Vettel vs Alonso 2012: the tightest title of the modern era
Alonso extracted the impossible from an inferior Ferrari. Vettel came back from 6th place. 3 points separated them at the end.
The simulation's verdict
Fernando Alonso would have won the 2012 title in 88% of the 200 simulations.
Sebastian Vettel
Fernando Alonso
Who finished ahead
Based on 200 simulations of the 2012 season. Numbers can vary each time you play.
Historical context
The 2012 season is considered one of the most exciting in modern history. Alonso delivered one of the best championships of his career with a Ferrari clearly inferior to Vettel's Red Bull. In the end, just 3 points separated both drivers. What would have happened on equal terms?
The real 2012 season
The 2012 season is remembered as one of the most unpredictable and exciting of the modern era. Seven different drivers won the first seven races, something never seen before, in a year of huge parity at the front. Fernando Alonso produced one of the finest campaigns of his life: with a clearly inferior Ferrari, he led the championship for much of the year through podiums, wet-weather wins and extraordinary consistency. Sebastian Vettel, by contrast, found his rhythm in the closing stretch and strung together wins to climb the standings. It all came down to a chaotic, rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix: Alonso recovered after a first-corner clash, but Vettel, also hit on the opening lap, regrouped just enough to seal his third consecutive title by only three points.
Real champion: Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull RB8. Brazil 2012: Alonso is hit on the first corner and recovers to 8th — not enough for the title. See the full 2012 season →
The drivers
Sebastian Vettel was the child prodigy who became a four-time champion before turning twenty-seven. He debuted with BMW Sauber in 2007, scoring on his first race, and in 2008 gave Toro Rosso a historic win in the Monza rain, becoming the youngest winner in history at the time. At Red Bull, alongside designer Adrian Newey, he forged a dynasty: four consecutive championships between 2010 and 2013. Full profile →
Fernando Alonso is the most decorated Spanish driver in history and, for many, one of the most complete ever. The Asturian from Oviedo broke the Ferrari-Schumacher stranglehold with Renault, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and becoming the youngest champion in history at the time. What cemented his legend was not only those titles but his knack for wringing more from cars than they should give. Full profile →
How it's simulated
The engine recreates qualifying (Q1, Q2, Q3) and every Grand Prix with the ~20 real drivers of 2012, weighing each car's performance, driver skill, weather, safety cars and tyre wear. Learn how the simulator works →
Season
2012
Mode
Free duel
Tags
Choose driver, car and season. The engine simulates the full championship with real drivers.