The 2012 GP2 Series season was the forty-sixth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also eighth season under the GP2 Series moniker and also the first season after merging with the GP2 Asia Series.^[1] The championship was expanded to include rounds in Malaysia, Bahrain and Singapore, in support of the 2012 Formula One season.

The series adopted the points system used by Formula One for the feature race, with points awarded to the top ten drivers and twenty-five points on offer for victory. The points awarded in the sprint race were also changed, with the winner receiving fifteen points and top eight drivers receiving points. Further changes mean that drivers must use two compounds of tyres over a race weekend, as is the case in Formula One.^[2] The points awarded for pole position and the fastest lap of the race were doubled as well.

The title was won by Italian Davide Valsecchi, driving for DAMS. After leading in the championship after winning sprint race in Silverstone, Luiz Razia ultimately got to second in the championship after score four victories. Esteban Gutierrez came third with 3 victories and finished just ahead of Max Chilton, who had 2 wins.

Teams and drivers

Team	No.	Driver name	Rounds
Barwa Addax Team[3]	1	Johnny Cecotto Jr.[4][N 1]	All
	2	Josef Král[5]	1, 4–10
		Dani Clos[6]	2–3
		Jake Rosenzweig[7]	11–12
DAMS[3]	3	Davide Valsecchi[8]	All
	4	Felipe Nasr[9]	All
Racing Engineering[3]	5	Fabio Leimer[10]	All
	6	Nathanaël Berthon[11]	All
iSport International[3]	7	Marcus Ericsson[12]	All
	8	Jolyon Palmer[13]	All
Lotus GP[14][a]	9	James Calado[15]	All
	10	Esteban Gutiérrez[16]	All
Caterham Racing[17]	11	Rodolfo González[18][N 1]	All
	12	Giedo van der Garde[19]	All
Scuderia Coloni[3]	14	Stefano Coletti[20]	1–10
		Luca Filippi[21]	11–12
	15	Fabio Onidi[20]	All
Trident Racing[3]	16	Stéphane Richelmi[22]	All
	17	Julián Leal[23]	All
Venezuela GP Lazarus[24][b]	18	Fabrizio Crestani[25]	1–7
		Sergio Canamasas[26]	8–12
	19	Giancarlo Serenelli[27][N 1]	1–9
		René Binder[28]	10–12
Rapax[3]	20	Ricardo Teixeira[29]	1–5, 7–12
		Tom Dillmann[29]	6
	21	Tom Dillmann[29]	1–5, 8
		Daniël de Jong[30]	6–7, 9–10
		Stefano Coletti[31]	11–12
Arden International[3]	22	Simon Trummer[32]	All
	23	Luiz Razia[33]	All
Ocean Racing Technology[3]	24	Jon Lancaster[34]	1
		Brendon Hartley[35]	2–3
		Victor Guerin[36]	4–12
	25	Nigel Melker[37]	All
Carlin[38]	26	Max Chilton[38]	All
	27	Rio Haryanto[38]	All

Team changes

• Carlin Motorsport entered into a partnership with Russian car manufacturer Marussia Motors and Formula One team Marussia F1, forming a similar relationship to their alliance with GP3 Series team Manor Racing.^[38]
• After competing as Lotus ART in 2011, ART Grand Prix was renamed as Lotus Grand Prix in both the GP2 and GP3 Series championships, reflecting their increased relationship with title sponsor Lotus Cars.^[14] The cars will carry a black and gold livery modelled on the livery used by parent team Lotus F1.
• Team Lazarus replaced Super Nova Racing, using the name "Venezuela GP Lazarus".^[24]

