1381 replies to this topic

[_R_]

The final test session ahead of the 2009 season began today at the Circuito de Jerez, with two weeks to go before the Australian Grand Prix. Warm and sunny weather greeted the few teams present at the Spanish venue.

Continuing a trend that impressed many last week in Barcelona, the Brawn GP team's BGP 001 was again the fastest car on the track. With Rubens Barrichello at the wheel, 102 laps were completed as the Brazilian set the pace for the better part of the day. The session's fastest lap was his, at 1:19.236.

Fernando Alonso's day did not go as well: the Spaniard crashed his R29 very early on, requiring repairs which took several hours to complete. The double World Champion did however have enough time to complete 40 runs and sign the day's second-best lap.

Nico Hulkenberg was on hand for the Williams team; the German counted 69 laps and was third-quickest. All three drivers at Jerez set times within the same second.

McLaren was scheduled to begin its final test programme today as well but decided otherwise. The team maintains its four-day schedule but will begin tomorrow instead.

Jerez - 15/03/2009
1 . R. Barrichello - Brawn GP Mercedes BGP001 - 1:19.236 (+ 0.000) - 107 laps
2 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 119.819 (+ 0.583) - 40 laps
3 . N. Hulkenberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:20.015 (+ 0.196) - 69 laps

[_R_]

Executives of the Toyota Motor Corporation considered following fellow struggling Japanese carmaker out of Formula One, a top chief of the Cologne-based team has admitted.

Tadashi Yamashina, Team Principal and Chairman of the marque's motor racing arm Toyota Motorsport GmbH, told a news conference that the global financial crisis led Tokyo based officials to consider reducing costs by pulling out of the sport.

"I stressed again and again in the company's executive board meetings there was no way we should pull out, although we have to drastically cut our costs," he is quoted as saying by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

"Obviously our negative business reports did cause some doubt."

Yamashina said Panasonic's decision to extend its contract as team title sponsor through to 2012 was instrumental.

"I was extremely happy that Panasonic decided to renew its contract with us even though they also had some financial trouble. Their understanding of what we are doing allowed us to keep racing," he admitted.

Toyota's F1 team may have survived the disquiet of the Tokyo board for now, but the budget has been drastically slashed, boss Tadashi Yamashina admitted on Monday.

The Japanese has been reported as revealing that Toyota Motor Corporation executives, spooked by the global recession, only agreed to keep the Cologne-based team alive due to the continuing support of title sponsor Panasonic.

Yamashina told the news agency Reuters: "Our Formula One budget was cut again and again from its original figure.”

"It was cut again after Honda's announcement they were leaving F1 and within a month the figure was reduced again after Toyota's end of yearly earnings target was revised.”

"I'm not able to put a figure on how much the budget was slashed but in all my time at Toyota I have never seen cuts like it," he said.

In a timely development, the team's TF109 has appeared highly competitive this winter, amid intense pressure from Toyota that the F1 project finally delivers victories.

"Winning and results are important," Yamashina admitted. "There are other factors too. It's a business and unless we make the team viable, next year we may have to cut costs further."

He acknowledged that cost savings will be found by reducing the number of staff.

"No matter how much we have to reduce the budget by or how far we have to downsize the team, that is what business people have to think about," said Yamashina

[DrDickAction]

Emo out of nowhere

and I can't see Toyota being surprised by this...eventually it's time to produce and progress as a team.

[F1]

I'm selling my Barrichello autographed USGP race ticket on ebay as soon as he wins the WDC.

Incredible fast Brawn (Barrichelo):
12:15 Pista vuelta de instalación y box
12:20 Pista
1.19:582
1.19:173
1.19:291
1.19:468
1.19:103
1.19:164
1.19:329
1.10:363
1.19:145
1.19:353
1.18:885
1.18:924 Box

12:46 Pista
1.19:243
1.19:181
1.19:347
1.19:379
1.19:131
1.19:389
1.18:937
1.19:152
1.19:476
1.19:476
1.18:939
1.19:159
1.19:207 Box

13:14 Pista
1.19:123
1.18:874
1.19:106
1.18:666
1.20:816
1.20:231
1.19:618
1.19.563
1.19:926
1.19:432
1.19:984 Box

[F1]

Alonso times 16.03.09:

09:00 installation lap

09:20 Pista
1.21:418
1.21:590
1.20:867
1.20:333
1.20:055
1.19:937
1.19:718
1.20:542
1.21:107
1.20:269
1.19:745
1.19:654
1.19:705
1.19:733
1.19:958 Box

