First off a look at the drivers confirmed for 2012 can be found here:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012-f1-seas ... ers-teams/
Secondly a good write up on the testing done by the young drivers after the Abu Dhabi GP. Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari were seen testing the new exhaust regulations and this looks to be the hot topic for 2012 The write up and analysis on that testing can be found here:
http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/11/2 ... -exhausts/
Follow the link for further reading.Analysis: Abu Dhabi Test – 2012 Exhausts
Last weeks Young Driver Test was the first chance for teams to try exhausts systems designed to the revised 2012 rules. Next year teams will have to place the exhaust exits in a specific region of the car, with further restrictions on the pipes shape and angle. These changes have been introduced to ban the blowing of the diffuser for aerodynamic gain. While I have detailed these rules previously (http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/2 ... n-effects/), we can start to look at what the teams have been doing in Abu Dhabi.
Three teams brought revised exhausts, most notably Williams who ran their exhaust in all three days of the test, while Mercedes did less running with their interim set up and Ferrari tried a non legal exhaust on just one of the testing days.
Williams
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/Start rumour mill
Kimi is linked to Williams but the latest on that rumour front is that the deal has fallen through because Frank Williams refuses to give Kimi shares in the racing company.
Kubica is confirmed to be missing testing/practice sessions building up to 2012 and will probably be missing the first half of 2012 and he is linked to Ferrari if Massa does not shape up and on the Massa side...
Massa has been given the ultimatum to shape in 2012 or he could be looking for a new drive come 2013 so expect him to be pushing hard.
//End rumour mill...