Driver changes

Changed teams

• Ocean Racing Technology's Johnny Cecotto Jr. and Arden International's Josef Král both joined Barwa Addax Team.^[4][5]
• Stefano Coletti switched from Trident Racing to Scuderia Coloni, having driven for the team in the 2011 GP2 Final.^[20]
• After competing with Trident, Rodolfo González moved to Caterham.^[18]
• Fabio Leimer left Rapax to join Racing Engineering.^[10]
• Julián Leal moved from Rapax to Trident Racing, having competed for Trident at the 2011 GP2 Final in Abu Dhabi.^[39]
• Jolyon Palmer switched from Arden International to iSport International.^[13]
• Luiz Razia and Davide Valsecchi both moved from Caterham Team AirAsia to Arden International and DAMS respectively.^[8][33]
• Giedo van der Garde switched from teams' champions Barwa Addax Team to Caterham Racing; he also joined parent team Caterham F1 as test and reserve driver.^[19]

Entering/Re-entering GP2 Series

• French driver Nathanaël Berthon, who finished 13th in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, joined Racing Engineering.^[11]
• After finishing runner-up in the GP3 Series with Lotus ART, British driver James Calado joined the Lotus ART GP2 squadron, replacing Jules Bianchi.^[15]
• After competing at three rounds in 2010 with David Price Racing, Fabrizio Crestani returned to the series with Venezuela GP Lazarus, the team for which he competed in Auto GP.^[25]
• Tom Dillmann, who finished 14th in the GP3 Series, joined Rapax.^[29] Dillmann competed for iSport at the 2011 GP2 Final in Abu Dhabi.
• Rio Haryanto, who finished seventh in both the GP3 Series and Auto GP in 2011, joined Marussia Carlin.^[38] Haryanto competed for DAMS at the 2011 GP2 Final in Abu Dhabi.
• Auto GP race winner Jon Lancaster signed with Ocean Racing Technology.^[34]
• Dutch driver Nigel Melker, who finished third in the GP3 Series, joined Ocean Racing Technology.^[37] Melker had previously competed in the 2011 GP2 Final with DAMS.
• British Formula 3 champion Felipe Nasr joined DAMS for 2012.^[9]
• Italian Fabio Onidi, who finished fifth in Auto GP, signed with Scuderia Coloni.^[20] He competed in the 2011 GP2 Final with Super Nova Racing.
• Venezuelan Giancarlo Serenelli, a three-time LATAM Challenge Series champion, joined Venezuela GP Lazarus.^[27]
• Ricardo Teixeira, who competed in GP2 in 2009 with Trident Racing, returned to the series with Rapax.^[29]
• After competing for MW Arden in the GP3 Series, Swiss driver Simon Trummer joined Arden's GP2 team for 2012.^[32]

Leaving GP2

• Part-time Carlin driver and 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion Mikhail Aleshin returned to Formula Renault 3.5 with Team RFR.^[40]
• After competing in two seasons with ART Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi moved to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Tech 1 Racing^[41] whilst serving as Force India's third driver for the 2012 Formula One season.^[42]
• Sam Bird, who drove for iSport in 2011, also switched to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, joining the ISR team.^[43]
• After a partial campaign for Scuderia Coloni, Kevin Ceccon left the GP2 Series to debut in the GP3 Series with Ocean Racing Technology.^[44]
• Reigning champion Romain Grosjean returned to Formula One with Lotus.^[45]
• Álvaro Parente, who competed for Racing Engineering and Carlin Motorsport in 2011, joined the GT World Championship, driving for Hexis Racing.^[46]
• Barwa Addax driver Charles Pic moved into Formula One, signing a contract with Marussia F1.^[47]
• DAMS driver Pål Varhaug left the championship to compete in the 2012 Auto GP World Series.^[48]
• Two-time 2011 race-winner Christian Vietoris elected to concentrate on his DTM programme, joining the junior Mercedes scheme, earning a place in the HWA Team.^[49]

