2012 European Grand Prix fastest laps

2012 European Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Sebastian Vettel retired while leading the European Grand Prix but his pace in the opening laps of the race may have his rivals worried.

European Grand Prix lap times

All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded):

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2012drivercolours.csv

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657
Sebastian Vettel110.454105.759105.584105.602105.409105.168105.412105.341105.856105.415105.423105.602105.818105.95106.21115.623115.953104.555104.69105.008104.832104.988104.644104.611104.707104.998105.328106.162139.743160.201159.481156.334148.102
Lewis Hamilton112.423107.792106.968107.052106.186106.063106.106105.83106.278107.683106.876107.052120.65112.313106.653106.35106.276106.465106.606106.118105.99106.033106.089105.886105.746105.9106.203138.613134.249115.406151.067156.759145.007106.975105.279104.627104.324104.423104.091104.379104.477104.374104.007104.275104.105104.436104.44104.607104.64104.748105.226105.292105.373106.152109.334
Pastor Maldonado114.989107.7106.786106.534107.035106.452106.295106.227106.257106.355106.987107.905108.776123.965110.753105.444106.381109.319109.782108.615105.305104.865106.424105.045105.123105.686105.632132.37136.033114.846149.095156.109143.021107.794106.1106.34106.348104.17104.148104.094104.459104.388104.064104.157104.399104.506104.417104.288104.275104.675104.614104.827104.735105.01106.35120.267120.743
Romain Grosjean113.198107.433107.167106.998106.217106.125106.14105.978105.891106.329105.923106.177106.958106.717107.045121.383110.71106.286105.883105.31105.767105.338105.018104.722104.451104.695104.148129.02133.403130.502155.02155.877147.525107.084105.493104.639104.163103.764103.873104.437
Kimi Raikkonen115.542108.188106.806106.29106.821106.541106.287106.556105.894106.235106.979107.778107.182123.048110.577106.394107.17108.61109.935106.585105.507105.284106.046105.031104.728104.828105.051130.443134.143116.339151.05156.939145.779107.382105.936104.315104.545104.272104.041104.241104.883104.464103.686104.15104.184104.284104.562104.662105.065105.05104.793105.044105.217106.263107.443106.137107.865
Nico Rosberg118.985108.383107.736107.176107.547107.265107.175107.062107.328107.464107.025106.861107.114107.16106.958107.172107.626108.411108.601122.319111.561106.558106.276106.352105.973106.038106.177119.274130.302118.221147.036157.324144.888110.135108.229107.171105.93106.011105.212104.902105.242105.045105.317105.061105.19118.936109.908105.261103.191102.614102.753102.7102.624102.163102.81104.76105.312
Kamui Kobayashi114.467106.801106.963107.148106.438106.28106.351106.169106.294106.534107.074107.346107.904124.872111.239105.819106.882108.997110.062128.202110.617105.082105.725105.184105.651105.379105.183121.197131.188109.614148.397156.357141.886
Nico Hulkenberg116.554107.359107.697106.582106.717106.683107.128106.692106.764106.91106.976108.287107.373123.203111.486106.117106.133106.277109.977108.609106.545106.155106.226106.285106.308106.235106.562130.041132.164114.622149.014156.269142.689107.615106.215106.221106.376104.666104.264104.226104.741104.658104.707104.41104.229104.376104.709104.751104.682104.766105.036105.501105.667106.132106.866108.619110.57
Jenson Button120.025108.828107.235106.804107.403107.369107.348107.348107.3120.989110.803106.233106.563106.789106.434106.51105.952106.314109.248109.135106.277106.358106.306106.26106.327119.831110.12123.864130.334112.772143.704155.909141.182107.939106.486106.308105.75105.94105.224105.77105.448105.211104.993105.258105.009104.93104.924104.806106.442105.109104.993104.944105.395105.729105.623107.265107.932
Paul di Resta117.713108.08107.519107.344107.242107.165107.253106.84106.82106.738106.763107.008107.21107.555107.333107.48107.8107.997108.761109.008109.427110.475126.019111.523106.016105.6105.375120.5126.855113.758149.215156.449142.354107.565106.428106.081106.168105.277104.963104.824104.731104.626104.417104.496104.101104.714104.502104.649104.7105.256105.318105.363106.118107.097107.374108.375109.177
Fernando Alonso117.156107.741107.268106.973106.925106.907106.726106.583106.492106.804106.954106.826106.202106.435119.822110.692107.037107.678107.301105.797105.573106.224105.669105.539105.313105.437105.176128.369135.221117.85151.89156.076146.8106.122105.764104.518104.141103.754103.921103.666104.018104.692103.808104.139104.308104.215104.102104.617104.689105.354105.333105.272105.14105.329105.259106.102108.93
