With several team and driver changes over the winter break, we take a look at what the 2012 Formula 1 Season might bring...

With the clock ticking to the start of both the Summer Olympics and the European Championships in football, there is no better time to look forward to 2012, which is guaranteed to be a great year for sport. However, before these high profile events kick-off there is the much anticipated return of Formula 1 in March to look forward to with many drivers, past and present, tipping 2012 to be the most competitive season in years.

The main reason for the excitement is that for the first time in the history of the sport there will be six world champions racing this season. Many will be interested to find out whether current title holder, Sebastien Vettel, can sustain the dominant form of 2011 into the new campaign and whether his team-mate Mark Webber can build on his victory at Brazil last year. Should Red-Bull slip up slightly this season there will be a host of drivers who will be well placed to pounce including the perennial challengers of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at McLaren. Hamilton in particular, is relishing the chance to be back behind the wheel after a disappointing 2011 where is seemed at times, that everything that had the potential to go wrong, did go wrong.

After an equally disappointing season for Ferrari, the Italian team are looking to make amends and rack up a number of victories to improve on last year’s single triumph. Fernando Alonso believes that the team will return to the grid as a stronger force with both he and Felipe Massa hoping that their car will be increasingly competitive throughout the year. A look ahead to the season could never be complete without mentioning the mercurial figure of Michael Schumacher. It doesn’t matter whether you are an adoring fan or one who thinks that his comeback was a mistake, the thought of him returning to the form of old is an exciting one!

Aside from the teams who we expect to challenge for the coveted title, there have been interesting developments for Lotus (formally Renault), Williams and Caterham (formally Lotus). Bruno Senna, nephew of the three time champion Ayrton Senna has signed for Williams and it is hoped that he will display his undoubted talent during the coming season. Lotus have signed Kimi Raikkonen in a much publicised deal and it will be interesting to see how he copes in his return to the sport.

If you want to enjoy the action this season, join ITC Sports at one of our featured races in Melbourne, Malaysia, Hungary, Singapore, Abu Dhabi or of course Monaco to enjoy the best of what these unique venues have to offer. Alternatively ITC Sports are happy to create a tailor-made itinerary for any one of the other races on the calendar. With the 2012 season promising so much, these races are not to be missed!

Dom Thurlow-Wood
Published: 20 January 2012