The 2012 season has been remarkable, unpredictable and triumphantly entertaining. It's been nearly thirty years since we've seen a season like it with each Grand Prix boasting a different victor. Two of those gracing the top step have done so for the first time as those who were expected to dominate have not, while those expected to quietly fade into the background have stolen the spotlight.

Sergio Perez was the unexpected star of the Malaysian Grand Prix, which, in any other season, would have been remembered as a defining moment of his career and a highlight of the year. He came home a close second and was capable of winning, two suggestions which prior to the season would have been labelled preposterous.

However Perez was eclipsed in the very next race in China when one of the most popular drivers in the pitlane broke his duck. Nico Rosberg sealed his debut win, and the first for a car bearing the Mercedes moniker since the days of Juan Manual Fangio, and, as our own Mike Lawrence would call him, Sir 'God' Stirling Moss.

Things in Bahrain were pretty placid. Vettel won in a Red Bull from Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in the Lotii. Lotus' performance this year has been a story in itself though one that does not come as a surprise. The team started 2011 with a brace of podium places for Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld before falling off the pace as the season wore on.

Few will begrudge Williams victory in Spain, its first win in eight seasons, while Pastor Maldonado has done much to break free of the pay-driver shackles. That it happened over the weekend Sir Frank Williams celebrated his 70th birthday was somehow rather fitting for the sport's longest serving Team Principal.

Importantly, Pastor Maldonado has given Williams its first win in eight years. More importantly Maldonado has also given Williams twenty-five championship points.

In Malaysia Sergio Perez gave Sauber its best ever result, if one ignores the BMW era. Perez gave the team its first podium in nine years and in doing so gave the team eighteen precious points.

When Perez climbed the podium and accepted his trophy it looked as though Sauber had clawed its way out of the midfield, creating a niche for itself somewhere between the front runners and the chasing pack. At seasons end, in any normal season, the result would likely have been enough to see it fifth or sixth in the championship.

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix Sauber looked a safe bet for that 'best of the rest' spot come the wash up at the end of the year. Malaysia was a miracle result brought about by treacherous conditions and a fine drive by Perez. It was the sort of drive that made reputations which don't happen often. It was the sort of result that traditionally a midfield team could bask on for the rest of the season.

Then Maldonado went one better. His was not a miracle drive in treacherous conditions but a marvellously mature performance under the immense pressure of a two-time world champion. Maldonado did not get lucky, he was simply too good on the day. That is also the sort of thing that makes reputations.