Michael Schumacher119.626108.471108.651107.167107.616107.331107.285107.232107.522107.363107.37107.209107.458107.555107.676108.298108.423108.877125.247111.923106.005105.481105.398105.312105.414105.187104.871118.873130.614117.299148.709156.433143.447107.386106.578106.263104.823104.236104.273104.434118.497109.203103.099104.073104.096103.366103.307103.67104.065103.232103.34103.577105.022104.012105.87107.049104.474
Felipe Massa118.359107.933107.39107.612107.085107.271107.516106.799107.394107.172121.209111.217106.302105.976106.075105.908106.128106.91110.247108.386106.428106.198106.395106.299106.238106.363120.409127.129130.468112.131144.97156.193141.201159.636111.026104.431104.506104.793104.68104.566105.397104.907104.822104.728104.989105.711106.124106.166108.496106.589107.233107.838122.377110.82108.498107.738
Bruno Senna120.541109.962108.177107.433107.575107.033107.378107.54107.212107.217106.99107.305107.082107.343108.241107.583108.072109.307110.681177.687112.299106.347106.393114.926111.565107.085115.654131.029133.169153.968111.925114.723111.98106.441106.491105.779105.507104.864105.012104.799104.972104.849104.655104.111104.296104.5105.642105.068105.24104.294104.687104.565104.822104.478104.649105.746105.721
Sergio Perez120.803110.398107.769107.574107.546107.11107.23107.759107.072122.199110.155104.63105.458106.41106.192106.198106.163106.208108.994109.443106.3106.399106.516107.028123.01110.032104.604121.346130.432113.097143.377155.827141.302107.744107.558105.466105.196106.222104.945106.102104.513104.087103.526103.799103.914104.579104.481104.743104.63104.997105.541105.916107.582106.944107.33108.201111.829
Heikki Kovalainen122.293110.46108.577107.721107.968107.781107.97107.848109.3108.288108.09123.763112.404107.669106.748106.889106.796107.129107.071107.773107.277106.964108.455106.918106.981107.574168.264134.473138.224152.022114.328114.737110.52107.605108.215106.94106.074105.911105.751105.294105.865105.798105.374105.686105.913106.358106.891106.688107.256107.372107.761108.359109.134109.342111.838112.48114.123
Daniel Ricciardo121.419110.322107.891107.663107.501107.212107.104107.752107.282107.218107.101107.062107.211123.965111.867105.636106.408105.943105.91106.427106.127105.779105.821105.719106.346106.112106.007118.763130.441115.989151.3156.27146.587107.039107.621106.272123.202111.004104.499104.13104.399103.98103.933103.674103.992104.957119.218104.915104.403104.004104.495104.564104.281104.281104.472104.994105.206
Jean-Eric Vergne123.666110.137109.512108.768108.179107.73107.654107.796108.078107.957108.036108.401109.174108.973108.738108.485124.442113.022106.512106.504106.04105.491105.745105.656105.907106.573
Mark Webber121.958110.393108.116107.803107.403107.403107.048107.725107.263107.391107.07107.18107.07106.955106.986107.552108.021109.223119.687116.764106.421105.396105.18105.406105.272105.647105.458119.366131.11115.383148.676156.306143.022107.874106.332106.076107.231115.249113.169102.717103.041104.32103.441103.836104.218103.495103.439103.361103.945103.594103.23103.258104.876104.721105.18106.734105.286
Vitaly Petrov123.017110.162108.923108.019108.06107.482107.745107.894108.139107.81107.802108.386123.042111.532106.253106.501106.401106.623106.478107.72108.344106.961106.819107.626123.037111.203107.069143.11120.451110.181116.843155.723140.175108.298106.907106.7106.311105.889105.699105.729105.921105.654105.541105.772107.888106.524140.348111.449109.01105.849107.28105.851104.314104.253104.8104.936106.066
Pedro de la Rosa124.395110.354109.39109.352109.233109.021109.126109.179109.442109.436110.129109.956110.542129.824113.433107.498107.447107.482107.962108.192107.864107.967107.924108.677109.205110.241109.986149.915142.93151.564115.266114.059110.491107.564107.201106.799108.223107.597107.323106.854106.998106.921107.036107.664107.182107.361108.267108.397111.283110.025109.748109.786109.763110.334114.562114.065
Narain Karthikeyan124.997110.63110.461109.623109.514110.128109.389111.02110.082109.654109.948110.373111.141112.32127.887116.944108.637108.362107.921107.803109.307108.034108.129108.048108.069107.868116.356125.06167.258146.301120.751108.231107.612107.836107.262107.038106.94106.788116.604113.99106.51106.388106.601106.791106.96106.864106.71106.947106.785107.359107.674108.07110.073109.786115.003114.865
Charles Pic125.68110.767110.859109.612109.592109.56109.335111.361109.92109.664135.605112.986107.361107.807107.49107.861107.807107.798107.742107.847107.958107.801107.654107.655109.156108.185108.714149.794143.399151.981114.652114.932110.209107.55107.733107.434107.795106.717106.867107.074107.125106.894106.701107.45107.44107.263108.175108.173109.888108.343107.504107.662107.356107.731108.168108.26109.153

In the opening laps of the race it seemed as though Lewis Hamilton was inadvertently aiding Sebastian Vettel’s escape by holding up Romain Grosjean and his pursuers.

