PARIS: Formula One statistics from the 2012 season revealed there were 1,139 overtaking manoeuvres and 957 pitstops during the 20 Grand Prixs this season, according to statistics revealed on Tuesday by Italian tyre manufacturers Pirelli.

The fewest number of overtakes took place on the narrow winding track at the Monaco Grand Prix where only 12 cars were able to gain position while the most action-packed race in terms of overtaking was the season-ending Brazilian race where 147 changes of position took place amidst wet and unpredictable conditions.

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel won his third straight Formula One crown on the final day of the season in a Red Bull to deny Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain.

The record number of overtakes during a dry race was 90 at the Chinese GP where Germany’s Nico Rosberg won in a Mercedes.

There were 957 pitstops throughout the campaign with the majority dedicated to tyre changes while the average number per race was 47.9 or 1.9 per driver.

The rain-afflicted Malaysian GP stood out with 76 pitstops or three per driver and the fastest changeover was by Jenson Button who got out of the pit lane in a quick-fire 2.31 seconds at the German Grand Prix.

Dry tyres carried the cars on an average run of 180km and an average speed of 346 kilometres per hour against an average of 140km on wet tracks. — AFP

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