1381 replies to this topic

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

so are this years cars faster then last years?

the rule changes weren't designed to slow the cars down. they were made to shift the emphasis from aero to mechanical grip. with the addition of KERS and adjustable front wings its not a huge surprise the new cars are faster.

[Robert]

looks like McLaren found their pace again...

Maybe no one has actually shown their 'fumes' run except Brawn, Williams & McLaren? ie; Williams being within a couple of tenths where Macca is down about .5+ (this is wishful thinking btw lol - at least about McLaren )
Then again Masseur said Brawn was untouchable so who knows

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Maybe no one has actually shown their 'fumes' run except Brawn, Williams & McLaren? ie; Williams being within a couple of tenths where Macca is down about .5+ (this is wishful thinking btw lol - at least about McLaren )
Then again Masseur said Brawn was untouchable so who knows

Source: Autosport

Estimated race pace (assuming no sandbagging):


Fastest lap:

[Robert]

Source: Autosport

Estimated race pace (assuming no sandbagging): snip

Fastest lap: snip

Surely you can't be serious. Although I would love to see the 'little guys' dominate a bit that would make for one of the biggest fails of a season in a long damn time. Especially if Jenson has the season won half way through.

[Robert]

I have to admit F1 cars haven't looked this sexy (at least from this angle) in a long time! imo

[DrDickAction]

i wonder if teams can exploit the 35m cap..say paying the driver to be a road vehicle test driver at the same time, while he drives in f1 for like 1000euros or soemthing

there are alwyas ways around...ferrari could have shell hire kimi as a spokesperson, etc.

[DrDickAction]

i wonder if teams can exploit the 35m cap..say paying the driver to be a road vehicle test driver at the same time, while he drives in f1 for like 1000euros or soemthing

there are alwyas ways around...ferrari could have shell hire kimi as a spokesperson, etc.

[Nacho]

Surely you can't be serious. Although I would love to see the 'little guys' dominate a bit that would make for one of the biggest fails of a season in a long damn time. Especially if Jenson has the season won half way through.

Big teams will make up ground. The only hope for an season like that is that Jens wins the first 1/3rd of the season outright and then the 4 McMerc/Ferrari drivers chip out enough wins from each other that there's not enough left.

[Nacho]

there are alwyas ways around...ferrari could have shell hire kimi as a spokesperson, etc.

Pay their mechanics $1000/yr.......... and give everyone an F430 company car.

[kngrsll]

I have to admit F1 cars haven't looked this sexy (at least from this angle) in a long time! imo

i agree... i think the new look cars are great

[kngrsll]

and all im saying is, i cant wait for Melbourne... its going to be a great race!

[Robert]

and all im saying is, i cant wait for Melbourne... its going to be a great race!

I swear every rrace last year as the lights would go out I caught myself with a white-knuckle grip lol.

[_R_]

Maybe no one has actually shown their 'fumes' run except Brawn, Williams & McLaren? ie; Williams being within a couple of tenths where Macca is down about .5+ (this is wishful thinking btw lol - at least about McLaren )
Then again Masseur said Brawn was untouchable so who knows

looking a couple pages back, someone posted lap times for B-GP, and they were consistently fast and basically 10+ lap runs... no short 3 lap qualifier runs on fumes... they seem to be genuinely fast...

[_R_]

I swear every rrace last year as the lights would go out I caught myself with a white-knuckle grip lol.

2007 brazilian GP i was a huddle ball of nerves watching the whole Kimi/Lewis/Alonso debacle...
i don't think i relaxed for a good 30 minutes after the race, and the last i dunno, 5 laps i was shaking i was so nervous...

[Robert]

looking a couple pages back, someone posted lap times for B-GP, and they were consistently fast and basically 10+ lap runs... no short 3 lap qualifier runs on fumes... they seem to be genuinely fast...

True.... damnit come on Melbourne! It may take till quali 2 to see true pace of all the cars lol.

[_R_]

Thursday 10:30 pm (PST) is practice on Speed TV

[Robert]

Thursday 10:30 pm (PST) is practice on Speed TV

[_R_]

The Formula One Teams' Association has questioned the validity of the FIA's decision to impose a new points structure for this season.

The FIA announced on Tuesday that it would hand the world championship to the driver who scored the most wins in 2009. That decision was drawn criticism from several high profile figures, and FOTA now believes that the FIA is in fact not allowed to have made the change without the unanimous support of the teams.

In a statement issued on Friday, FOTA said that it hoped it could work together with the FIA for a new points structure to be put in place for 2010.

