The 2012 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan on 7 October 2012 at 15:00 local time. The race was the fifteenth round of the 2012 season, and marked the 38th running of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Paul di Resta and Michael Schumacher (picture) each crashed at Spoon curve in Free Practice 2.
Räikkönen spun at Spoon curve.
Romain Grosjean was once again the center of controversy when he collided on the first lap with Mark Webber.
2012 Formula One World Championship
The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 66th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 63rd FIA Formula One World Championship, a motor racing series for Formula One cars, recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) – the governing body of motorsport – as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The championship was contested over twenty rounds, which started in Australia on 18 March and ended in Brazil on 25 November. The 2012 season saw the return of the United States Grand Prix, which was held at the Circuit of the Americas, a purpose-built circuit in Austin, Texas. After being cancelled in 2011 due to civil protests, the Bahrain Grand Prix also returned to the calendar.
Sebastian Vettel (pictured in 2011) became a three-time World Champion with Red Bull Racing.
Fernando Alonso, driving for Ferrari, finished runner-up, three points behind Vettel.
Kimi Räikkönen finished the season in third place on his return to F1, driving for Lotus.
The Red Bull RB8 is the car entered by defending World Constructors' Champion Red Bull, and which won the World Constructors' Championship in 2012.