But when Grosjean got past Hamilton he was only able to reduce the amount of time being lost to Vettel, not reverse or even halt it. Vettel pulled away at more than a second per lap in the opening laps and once Grosjean appeared behind him he was still able to find up to a second on occasions.

Red Bull introduced a substantial upgrade for the RB8 this weekend with reconfigured exhaust exits featuring a tunnel underneath them and changes to the diffuser and rear wing. Have these helped unlock a new level of performance from the car?

European Grand Prix fastest laps

Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap of the race after switching to a fresh set of soft tyres in the final 11 laps.

Each driver’s fastest lap:

RankDriverCarFastest lapGapOn lap
1Nico RosbergMercedes1’42.16354
2Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault1’42.7170.55440
3Michael SchumacherMercedes1’43.0990.93643
4Sergio PerezSauber-Ferrari1’43.5261.36343
5Fernando AlonsoFerrari1’43.6661.50340
6Daniel RicciardoToro Rosso-Ferrari1’43.6741.51144
7Kimi RaikkonenLotus-Renault1’43.6861.52343
8Romain GrosjeanLotus-Renault1’43.7641.60138
9Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes1’44.0071.84443
10Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Renault1’44.0641.90143
11Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes1’44.1011.93845
12Bruno SennaWilliams-Renault1’44.1111.94844
13Nico HulkenbergForce India-Mercedes1’44.2262.06340
14Vitaly PetrovCaterham-Renault1’44.2532.09054
15Felipe MassaFerrari1’44.4312.26836
16Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault1’44.5552.39218
17Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes1’44.8062.64348
18Kamui KobayashiSauber-Ferrari1’45.0822.91922
19Heikki KovalainenCaterham-Renault1’45.2943.13140
20Jean-Eric VergneToro Rosso-Ferrari1’45.4913.32822
21Narain KarthikeyanHRT-Cosworth1’46.3884.22542
22Charles PicMarussia-Cosworth1’46.7014.53843
23Pedro de la RosaHRT-Cosworth1’46.7994.63636

2012 European Grand Prix

Browse all 2012 European Grand Prix articles

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

7 comments on “2012 European Grand Prix fastest laps”

  1. So quick! Not watching the football, Keith? ;-)

    I’m still stunned to see how quickly Hamilton’s tyres went from not very good to completely undriveable. From around lap 43 to 53 he was more or less matching Alonso, then in lap 54 suddenly a 1m46.1 versus a 45.3 for Alonso, then the next lap a 1m49.3 (including trying to defend from Raikkonen, of course). In hindsight it would have been better, of course, to make another pit stop anywhere during the final stint, or to drive slower at some point, but with the cliff coming so suddenly, it becomes very hard for the pit wall to make the right strategy call.

    I certainly don’t blame McLaren for trying to hold on to P2, but at the same time I’m surprised not more teams try a late charge on fresh tyres. Obviously, having to pass other cars can cost time, but just look at the time Rosberg takes out of Alonso since his final pit stop. Between laps 49 and 55 he wins around 2.5 seconds per lap on Alonso! Also, DiResta passes Webber on track, and then the latter pits from behind him, and catches and passes him again, including overtaking other cars on the way to DiResta.

    1. If Raikonnen had pitted, I think he could’ve won..

    2. Because of the tyres allowing cars that have pitted to have such a advantage in speed, which is great for F1. It means that simply put, you can try a banzai move and it can work.

      F1 is so awesome.

  2. Vettel is unbelievably fast in the first part of the race. I’m really worried about it.

    1. He was unbelievably fast in Bahrein too.

      Hot conditions, lots of corners and Vettel liking the track determined Vettel’s pace.

  3. As a JB fan, v worried to see this pace…lets hope the rest of the European season goes better.

  4. Another astonishing gap from Vettel. Managing to bag yourself a free pit-stop is always good but having such supposedly tight competition by the teams makes it all the more impressive. Sticking it on pole by .3s under 2012 competitive conditions and pulling out a 20s gap makes for worrying times if you’re not driving the RB8.

Comments are closed.