"Following the decision of the World Motorsport Council of the 17 March 2009 to change the way the drivers' championship is awarded, the Teams gathered and unanimously agreed to question the validity of this decision," said the statement.

"FOTA had made a proposal that was carefully based on the results of a Global Audience Survey, which allowed listening to preferences of the public, and all the Teams firmly believe that these indications should be properly taken into account.

"The amendment to the sporting regulations proposed by the World Motorsport Council was not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship.

"Since the change to the scoring system unanimously agreed by the Teams and proposed to FIA did not receive approval of the WMSC, no change can occur in 2009, and the Teams wish to reaffirm their willingness to collaborate with the FIA in order to jointly define a new point system for the 2010 season within a comprehensive set of measures aimed at further stimulating the attractiveness of the F1 Sport."

Appendix 5 of the F1 sporting regulations details how regulations can be changed in F1, while Article 199 of the International Sporting Code says that the FIA cannot make changes to the sporting regulations at this late stage without unanimous approval of the teams.

It says: "Changes to sporting rules and to all regulations other than those referred to in b) above are published at least 20 days prior to the opening date for entry applications for the championship concerned, but never later than 30 November each year.

"Such changes cannot come into effect before 1 January of the year following their publication, unless the FIA considers that the changes in question are likely to have a substantial impact on the technical design of the vehicle and/or the balance of performance between the cars, in which case they will come into effect no earlier than 1 January of the second year following their publication.

"d) Shorter notice periods...may be applied, provided that the unanimous agreement of all competitors properly entered for the championship or series concerned is obtained."

hope the FOTA is right...

[Robert]

hope the FOTA is right...

Sounds great. The whole thing reeks of Bernie anyway.

[Redliner]

And the roller coaster drama begins yet again. I swear, half of this crap is self-inflicted so the fans just have something to clamour about. I bet Ernie is thinkin' "Haha. Fools...that'll give them something to talk about for awhile while I steal your monies"

[_R_]

well that was quick...
sadly only postponed... and somehow Bernie thought the teams were in favor?

The FIA has said it will defer the introduction of a new points system in Formula 1 until 2010 if teams are unhappy about it.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) issued a statement on Friday questioning the validity of the rule change which will see the world championship handed to the driver with the most wins.

FOTA believes that the rules could not be changed at this late stage without unanimous support of the teams.

The FIA has responded to FOTA's claims, suggesting that its World Motor Sport Council that voted for the changes earlier this week was under the impression that the teams had supported the 'winner takes all' proposal put forward by Bernie Ecclestone.

In light of complaints from leading figures, the FIA has now said that if the teams are unhappy then the introduction of the wins systems will be delayed until 2010.

The statement said: "On 17 March, the FIA World Motor Sport Council unanimously rejected FOTA's proposed amendment to the points system for the Formula One Drivers' Championship. The 'winner takes all' proposal made by the commercial rights holder (who had been told that the teams were in favour) was then approved.

"If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010."

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

well that was quick...
sadly only postponed... and somehow Bernie thought the teams were in favor?

still 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 tho


14-10-7-5-4-3-2-1 w/ 0.5 for fastest lap and 0.5 for pole damnit

[Redliner]

still 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 tho


14-10-7-5-4-3-2-1 w/ 0.5 for fastest lap and 0.5 for pole damnit

At least we didn't go from one screw up to an even bigger screw-up!

But I like your suggestion. I'm in for Kero taking over MadMax's job.

[_R_]

2 things:
1) just adopt the motogp scoring and call it a day
2) is FOM basically Bernie and 2 lawyers? i mean basically it's his will, so why even have a team?

[_R_]

World champion Lewis Hamilton, and his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, are likely to qualify 'in the last third' of the Melbourne grid next weekend.

That is the frank admission of Norbert Haug, who has spoken candidly about McLaren's winter problems with the new MP4-24 car.

In an official race preview on Friday, team figures admitted outright victory at Albert Park is unlikely.

World champion Hamilton, who won the event in 2008 after securing pole, said he doesn't have 'the same prospects' for success this year as in the past, while Kovalainen admitted the Woking-based team 'probably won't start the season as favourites'.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said McLaren is 'fully aware' fighting at the front is not a prospect for Australia, while Mercedes chief Haug said winning 'may not be possible'.

In an interview with the German news agency SID, however, Haug was more candid about the car's competitiveness, and also the time it may take for its problems to be resolved.

"After our test results, we must get used to the fact that in Melbourne we will be in the last third of the starting order," the German is quoted as saying.

"Clearly we have to improve our technical package," Haug continued. "This process needs time and it could be the start of the European season (before McLaren is competitive), perhaps even longer."

wonder what his poker game is like...