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) as the highest class of competition in open-wheel racing. The season was notable for a record-breaking seven different winners in the first seven races, and Sebastian Vettel clinching his third consecutive Drivers' Championship title at the final race in Brazil, beating Fernando Alonso by just three points.
Jenson Button won the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne, marking the first race of the 2012 season. This began a remarkable streak of seven different winners in the first seven races, a Formula 1 record.
Fernando Alonso claimed a surprise victory for Ferrari in wet conditions at Sepang, with Sergio Pérez finishing second for Sauber, just 2.2 seconds behind. This was the second different winner in as many races.
Nico Rosberg took his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, securing Mercedes' first win as a constructor since 1955. He started from pole and won by over 20 seconds.
Pastor Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, giving Williams their first victory since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. It was Maldonado's only F1 win and came on the weekend of Frank Williams' 70th birthday.
Fernando Alonso won the European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia, becoming the first driver to win twice in 2012 and ending the streak of seven different winners. He became the first driver to win a race from outside the top 10 on the grid since 1983.
Lewis Hamilton officially announced he would leave McLaren at the end of the 2012 season to join Mercedes AMG Petronas, replacing Michael Schumacher who was retiring. The multi-year deal was one of the biggest driver transfers in recent F1 history.
Red Bull Racing won the 2012 Constructors' Championship, their third consecutive title, with a total of 460 points across the season. Ferrari finished second with 400 points and McLaren third with 378 points.
Sebastian Vettel secured his third consecutive World Drivers' Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix despite dropping to last place on the first lap after a collision. He recovered to finish sixth, while title rival Fernando Alonso finished second. Vettel won the title by just three points, the closest margin since 1984.
