2012 Korean Grand Prix

The 2012 Korean Grand Prix was the 16th race of the 2012 Formula One Season. It was held at the Korea International Circuit near Yeongam, South Korea on October 14 2012.
Mark Webber started the race on pole position, ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel took the lead on the first lap and held it throughout the race, winning by over eight seconds ahead of Webber. Fernando Alonso finished in third place. As a result, Vettel took the lead in the Championship from Alonso, who had held it since June.
__TOC__
==Background==
Tyres Available	Tyres Available	Tyres Available	Tyres Available
Option 	Prime 	Inter 	Wet
 	 	 	
Going into the race, driver Fernando Alonso led the Drivers' World Championship, a lead which he had held since the in June.
The Korea International Circuit was unchanged from the 2011 event, despite complaints by numerous teams about the dangerous pit-entry and pit-exit. The pit entry is on the racing line behind a high wall, so fast cars exiting the final corner cannot see cars ahead slowing down for the pit-entry. Also, the pit-exit leads directly into the braking zone for turn 1. This led to a collision in the second practice session in 2011, when Nico Rosberg hit Jaime Alguersuari as the Spaniard was emerging from the pit-lane. In the 2012 race, no major incidents were caused by the unconventional pit-lane.
Pedro de la Rosa made his 100th career start in this race. He started 22nd on the grid before retiring on lap 17 with a throttle malfunction.
==Entry list==
The full entry list for the is shown below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB8 	 	RS27-2012 	
2 	Mark Webber 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB8 	 	RS27-2012 	
3 	Jenson Button 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-27 	 	FO 108Z 	
4 	Lewis Hamilton 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-27 	 	FO 108Z 	
5 	Fernando Alonso 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F2012 	 	056 	
6 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F2012 	 	056 	
7 	Michael Schumacher 	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	 	W03 	 	FO 108Z 	
8 	Nico Rosberg 	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	 	W03 	 	FO 108Z 	
9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Lotus F1 Team 	 	E20 	 	RS27-2012 	
10 	Romain Grosjean 	Lotus F1 Team 	 	E20 	 	RS27-2012 	
11 	Paul di Resta 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM05 	 	FO 108Z 	
12 	Nico Hülkenberg 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM05 	 	FO 108Z 	
14 	Kamui Kobayashi 	Sauber F1 Team 	 	C31 	 	056 	
15 	Sergio Pérez 	Sauber F1 Team 	 	C31 	 	056 	
16 	Daniel Ricciardo 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR7 	 	056 	
17 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR7 	 	056 	
18 	Pastor Maldonado 	Williams F1 	 	FW34 	 	RS27-2012 	
19 	Bruno Senna 	Williams F1 	 	FW34 	 	RS27-2012 	
20 	Heikki Kovalainen 	Caterham F1 Team 	 	CT01 	 	RS27-2012 	
21 	Vitaly Petrov 	Caterham F1 Team 	 	CT01 	 	RS27-2012 	
22 	Pedro de la Rosa 	HRT F1 Team 	 	F112 	 	CA2012 	
23 	Narain Karthikeyan 	HRT F1 Team 	 	F112 	 	CA2012 	
24 	Timo Glock 	Marussia F1 Team 	 	MR01 	 	CA2012 	
25 	Charles Pic 	Marussia F1 Team 	 	MR01 	 	CA2012 	
Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only 	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only	Free Practice 1 only
12 	Jules Bianchi 	Sahara Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM05 	 	FO 108Z 	
19 	Valtteri Bottas 	Williams F1 	 	FW34 	 	RS27-2012 	
20 	Giedo van der Garde 	Caterham F1 Team 	 	CT01 	 	RS27-2012 	
23 	Dani Clos 	HRT F1 Team 	 	F112 	 	CA2012 	
==Practice Overview==
===Practice results===
No.	Driver 	Team		FP1	FP1 		FP2	FP2 		FP3	FP3
No.	Driver 	Team		Pos	Time 		Pos	Time 		Pos	Time
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	 		5 	1:40.088		1 	1:38.832		1 	1:37.642