10:17 Pista
1.20:258
1.19:617
1.19:432
1.19:334
1.19:524 Box

11:04 Track temp 30ºC Air temp 20ºC
1.21:215
1.20:477
1.20:822
1.23:585 Box

11:48 Pista
1.20:010
1.19:993
1.20:452
1.20:506 Box

12:05 Pista
1.20:513
1.20:354
1.21:019
1.20:759
1.20:551 Box

12:45 Pista
1.21:117
1.20:554
1.20:544
1.20:664
1.20:961 Box

13:05 Pista
1.20:256
1.20:797 Box

13:22 Pista
Box

14:37 Pista
1.20:951
1.20.252
1.21:081 Box

14:55 Pista
1.20:394
1.20:382
1.20:670 Box

15:42 Pista
1.20:397
Salida de pista vuelve por su pie a box

16:01 Pista
1.19:936
1.20:314
1.24:147 (se encuentra con la salida de pista de Hamilton)
1.20:244
1.19:997
1.20:538
1.20:249
1.20:782
1.20:048
1.19:979
1.20:238
1.20:162
1.19:774
1.19:727
1.20:775 Box

16:39 Pista
1.20:030
1.20:220
1.19:760
1.19:878
1.20:994 Box

16:52 Pista
1.22:061
1.18:343

[F1]

Hami's best stint:

15:36 Ruedas blandas, tanda de 28 vueltas
1.22:363
1.20:899
1.20:265
1.20:252
1.20:428
1.20:226
1.20:462
1.20:517
1.20:794
1.20:340
1.20:224
1.20:374
1.20:238
1.20:061
1.20:232
1.20:608
1.20:578
1.20:692
1.22:174
1.20:554
1.20:998

[_R_]

Fernando Alonso ended Brawn GP's domination of testing after topping the times in Monday's session at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

The Renault driver beat Rubens Barrichello's time by less than a tenth of a second, as the Brawn GP team was not on top of the times for the first time in the last four sessions.

Alonso managed over 100 laps with the R29, enjoying a more productive day than on Sunday.

"I'm happy with the day as we did more than a 100 laps which was our target for my final day of winter testing," said Alonso. "This has been the first time we have run on a really hot track and the information we have from today will be very useful for the first few races, which are usually very hot.

"I'm also a bit sad that this is the final test of the year with my test team, but I will see them at the factory soon. I have to say thanks for the amazing job they have done this winter because we are really well prepared for the new season. We can go to Australia knowing that we have maximised the time we had available."

Brawn GP used both Barrichello and Jenson Button today, the duo finishing second and third quickest. The Briton, however, managed just 12 laps, his car coming to a stop at around 3pm local time.

Lewis Hamilton kicked off McLaren's final test before the Australian Grand Prix, the world champion finishing in fourth place over a second behind Alonso.

Nico Rosberg was the fifth runner on track, having replaced Williams' test driver Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel of the FW31.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Alonso Renault (B) 1:18.343 103
2. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:18.398 62
3. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:18.892 12
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.513 85
5. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:19.783 123

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

FIA to vote on revised points system

By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 16th 2009, 17:51 GMT

The FIA is to vote on a revised points structure for Formula 1 at a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council tomorrow, autosport.com has learned, with radical cost-cutting measures also due to be unveiled.

A proposal unveiled by the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) to change the current points structure to a new system that rewards more for winning - broken down 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 – has been officially put forward to the FIA for consideration.

The WMSC will now look at the document and take a vote on whether or not to adopt it for 2009.

FOTA has put forward the idea for changing the points system as the result of a market research survey it conducted with F1 fans. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, who heads up the sporting group of FOTA, said that it was vital that followers of the sport were listened to.

"What we felt within FOTA was having conducted a very thorough survey of audience views and advice, we shouldn't ignore it," he said. "There were people who felt status quo was the best thing but I think what swung it was the opinion of the audience.

"We, as FOTA, have unanimously agreed that is what we want to see introduced this year. We now have to work with the commercial rights holder and with the FIA and seek their endorsement of that proposal."

Although the decision about changing the points will be of the biggest interest to F1 fans, the most important announcement of the day for teams will relate to emergency cost-cutting ideas that are due to be analysed by the WMSC.

An FIA statement issued earlier this month suggested that the 'radical' proposals would allow a team to "compete for a fraction of current budgets but nevertheless field cars which can match those of the established teams."

Although no details of what is being looked at have been revealed, it is understood the new rules relate to more standardisation, further reductions in testing and the imposition of a budget cap.

FIA president Max Mosley said last month that the current worldwide economic crisis meant it was essential the governing body acted swiftly.

"It was bad enough before the current situation, it is now a complete disaster," he said. "It obviously has to stop. We think it should stop for 2010 and we are urging the teams to do that."

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/73735

we'll know this week if the new points structure takes effect..

[DrDickAction]

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/73735

we'll know this week if the new points structure takes effect..

