Formula-1 teams and drivers

CEBU, Philippines - The 2012 Formula season opens this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The FREEMAN is giving our readers a rundown on some of the teams and their drivers.

To the non-racing fans, some of the team names may seem familiar. 

Formula-1 racing is a billion dollar industry that highlights the technical advances not only for the automobile industry, but also for the fuel, oil, and tire makers as well.— Editor

Red Bull Sebastian Vettel (GER)

Date of birth: 03/07/1987

Wins: 21

Points scored: 773

Number of GP: 81

Pole Position: 30

Podiums: 36

First GP: 2007 (Indianapolis)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 1

Became youngest ever double world champion last season, with 11 wins and a record 15 pole positions. Exploded onto the scene in 2009, winning four races, to add to his maiden victory at Monza in 2008. Became the youngest world champion in 2010 aged 23.

Mark Webber (AUS)

Date of birth: 27/08/1976

Wins: 7

Points scored: 669.5

Number of GP: 178

Pole Position: 9

Podiums: 30

First GP: 2002 (Melbourne)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 3

 In 2011 the popular and dependable Australian driver matched his third place finish of 2010 but had to wait until the season-closer in Brazil to taste his lone success, after racing in Vettel's slipstream throughout the campaign.

Red bull team statistics

Team principal: Christian Horner

First GP: 2005

Constructors titles: 2

Drivers titles: 2

Wins: 27

Pole Position: 38

Fastest laps: 22

Points scored: 1404.5

Number of GP: 128

Mercedes Michael Schumacher (GER)

Date of birth: 03/01/1969

Wins: 91

Points scored: 1517

Number of GP: 288

Pole Position: 68

Podiums: 154

First GP: 1991 (Spa-Francorchamps)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 8

Last season the seven-time champion narrowly improved on his ninth place finish on his return in 2010, picking up four extra points to come in eighth, almost matching the performance of his team-mate Nico Rosberg. His fourth spot in Canada was a notable achievement in a car that failed to fire.

Ferrari Felipe Massa (BRA)

Date of birth: 25/04/1981

Wins: 11

Points scored: 582

Number of GP: 153

Pole Position: 15

Podiums: 33

First GP: 2002 (Melbourne)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 6

A disappointing 2011 resulted in no wins, no podiums and no poles for the Brazilian who had lost out on the 2008 title to Hamilton by one point. Constantly outperformed by his team-mate Alonso in his 10th season, coming in sixth.

Nico Rosberg (GER)

Date of birth: 27/06/1985

Wins: 0

Points scored: 306.5

Number of GP: 108

Pole Position: 0

Podiums: 5

First GP: 2006 (Bahrain)

Best result: 2

2011 championship position: 6

 Son of Finland's 1992 world champion Keke, Rosberg debuted with Williams in 2006 after impressing as a tester. Finished seventh in 2009 and again in 2010. Went one better in 2011, again out-performing — albeit narrowly — his more illustrious team-mate.

Mercedes team statistics

Team principal: Ross Brawn

First GP: 2010

Constructors titles: 0

Drivers titles: 0

Wins: 0

Pole Position: 0

Fastest laps: 0

Points scored: 379

Number of GP: 38

Fernando Alonso (ESP)

Date of birth: 29/07/1981

Wins: 27

Points scored: 1086

Pole Position: 20

Podiums: 73

First GP: 2001 (Melbourne)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 4

The Spaniard's second season with Ferrari failed to match his first, when the two-time former champion narrowly missed out on the 2010 title with a botched pit strategy in the season-closing race in Abu Dhabi. In 2011, in a car struggling to compete with Red Bull and McLaren, missed out on third place by one point.

Ferrari team statistics

Team principal: Stefano Domenicali

First GP: 1950

Constructors titles: 16

Drivers titles: 15

Wins: 216

Pole Position: 205

Fastest laps: 227

Points scored: 4847.5

Number of GP: 816

Mclaren Lewis Hamilton (GBR)

Birth date: 07/01/1985

Wins: 17

Points scored: 723

Number of GP: 90

Pole Position: 19

Podiums: 42

First GP: 2007 (Melbourne)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: 5

Mclaren team statistics

Team principal: Martin Whitmarsh

First GP: 1966

Constructors titles: 8

Drivers titles: 12

Wins: 175

Pole Position: 147

Fastest laps: 147

Points scored: 4325.5

Number of GP: 704

Youngest ever champion before the arrival of Vettel when he took the 2008 title, having been pipped for the crown by one point by Kimi Raikkonen in his debut year. Endured a stormy 2009, finishing fifth. One better in 2010, but last season struggled on and off the track, coming in fifth, beaten for first time by a team-mate in drivers' standings.

Lotus Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)

Birth date: 17/10/1979

Wins: 18

Points scored: 579

Number of GP: 157

Pole Position: 16

Podiums: 62

First GP: 2001 (Melbourne)

Best result: 1

2011 championship position: -

Lotus F1 team statistics

(Formerly Renault)

Team Principal: Eric Boullier

First GP: 1977

Constructors titles: 2

Drivers titles: 2

Wins: 35

Pole Position: 51

Fastest laps: 31

Points scored: 1318

Number of GP: 303

The flying Finn returns to the F1 grid after two low-key seasons in the world rally championship. Raikkonen began his F1 career with Sauber in 2001 before spending five seasons with McLaren. Moved to Ferrari for the 2007 season to fill the seat left by Michael Schumacher, and won six races on his way to the title. Struggled to recapture that level in 2008 and 2009 and lost drive to Alonso for 2010.