2 	Mark Webber 	 		3 	1:39.575		2 	1:38.864		7 	1:38.766
3 	Jenson Button 	 		10 	1:40.480		4 	1:39.219		3 	1:38.511
4 	Lewis Hamilton 	 		1 	1:39.148		8 	1:39.717		2 	1:38.169
5 	Fernando Alonso 	 		2 	1:39.450		3 	1:39.160		6 	1:38.705
6 	Felipe Massa 	 		4 	1:39.854		6 	1:39.422		8 	1:38.791
7 	Michael Schumacher 	 		6 	1:40.221		5 	1:39.330		13 	1:39.150
8 	Nico Rosberg 	 		7 	1:40.396		7 	1:39.584		12 	1:39.010
9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 		11 	1:40.929		10 	1:39.839		5 	1:38.666
10 	Romain Grosjean 	 		8 	1:40.422		11 	1:39.957		4 	1:38.582
11 	Paul di Resta 	 		9 	1:40.440		13 	1:40.112		14 	1:39.156
12 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 		DNP	DNP 		9 	1:39.739		10 	1:38.932
12 	Jules Bianchi 	 		13 	1:41.140		DNP	DNP 		DNP	DNP
14 	Kamui Kobayashi 	 		14 	1:41.220		14 	1:40.445		15 	1:39.345
15 	Sergio Pérez 	 		15 	1:41.514		15 	1:40.745		11 	1:38.954
16 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 		16 	1:41.596		17 	1:40.997		17 	1:39.537
17 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	 		17 	1:42.021		16 	1:40.789		16 	1:39.448
18 	Pastor Maldonado 	 		12 	1:41.048		18 	1:41.200		9 	1:38.833
19 	Bruno Senna 	 		DNP	DNP 		12 	1:40.089		18 	1:39.706
19 	Valtteri Bottas 	 		18 	1:42.027		DNP	DNP 		DNP	DNP
20 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 		19 	1:42.104		19 	1:41.602		20 	1:41.437
21 	Vitaly Petrov 	 		DNP	DNP 		22 	1:43.067		19 	1:41.114
21 	Giedo van der Garde	 		22 	1:42.820		DNP	DNP 		DNP	DNP
22 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 		23 	1:44.517		24 	1:44.533		24 	1:42.882
23 	Narain Karthikeyan 	 		DNP	DNP 		23 	1:43.869		23 	1:42.845
23 	Dani Clos 	 		24 	1:45.735		DNP	DNP 		DNP	DNP
24 	Timo Glock 	 		20 	1:42.175		20 	1:42.596		22 	1:42.062
25 	Charles Pic 	 		21 	1:42.706		21 	1:43.066		21 	1:41.684
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
Pos. 	No.	Driver 	Team		Q1 	Q1 		Q2 	Q2 		Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No.	Driver 	Team		Pos 	Time 		Pos	Time 		Pos	Time 	Grid
1 	2 	Mark Webber 	 		2 	1:38.397 		4 	1:38.220		1 	1:37.242	1
2 	1 	Sebastian Vettel 	 		1 	1:38.208 		1 	1:37.767		2 	1:37.316	2
3 	4 	Lewis Hamilton 	 		17 	1:39.180 		3 	1:38.000		3 	1:37.469	3
4 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 		16 	1:39.144 		2 	1:37.987		4 	1:37.534	4
5 	9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 		10 	1:38.887 		5 	1:38.227		5 	1:37.625	5
6 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 		11 	1:38.937 		6 	1:38.253		6 	1:37.884	6
7 	10 	Romain Grosjean 	 		10 	1:38.863 		7 	1:38.275		7 	1:37.934	7
8 	12 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 		13 	1:38.981 		9 	1:38.428		8 	1:38.266	8
9 	8 	Nico Rosberg 	 		14 	1:38.99 		8 	1:38.417		9 	1:38.361	9
10 	7 	Michael Schumacher	 		8 	1:38.808 		10 	1:38.436		10 	1:38.513	10
11 	3 	Jenson Button 	 		3 	1:38.615 		11 	1:38.441		 	 	11
12 	15 	Sergio Pérez 	 		4 	1:38.630 		12 	1:38.460		 	 	12
13 	14 	Kamui Kobayashi 	 		5 	1:38.719 		13 	1:38.594		 	 	13
14 	11 	Paul di Resta 	 		12 	1:38.942 		14 	1:38.643		 	 	14
15 	18 	Pastor Maldonado 	 		15 	1:39.024 		15 	1:38.725		 	 	15
16 	16 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 		7 	1:38.784 		16 	1:39.084		 	 	21
17 	17 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	 		6 	1:38.744 		17 	1:39.340		 	 	16
18 	19 	Bruno Senna 	 		18 	1:39.443 		 	 		 	 	17
19 	21 	Vitaly Petrov 	 		19 	1:40.207 		 	 		 	 	18
20 	20 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 		20 	1:40.333 		 	 		 	 	19
21 	25 	Charles Pic 	 		21 	1:41.317 		 	 		 	 	24
22 	24 	Timo Glock 	 		22 	1:41.371 		 	 		 	 	20
23 	22 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 		23 	1:42.881 		 	 		 	 	22
–	23 	Narain Karthikeyan	 		No time set	No time set		 	 		 	 	23
===Grid===
* Daniel Ricciardo was given a five-place for an unscheduled gearbox change.
