This is the week F1

[peter]

Well it's here at last this is the week I have been waiting for. Only days to go now. It seems so long ago now that we had a GP. Roll on Friday.

[Ian]

Re: This is the week F1

Well it's here at last this is the week I have been waiting for. Only days to go now. It seems so long ago now that we had a GP. Roll on Friday.

And already there is controversy over the points system and the interpretation of the design rules...

Ian

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

And already there is controversy over the points system and the interpretation of the design rules...

Ian

And if there was not would it really be the F1 we have come to love. Renault may well be the first to shout from what I have read. They are really not happy about the way different teams have interpreted the design
rules.

[Ian]

Re: This is the week F1

And if there was not would it really be the F1 we have come to love. Renault may well be the first to shout from what I have read. They are really not happy about the way different teams have interpreted the design
rules.

Brawn is one of the teams with a 'clever' diffuser

I hear that the proposition is to let the other teams adopt what the clever teams are doing

Ian

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

Brawn is one of the teams with a 'clever' diffuser

I hear that the proposition is to let the other teams adopt what the clever teams are doing

Ian

Just like last year when Renault played catch up with the engine power. Lets hope Ross and the team can make the most of it before the others catch up.

[devilgas]

Re: This is the week F1

thankfully bernies wacky plan of gold medals has been put on the back burner until 2010. loved how he likened it to a 100m athletics race. b, 1 race doesn't make a calendar. if he must use an athletics analogy, then decathlon is the closest you'll get, and how is that decided? totting up points from each of the individual events....

i think it'll be kimi's year this time based on his lack lustre showing last year. brawn are deffo the dark horse and it's going to be interesting to see how they pan out. they do feature heavily in my work fantasy f1 picks.

i think when maclaren are back on the pace - they've suggested they won't be competitive until the euro leg - then we'll see a hungry hamilton, but a lot depends on how much ferrari can make the most of a 'slow' maccie l.

on paper, we're gearing up to an interesting season, with, imho, ferrari slightly ahead of 4 other immediate contenders (brawn, bmw, toyota & maclaren).

[Ian]

Re: This is the week F1

thankfully bernies wacky plan of gold medals has been put on the back burner until 2010. loved how he likened it to a 100m athletics race. b, 1 race doesn't make a calendar. if he must use an athletics analogy, then decathlon is the closest you'll get, and how is that decided? totting up points from each of the individual events....

i think it'll be kimi's year this time based on his lack lustre showing last year. brawn are deffo the dark horse and it's going to be interesting to see how they pan out. they do feature heavily in my work fantasy f1 picks.

i think when maclaren are back on the pace - they've suggested they won't be competitive until the euro leg - then we'll see a hungry hamilton, but a lot depends on how much ferrari can make the most of a 'slow' maccie l.

on paper, we're gearing up to an interesting season, with, imho, ferrari slightly ahead of 4 other immediate contenders (brawn, bmw, toyota & maclaren).

Brawn were faster than Ferrari when testing on the same days, and have - presumably - more potential for improvement. It's so tantalising - only this weekend will confirm the testing observations - or otherwise!

I just hope the diffuser row doesn't set Brawn back - and I hope it doesn't ruin the race this weekend.

Ian

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

Have to agree with the above and yes Kimi does seem happy with the car. What could really be fun is to see how lewis gets on if the car does not work as it should. Yes we have seen him fight from behind but how will he get on if he does not have the car to do it with. Will there be toys flying out of prams so to speak.

Oh and funny you did not have Renault as one of the other four. They could be a team to watch this year.

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

I just hope the diffuser row doesn't set Brawn back - and I hope it doesn't ruin the race this weekend.

Ian

If it does we will find out about 2 hours after the race that's the norm is it not.

So looking forward to seeing the cars back out on track. Off season testing is one thing but at the end of the day its how it kicks off on race day that counts.

[devilgas]

Re: This is the week F1

Oh and funny you did not have Renault as one of the other four. They could be a team to watch this year.

i was in 2 minds over renault or mac, but think that mac will be on the pace within a few gp's. the engine is more than capable, as proven by brawn, just the aero needs sorting out.

the big randomiser is KERS. who's going to use it? when? it'd be nice if there were some kind of viewer feedback to show when it gets used. unlikely to be used on the startline (FIA have said it can be pre-charged for the start) as there's more than enough power already there to break traction in the first 4 or so cogs anyway.

not sure if we'll get toys & pram from hammy. mclaren and the drivers know that the car is supposedly not a contender at present, so any result would be a bonus in my mind. i'm still undecided as to how much sand bagging has gone on, although what benefit there is in being slow in all the sessions is questionable.

might have to haul my ass out of bed for the red button friday practice sessions.....