Mid-season changes

• René Binder replaced Giancarlo Serenelli in the Lazarus team for the tenth round of the championship, held at Spa-Francorchamps.^[28]
• Sergio Canamasas replaced Venezuela GP Lazarus' Fabrizio Crestani for the Hockenheim round of the championship.^[26]
• Dani Clos replaced Josef Král at the Barwa Addax Team for the Bahrain rounds of the championship.^[6] No explanation was given for the replacement. Král returned to the seat in Montmeló^[50] after Clos drove for HRT F1 in the first practice session of the Grand Prix;^[51] under the rules of the GP2 Series, no driver who takes part in a Grand Prix weekend is permitted to drive in the event's GP2 support races.
• In the week before the penultimate round of the championship at Monza, Scuderia Coloni announced that Stefano Coletti would be leaving the team with immediate effect as "season objectives" had not been met.^[52] Luca Filippi, who drove for the team when finished runner-up in 2011, was announced as Coletti's replacement.^[21] Coletti later joined Rapax, replacing Daniël de Jong.^[31]
• Brendon Hartley replaced Jon Lancaster at Ocean Racing Technology for the Bahrain rounds of the championship,^[35] for budgetary reasons.^[53] For the Catalunya round of the championship, Hartley was replaced by Victor Guerin.^[36]
• Daniël de Jong joined Rapax for the Valencia round after regular driver Ricardo Teixeira was taken ill.^[30] Tom Dillmann was moved to Teixeira's car to represent Teixeira's sponsors, while de Jong drove Dillmann's vacated car. Teixeira returned to his car for the Silverstone round, with de Jong replacing Dillmann; Dillmann rejoined the team in his original car for Hockenheim, before sitting out the remainder of the season.
• Jake Rosenzweig replaced Josef Král at the Barwa Addax Team for the penultimate round of the season at Monza.^[54]

2012 schedule

The calendar for the 2012 series was unveiled on 16 December 2011.^[55] The calendar was expanded to twelve rounds, featuring new races in Malaysia, Singapore, and Bahrain. The championship featured twenty-four races, a record high for the series.

Round		Circuit/Location	Country	Date	Supporting
1	F	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	Malaysia	24 March	Malaysian Grand Prix
	S			25 March
2	F	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	Bahrain	21 April	Bahrain Grand Prix
	S			22 April
3	F	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	Bahrain	27 April	stand-alone round
	S			28 April
4	F	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	Spain	12 May	Spanish Grand Prix
	S			13 May
5	F	Circuit de Monaco, Monaco	Monaco	25 May	Monaco Grand Prix
	S			26 May
6	F	Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia	Spain	23 June	European Grand Prix
	S			24 June
7	F	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	United Kingdom	7 July	British Grand Prix
	S			8 July
8	F	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	Germany	21 July	German Grand Prix
	S			22 July
9	F	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	Hungary	28 July	Hungarian Grand Prix
	S			29 July
10	F	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	Belgium	1 September	Belgian Grand Prix
	S			2 September
11	F	Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza	Italy	8 September	Italian Grand Prix
	S			9 September
12	F	Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore	Singapore	22 September	Singapore Grand Prix
	S			23 September

Calendar changes

• The series travelled to Malaysia in support of the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. The GP2 Asia Series had previously visited the circuit during the 2008–09 season.
• The series also supported the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix on the weekend of 22 April, with an independent round of the championship also taking place at the circuit during the following week.
• The series travelled to Singapore for the first time in its history, supporting the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix.
• The round at Istanbul Park was removed from the calendar after the Turkish Grand Prix was discontinued.
• The round at Yas Marina Circuit was also discontinued.
• The venue hosting the round in Germany followed the German Grand Prix from the Nürburgring to Hockenheim.

Results

Round		Circuit	Pole Position	Fastest Lap[56]	Winning Driver	Winning Team	Report
1	F	Sepang International Circuit	Davide Valsecchi	Davide Valsecchi	Luiz Razia	Arden International	Report
	S			Fabrizio Crestani[c]	James Calado	Lotus GP
2	F	Bahrain International Circuit	Davide Valsecchi	Davide Valsecchi	Davide Valsecchi	DAMS	Report
	S			Giedo van der Garde	Davide Valsecchi	DAMS
3	F	Bahrain International Circuit	Giedo van der Garde	James Calado[d]	Davide Valsecchi	DAMS	Report
	S			Jolyon Palmer[e]	Tom Dillmann	Rapax
4	F	Circuit de Catalunya	James Calado	Esteban Gutiérrez	Giedo van der Garde	Caterham Racing	Report
	S			Victor Guerin[f]	Luiz Razia	Arden International
5	F	Circuit de Monaco	Johnny Cecotto Jr.	Stefano Coletti	Johnny Cecotto Jr.	Barwa Addax Team	Report
	S			Luiz Razia	Jolyon Palmer	iSport International
6	F	Valencia Street Circuit	James Calado	Esteban Gutiérrez	Esteban Gutiérrez	Lotus GP	Report
	S			Felipe Nasr[g]	Luiz Razia	Arden International
7	F	Silverstone Circuit	Fabio Leimer	Esteban Gutiérrez	Esteban Gutiérrez	Lotus GP	Report
	S			Julián Leal[h]	Luiz Razia	Arden International
8	F	Hockenheimring	Giedo van der Garde	Fabio Onidi[i]	Johnny Cecotto Jr.	Barwa Addax Team	Report
	S			Stéphane Richelmi[j]	James Calado	Lotus GP
9	F	Hungaroring	Max Chilton	Simon Trummer[k]	Max Chilton	Carlin	Report
	S			Esteban Gutiérrez	Esteban Gutiérrez	Lotus GP
10	F	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps	Rio Haryanto	Esteban Gutiérrez[l]	Marcus Ericsson	iSport International	Report
	S			Max Chilton[m]	Josef Král	Barwa Addax Team
11	F	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	Max Chilton	Fabio Leimer	Luca Filippi	Scuderia Coloni	Report
	S			Luca Filippi[n]	Davide Valsecchi	DAMS
12	F	Marina Bay Street Circuit	Luca Filippi	Luca Filippi[o]	Max Chilton	Carlin	Report
	S			Nathanaël Berthon[p]	Giedo van der Garde	Caterham Racing

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race.

Feature race points

Sprint race points

Points were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.

Drivers' Championship

Pos Driver SEP BHR1 BHR2 CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ MRN Points 1 Davide Valsecchi 2 Ret 1 1 1 3 4 3 4 Ret 18 10 7 2 13 7 2 4 3 Ret 6 1 4 5 247 2 Luiz Razia 1 5 2 4 4 2 8 1 15 6 3 1 5 1 7 10 3 3 6 20 Ret 16 5 4 222 3 Esteban Gutiérrez 7 2 3 2 10 4 10 7 23† 8 1 Ret 1 4 10 5 8 1 11 13 9 Ret 2 6 176 4 Max Chilton 3 7 4 5 5 13 7 5 5 2 7 4 9 19† 14 Ret 1 11 12 22 4 6 1 19 169 5 James Calado 8 1 5 3 16 12 2 4 7 Ret 8 2 Ret 20† 8 1 4 6 2 3 12 14 Ret 10 160 6 Giedo van der Garde 9 4 Ret 9 3 19 1 6 3 3 11 6 8 21† 5 2 5 10 5 21 Ret 10 8 1 160 7 Fabio Leimer 4 6 7 12 2 8 12 11 18 Ret 4 3 14 9 2 4 9 14 Ret 5 5 2 3 3 152 8 Marcus Ericsson 13 Ret 13 16 7 7 13 22 2 4 2 Ret 21 7 11 15 18 Ret 1 4 3 7 7 2 124 9 Johnny Cecotto Jr. Ret 22 Ret 22† 9 Ret 18 13 1 Ret DSQ Ret 2 18† 1 6 Ret Ret 17 Ret 2 5 Ret 9 104 10 Felipe Nasr 6 3 Ret 6 11 5 11 9 17 Ret Ret 14 6 3 4 3 25† 8 8 2 Ret 21 6 7 95 11 Jolyon Palmer 17 12 DNS 7 24† 22 9 DNS 6 1 Ret Ret 3 5 18 18 6 5 Ret 10 7 3 Ret Ret 78 12 Nathanaël Berthon 11 8 21† Ret 12 10 5 2 9 7 6 5 12 14 15 9 7 2 14 19 15 15 10 15 60 13 Stefano Coletti 5 23† Ret 23† 21 18 3 8 10 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 20 19 10 9 20† 8 8 4 13 8 50 14 Rio Haryanto 12 10 9 15 6 6 16 15 14 11 5 Ret 10 12 17 11 12 7 10 7 19 12 9 11 38 15 Tom Dillmann 18 11 6 10 8 1 22 12 11 Ret Ret 12 9 Ret 29 16 Luca Filippi 1 22 Ret DNS 29 17 Josef Král 14 9 20 16 Ret 10 DSQ 11 16 10 12 13 24† 17 4 1 27 18 Stéphane Richelmi 19 19 11 Ret 17 17 21 19 8 Ret 14 Ret 13 Ret 3 21 17 21 9 6 13 9 14 22† 25 19 Nigel Melker 16 14 20† 18 19 11 14 24 Ret 12 Ret 13 4 6 6 8 14 18 Ret DNS 11 Ret 12 12 25 20 Fabio Onidi 20 13 8 14 20 9 6 18 Ret Ret 13 17 22 8 19 22 11 24 16 12 21 Ret Ret 20 13 21 Julián Leal 15 15 12 17 15 14 24 17 21 Ret 12 8 20 17 21 12 16 15 7 9 10 8 11 16 9 22 Rodolfo González Ret 18 15 21 18 15 15 14 13 5 15 15 23 Ret 23 20 23 16 Ret 14 22 20 Ret 18 6 23 Simon Trummer 23 16 16 8 14 24† 23 20 12 9 10 7 15 11 16 17 13 13 15 16 16 17 Ret 14 4 24 Fabrizio Crestani 10 21 14 19 Ret 23 17 10 19 Ret Ret DNS 11 22† 1 25 Brendon Hartley 10 Ret 13 16 1 26 Daniël de Jong 16 9 Ret 13 15 19 13 11 0 27 Sergio Canamasas 22 14 22 12 Ret Ret 14 11 16 DSQ 0 28 Dani Clos 19† 11 Ret Ret 0 29 Ricardo Teixeira 21 24† 17 13 23 20 Ret 23 20 Ret 18 15 DSQ 16 19 20 18 15 20 18 17 21 0 30 Victor Guerin 19 21 16 Ret 17 18 17 DNS Ret 23 21 23 Ret 18 23 Ret Ret 13 0 31 René Binder 19 17 17 13 Ret Ret 0 32 Jake Rosenzweig 18 19 15 17 0 33 Giancarlo Serenelli 22 20 18 20 22 21 25 Ret 22 Ret Ret 16 19 16 24 Ret 20 22 0 34 Jon Lancaster Ret 17 0 Pos Driver SEP BHR1 BHR2 CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ MRN Points

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Text formatting Meaning Bold Pole position point(s) Italics Fastest lap point(s)

Notes:

• † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Teams' Championship

Pos	Team	Car No.	SEP		BHR1		BHR2		CAT		MON		VAL[q]		SIL		HOC		HUN		SPA		MNZ		MRN		Points
1	DAMS	3	2	Ret	1	1	1	3	4	3	4	Ret	18	10	7	2	13	7	2	4	3	Ret	6	1	4	5	342
		4	6	3	Ret	6	11	5	11	9	17	Ret	Ret	14	6	3	4	3	25†	8	8	2	Ret	21	6	7
2	Lotus GP	9	8	1	5	3	16	12	2	4	7	Ret	8	2	Ret	20†	8	1	4	6	2	3	12	14	Ret	10	336
		10	7	2	3	2	10	4	10	7	23†	8	1	Ret	1	4	10	5	8	1	11	13	9	Ret	2	6
3	Arden International	22	23	16	16	8	14	24†	23	20	12	9	10	7	15	11	16	17	13	13	15	16	16	17	Ret	14	226
		23	1	5	2	4	4	2	8	1	15	6	3	1	5	1	7	10	3	3	6	20	Ret	16	5	4
4	Racing Engineering	5	4	6	7	12	2	8	12	11	18	Ret	4	3	14	9	2	4	9	14	Ret	5	5	2	3	3	212
		6	11	8	21†	Ret	12	10	5	2	9	7	6	5	12	14	15	9	7	2	14	19	15	15	10	15
5	Carlin	26	3	7	4	5	5	13	7	5	5	2	7	4	9	19†	14	Ret	1	11	12	22	4	6	1	19	207
		27	12	10	9	15	6	6	16	15	14	11	5	Ret	10	12	17	11	12	7	10	7	19	12	9	11
6	iSport International	7	13	Ret	13	16	7	7	13	22	2	4	2	Ret	21	7	11	15	18	Ret	1	4	3	7	7	2	202
		8	17	12	DNS	7	24†	22	9	DNS	6	1	Ret	Ret	3	5	18	18	6	5	Ret	10	7	3	Ret	Ret
7	Caterham Racing	11	Ret	18	15	21	18	15	15	14	13	5	15	15	23	Ret	23	20	23	16	Ret	14	22	20	Ret	14	166
		12	9	4	Ret	9	3	19	1	6	3	3	11	6	8	21†	5	2	5	10	5	21	Ret	10	8	1
8	Barwa Addax Team	1	Ret	22	Ret	22†	9	Ret	18	13	1	Ret	DSQ	Ret	2	18†	1	6	Ret	Ret	17	Ret	2	5	Ret	9	131
		2	14	9	19†	11	Ret	Ret	20	16	Ret	10	DSQ	11	16	10	12	13	24†	17	4	1	18	19	15	17
9	Rapax	20	21	24†	17	13	23	20	Ret	23	20	Ret	Ret	12	18	15	DSQ	16	19	20	18	15	20	18	17	21	44
		21	18	11	6	10	8	1	22	12	11	Ret	16	9	Ret	13	9	Ret	15	19	13	11	8	4	13	8
10	Trident Racing	16	19	19	11	Ret	17	17	21	19	8	Ret	14	Ret	13	Ret	3	21	17	21	9	6	13	9	14	22†	34
		17	15	15	12	17	15	14	24	17	21	Ret	12	8	20	17	17	12	16	15	7	9	10	8	11	16
11	Ocean Racing Technology	24	Ret	17	10	Ret	13	16	19	21	16	Ret	17	18	17	DNS	Ret	23	21	23	Ret	18	23	Ret	Ret	13	26
		25	16	14	20†	18	19	11	14	24	Ret	12	Ret	13	4	6	6	8	14	18	Ret	DNS	11	Ret	12	12
12	Venezuela GP Lazarus	18	10	21	14	19	Ret	23	17	10	19	Ret	Ret	DNS	11	22†	22	14	22	12	Ret	Ret	14	11	16	DSQ	1
		19	22	20	18	20	22	21	25	Ret	22	Ret	Ret	16	19	16	24	Ret	20	22	19	17	17	13	Ret	Ret
—	Scuderia Coloni	14	5	23†	Ret	23†	21	18	3	8	10	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	20	19	10	9	20†	8	1	22	Ret	DNS	0[r]
		15	20	13	8	14	20	9	6	18	Ret	Ret	13	17	22	8	19	22	11	24	16	12	21	Ret	Ret	20
Pos	Team	Car No.	SEP		BHR1		BHR2		CAT		MON		VAL[q]		SIL		HOC		HUN		SPA		MNZ		MRN		Points

Notes:

• † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.