1 Year too late if it passes

[Skyliner]

What's the doo-dad on the left mirror?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

What's the doo-dad on the left mirror?

looks like some sort of optical slip/velocity sensor?

why its on the mirror housing IDK.

[Skyliner]

Laptimes: http://directo.thef1.es/tests/

[yonson]

What's the doo-dad on the left mirror?

looks like it has walrus teef... errr tusks

[_R_]

looks like it has walrus teef... errr tusks

maybe ahead of it's time?

[MrHahn]

looks like it has walrus teef... errr tusks

I reckon it looks hot..












..for a Toyota

[Robert]

JUST
NINE
MORE
DAYS
TILL
FRIDAY
PRACTICE

[Skyliner]

I reckon it looks hot..
..for a Toyota

[_R_]

Formula 1's world champion in 2009 will be the driver with the most wins during the season, the FIA said on Tuesday.

The governing body also announced that it had rejected a proposal by the Formula One Teams' Association to change the current system. The proposal had been sent by FOTA to the FIA earlier this year.

The FIA announced the current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system will stay in place, but confirmed the world champion will be the driver who wins the most races in a season.

The points system will be used for the remaining championship positions and in case two or more drivers win the same amount of races during a year.

The Constructors' Championship remains unaffected by the changes.

"The WMSC accepted the proposal from Formula One Management to award the drivers' championship to the driver who has won the most races during the season," said the FIA in a statement.

"If two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of wins, the title will be awarded to the driver with the most points, the allocation of points being based on the current 10, 8, 6 etc. system.

"The rest of the standings, from second to last place, will be decided by the current points system. There is no provision to award medals for first, second or third place. The Constructors' Championship is unaffected.

"The WMSC rejected the alternative proposal from the Formula One Teams' Association to change the points awarded to drivers finishing in first, second and third place to 12, 9 and 7 points respectively. "

FOTA had called for a points system overhaul after it conducted a survey in which fans asked for a greater gap between the points for first and second places to encourage drivers to go for victory.

"FOTA set out and conducted what has been a unique survey," said McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh earlier this month. "That audience survey told us that they wanted greater differentiation for winning and FOTA then considered a broad range of alternatives.

"Inevitably there is a balance to be struck on everything that you do. If you have a very large differentiation between first, second and third it is easy to envisage and to model that seasons may end sooner because championships will be determined sooner.

"And if we reflect on the last two championships they have been quite exciting climaxes and one would say on the face of it why would we want to change? What we felt within FOTA was having conducted a very thorough survey of audience views and advice we shouldn't ignore it.

"There were people who felt status quo was the best thing but I think what swung it was the opinion of the audience. We, as FOTA, have unanimously agreed that is what we want to see introduced this year. We now have to work with the commercial rights holder and with the FIA and seek their endorsement of that proposal."

[Redliner]

Stop changing sht just b/c you can! This should have never been changed in the first place. I hope FIA doesn't say "oh snap, Driver X is winning all the championships again, we need to make it so that the racing at the top is close again..."

When will they realize that a stabilization of the rules is a good thing...

Wins to decide world champion in 2009

By Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 13:35 GMT


Formula 1's world champion in 2009 will be the driver with the most wins during the season, the FIA said on Tuesday.

The governing body also announced that it had rejected a proposal by the Formula One Teams' Association to change the current system. The proposal had been sent by FOTA to the FIA earlier this year.

The FIA announced the current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system will stay in place, but confirmed the world champion will be the driver who wins the most races in a season.

The points system will be used for the remaining championship positions and in case two or more drivers win the same amount of races during a year.

The Constructors' Championship remains unaffected by the changes.

"The WMSC accepted the proposal from Formula One Management to award the drivers' championship to the driver who has won the most races during the season," said the FIA in a statement.

"If two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of wins, the title will be awarded to the driver with the most points, the allocation of points being based on the current 10, 8, 6 etc. system.

"The rest of the standings, from second to last place, will be decided by the current points system. There is no provision to award medals for first, second or third place. The Constructors' Championship is unaffected.

"The WMSC rejected the alternative proposal from the Formula One Teams' Association to change the points awarded to drivers finishing in first, second and third place to 12, 9 and 7 points respectively. "

FOTA had called for a points system overhaul after it conducted a survey in which fans asked for a greater gap between the points for first and second places to encourage drivers to go for victory.

"FOTA set out and conducted what has been a unique survey," said McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh earlier this month. "That audience survey told us that they wanted greater differentiation for winning and FOTA then considered a broad range of alternatives.

"Inevitably there is a balance to be struck on everything that you do. If you have a very large differentiation between first, second and third it is easy to envisage and to model that seasons may end sooner because championships will be determined sooner.