† Narain Karthikeyan did not set a time due to a brake failure, but was allowed to race at the steward's discretion.
‡ Charles Pic was given a ten-place grid penalty for using a ninth engine this season.
==Race==
===Results===
Pos 	No 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time 	Grid 	Pts
1 	1 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	55 	1:36:28.651 	2 	25
2 	2 	Mark Webber 	 	55 	+8.231s 	2 	18
3 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 	55 	+13.944 	4 	15
4 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 	55 	+20.168 	6 	12
5 	9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	55 	+36.739 	5 	10
6 	12 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	55 	+45.301 	8 	8
7 	10 	Romain Grosjean 	 	55 	+54.812 	7 	6
8 	17 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	 	55 	+1:09.589 	16 	4
9 	16 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	55 	+1:11.787 	21 	2
10 	4 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	55 	+1:19.692 	12 	1
11 	15 	Sergio Pérez 	 	55 	+1:20.062 	12 	
12 	11 	Paul di Resta 	 	55 	+1:24.448 	14 	
13 	7 	Michael Schumacher	 	55 	+1:29.241 	10 	
14 	18 	Pastor Maldonado 	 	55 	+1:34.924 	15 	
15 	19 	Bruno Senna 	 	55 	+1:36.902 	17 	
16 	21 	Vitaly Petrov 	 	54 	+1 Lap 	18 	
17 	20 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	54 	+1 Lap 	19 	
18 	24 	Timo Glock 	 	54 	+1 Lap 	20 	
19 	25 	Charles Pic 	 	53 	+2 Laps 	24 	
20 	23 	Narain Karthikeyan	 	53 	+2 Laps 	23 	
Not classified	Not classified	Not classified 	Not classified	Not classified	Not classified 	Not classified 	Not classified
Ret 	22 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	16 	Throttle 	Throttle 	Throttle
Ret 	14 	Kamui Kobayashi 	 	16 	Collision damage 	Collision damage 	Collision damage
Ret 	8 	Nico Rosberg 	 	1 	Collision/Puncture	Collision/Puncture	Collision/Puncture
Ret 	3 	Jenson Button 	 	0 	Collision 	Collision 	Collision
==Milestones==
* Pedro de la Rosa: 100th start (103 race entries)
* 's 200th pole position as an engine supplier.
* Sebastian Vettel's 25th race win.
* 75th and 76th podiums for .
* Having taken the lead on the opening lap, Vettel has now led 145 consecutive laps.
==Standings after the race==
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts
1 	Sebastian Vettel 	215
2 	Fernando Alonso 	209
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	167
4 	Lewis Hamilton 	153
5 	Mark Webber 	152
6 	Jenson Button 	131
7 	Nico Rosberg 	93
8 	Romain Grosjean 	88
9 	Felipe Massa 	81
10 	Sergio Pérez 	66
11 	Kamui Kobayashi 	50
12 	Nico Hülkenberg 	45
13 	Paul di Resta 	44
14 	Michael Schumacher 	43
15 	Pastor Maldonado 	33
16 	Bruno Senna 	25
17 	Jean-Éric Vergne 	12
18 	Daniel Ricciardo 	9
19 	Heikki Kovalainen 	0
20 	Vitaly Petrov 	0
21 	Timo Glock 	0
22 	Charles Pic 	0
23 	Narain Karthikeyan 	0
24 	Pedro de la Rosa 	0
25 	Jérôme d'Ambrosio 	0
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts
1 	 	367
2 	 	290
3 	 	284
4 	 	239
5 	 	136
6 	 	114
7 	 	89
8 	 	58
9 	 	20
10 	 	0
11 	 	0
12 	 	0
==Notes==
Category:Korean Grand Prix
Category:2012 Grands Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles