What a year 2012 has been.
After the dominance shown by Red Bull in 2011, the media and bookmakers like Paddy Power were all surprised when we began the season with an incredible sequence that saw seven different drivers win the first seven races, including maiden victories for Nico Rosberg and Pastor Maldonado.
Kimi Raikkonen later added both his and Lotus' name to the list of winners as the season continued to surprise us all.
While McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari couldn't quite get it together, Red Bull eventually found the right formula, dominating the latter stages of the competition.
Sebastian Vettel claimed four wins on the trot to take the lead in the Drivers' Championship, but the title race would still go down to the final GP, with Fernando Alonso refusing to lay down without a fight making it an exciting climax both for fans and those who like to bet on F1.
This season also saw the US Grand Prix return to the fold, with the maiden race in Austin surpassing expectations.
But while we were lucky with much, we also suffered loss, with Professor Sid Watkins passing away in September. Watkins' mark on the sport will not soon be forgotten, having revolutionised safety in F1, helping to save the lives of many drivers.
We also said goodbye to one of the greatest champions Formula One has ever seen, with Michael Schumacher retiring from the sport for the second (and almost certainly last) time.
2013 looks set to deliver another bumper year of action. Can Vettel make it four in a row? Will Alonso get a car capable of winning the title? Did Hamilton make the right move? And can Grosjean keep it together? These are just some of the questions we look forward to getting the answers to.
You can be sure that PlanetF1 will continue to provide you with all the news and action in the coming season and beyond.
All the best to you and your loved ones, and may 2013 be a year of happiness and prosperity.
The PF1 team