"And if we reflect on the last two championships they have been quite exciting climaxes and one would say on the face of it why would we want to change? What we felt within FOTA was having conducted a very thorough survey of audience views and advice we shouldn't ignore it.

"There were people who felt status quo was the best thing but I think what swung it was the opinion of the audience. We, as FOTA, have unanimously agreed that is what we want to see introduced this year. We now have to work with the commercial rights holder and with the FIA and seek their endorsement of that proposal."

[_R_]

[Redliner]

My statement stands!

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

not all of the changes were bad..

Press Release
World Motor Sport Council - Decisions
17/03/2009

The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 17 March 2009. The following decisions were taken:



FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

A number of measures were agreed to help reduce costs and increase interest in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

2009 Formula One Regulations

Points

The WMSC accepted the proposal from Formula One Management to award the drivers’ championship to the driver who has won the most races during the season. If two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of wins, the title will be awarded to the driver with the most points, the allocation of points being based on the current 10, 8, 6 etc. system.

The rest of the standings, from second to last place, will be decided by the current points system. There is no provision to award medals for first, second or third place. The Constructors’ Championship is unaffected.

The WMSC rejected the alternative proposal from the Formula One Teams’ Association to change the points awarded to drivers finishing in first, second and third place to 12, 9 and 7 points respectively.

Testing

Teams will be allowed to carry out three one day young driver training tests between the end of the last event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year. Drivers are eligible only if they have not competed in more than two F1 World Championship Events in the preceding 24 months or tested a Formula One car on more than four days in the same 24 month period.

Teams can also conduct eight one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 January 2009 and the end of the last Event of the 2009 Championship.

Media

The FIA will publish the weights of all cars after qualifying at each Event.

For greater clarity for spectators and media, wet tyres have been renamed “intermediate” and extreme-weather tyres renamed “wet”.

On the first day of practice all drivers must be available for autograph signing in their designated team space in the pit lane.

All drivers eliminated in qualifying must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after the end of each session.

Any driver retiring before the end of the race must make himself available for media interviews after his return to the paddock.

All drivers who finish the race outside the top three must make themselves available immediately after the end of the race for media interviews.

During the race every team must make at least one senior spokesperson available for interviews by officially accredited TV crews.

A number of further amendments were adopted for the 2009 Technical Regulations. Full details will be available shortly on www.fia.com.

2010 Formula One Regulations

Budgets

As an alternative to running under the existing rules, which are to remain stable until 2012, all teams will have the option to compete with cars built and operated within a stringent cost cap.

The cost cap is £30m (currently approximately €33 or $42m). This figure will cover all expenditure of any kind. Anything subsidised or supplied free will be deemed to have cost its full commercial value and rigorous auditing procedures will apply.

To enable these cars to compete with those from teams which are not subject to cost constraints, the cost-capped cars will be allowed greater technical freedom.

The principal technical freedoms allowed are as follows:

1. A more aerodynamically efficient (but standard) under body.
2. Movable wings.
3. An engine which is not subject to a rev limit or a development freeze.

The FIA has the right to adjust elements of these freedoms to ensure that the cost-capped cars have neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when compared to cars running to the existing rules.

Click here for a Q&A document regarding the 2010 cost cap.

The Honda Racing F1 Team requested to change its name to the Brawn GP Formula One Team. The WMSC accepted this request on the basis that the team is, in effect, a new entry in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The contract the team had with the FIA was to run as ‘Honda’, which they are no longer in a position to do. However, the standard fee required for a new entry has been waived.

http://www.fia.com/e...msc_170309.aspx

[Redliner]

not all of the changes were bad..

http://www.fia.com/e...msc_170309.aspx

Yeah after some coffee, that doesn't seem bad at all. And the fact that it doesn't change previous championships either makes it more valid. Did they actually make changes that make sense?

WTF FIA. I'm kind of impressed...

[_R_]

interesting developments...

the one rule change i don't like is the published weights of the car... i don't want to be able to figure out their fueling/pit strategy before the race starts...
also, that gives the other teams somewhat of an idea what the other teams can do during their first stint and then adjust accordingly...

[Redliner]

interesting developments...

the one rule change i don't like is the published weights of the car... i don't want to be able to figure out their fueling/pit strategy before the race starts...
also, that gives the other teams somewhat of an idea what the other teams can do during their first stint and then adjust accordingly...

I feel iffy about that too - but I guess it's good for the casual fans...which is what these developments are trying to attract. I'm also a little unsure about how 'low' the budget cap is. Maybe pad a little more, or exclude salaries. That way smaller teams that run unlimited technical regulations under a budget cap might be able to afford a driver like Alonso...w/ a cap on salaries, it almost gurantees that big name engineers, team managers, drivers are not going to go to the teams that run the caps (most likely privateers).