but no less compelling. In Maldonado the sport had a new winner, and in his controlled precision Williams seemed - almost - to have a new driver. Austin also featured a pass for the lead, but it earns a place in my top three more for the atmosphere and charisma of proceedings, right down to the cowboy podium hats.

Prediction:

1. Vettel; 2. Hamilton; 3. Webber; 4. Button; 5. Rosberg

1. Red Bull; 2. McLaren; 3. Mercedes; 4. Ferrari; 5. Force India

I missed two big performers in Alonso and Raikkonen, but their superlative seasons were definitely a happy surprise. It was clear from testing that Ferrari was struggling - Alonso even attested to that post-season - and yet he was still able to take the title down to the wire long after McLaren and Lotus's challenges had faded. If that's the outcome of underestimating him, I'll be happy to repeat the mistake.

That of course hurt my prediction for the constructors' battle, while my shout of Mercedes cracking the top three was perhaps more wild optimism than deliberately calculated. The squad did at least (just) hang on to fifth, but was still some distance behind the impressive Lotus, rejuvenated by a new line-up led by a certain 2007 world champion.