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

i was in 2 minds over renault or mac, but think that mac will be on the pace within a few gp's. the engine is more than capable, as proven by brawn, just the aero needs sorting out.

the big randomiser is KERS. who's going to use it? when? it'd be nice if there were some kind of viewer feedback to show when it gets used. unlikely to be used on the startline (FIA have said it can be pre-charged for the start) as there's more than enough power already there to break traction in the first 4 or so cogs anyway.

not sure if we'll get toys & pram from hammy. mclaren and the drivers know that the car is supposedly not a contender at present, so any result would be a bonus in my mind. i'm still undecided as to how much sand bagging has gone on, although what benefit there is in being slow in all the sessions is questionable.

might have to haul my ass out of bed for the red button friday practice sessions.....

Would be funny to see the Ross car beat the merc. I was watching some racing in the us on saturday on tv and one of the guys said that two of the f1 teams he knew about had spent 50 million trying to get their KERS sorted out. So much for keeping the cost down. Really think this maybe more hassle then its worth but like you say would be nice to see if and when it is used.

Never worked out why a team would sandbag at testing what is the point epically now a days when it is limited. I will be getting up for the free practice on friday would not miss that. I also have taken next week off so I can watch all the action from Malaysia.

[Ian]

Re: This is the week F1

Would be funny to see the Ross car beat the merc. I was watching some racing in the us on saturday on tv and one of the guys said that two of the f1 teams he knew about had spent 50 million trying to get their KERS sorted out. So much for keeping the cost down. Really think this maybe more hassle then its worth but like you say would be nice to see if and when it is used.

Never worked out why a team would sandbag at testing what is the point epically now a days when it is limited. I will be getting up for the free practice on friday would not miss that. I also have taken next week off so I can watch all the action from China.

Brawn's KERS went with the Honda engines, so they have nothing for most of the season, maybe all season, but without Kers they have a handy ballast weight advantage over KERS equipped cars.

Ian

[devilgas]

Re: This is the week F1

Brawn's KERS went with the Honda engines, so they have nothing for most of the season, maybe all season, but without Kers they have a handy ballast weight advantage over KERS equipped cars.

Ian

but is it that much of an advantage?
the only luxury of not running KERS is that you get to place the ballast where you like. i'm pretty sure that KERS and non KERS cars will weigh the same, just the weight distribution will be different.

latest news is that red bull will be contesting the legality of the brawn diffuser. great. controversy before a wheel has turned in anger.

[peter]

Re: This is the week F1

latest news is that red bull will be contesting the legality of the brawn diffuser. great. controversy before a wheel has turned in anger.

picked this up from planet f1. Looks like it's 3 teams that are in trouble



F1 is braced for a day of bitter recriminations and accusations on Thursday when the diffuser row is expected to culminate in an official protest by seven teams against the diffusers used by Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams.


With Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko stating bluntly, "Seven teams are certain it's illegal", team boss Christian Horner has since confirmed it is their intention to "seek from the race stewards a ruling following scrutinising."


In a twist to the story, the BBC are reporting that 'Toyota, expecting a row, have brought an alternative diffuser to Melbourne and they could, if necessary, race with that. But because of time and budget restraints Williams and Brawn GP have no alternative as they do not have a plan B.'


While it is expected that each of the cars will pass scrutineering, the matter is unlikely to rest there.


Instead, if the stewards do indeed side with Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams, then the likelihood is that a protest will then be lodged against one or more of the three diffuser designs by the other seven teams. Those cars accused of being illegal would then race under appeal and any points collected would effectively be provisional until a hearing at the FIA is held and the governing body provides a definitive ruling.


Toyota, as the only team believed to have an alternative diffuser available, are thus facing up to a choice between taking the risk of racing with a diffuser that may be deemed illegal in a few weeks' time or playing safe by opting to use a standard design that would not reap the same performance advantage.

[JSR]

Re: This is the week F1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7965056.stm
Apparently, after a six-hour deliberation, the stewards for this race have declared the diffuser perfectly legal.

An appeal has been lodged, but I would be very surprised if it's upheld. Are they really suggesting that Ross Brawn can't read the rule book and regulations? Would Ferrari have been one of the teams protesting if he was still working for them?

As I understand the situation, if the appeal fails and the diffuser is declared fully legal, then the other teams will be in a rush to change their cars to suit this interpretation of the rules.

This will apparently be most difficult for Red Bull - the one team shouting the loudest, complaining all over the place, and spearheading the appeal. Apparently, while the other cars can be changed without too much difficulty, Red Bull's car can't.

This would be a particularly troubling situation for Red Bull, whose car has been designed with a rear suspension system that makes it impossible to build a similar diffuser.

Red Bull's rear suspension operates a unique pull-rod system - where the arms pull down on the dampers, as opposed to the push-rods used by all other teams - which would require a major redesign if it was to be changed to incorporate a diffuser such as that used by Brawn, Williams and Toyota.

In short, Red Bull are complaining simply because their own design can't take advantage of the new diffuser. The other teams can accept the ruling and convert their cars to suit the rules. Red Bull are, effectively, have a legal "rattles out of their prams" moment.

I would very much hope that the appeal is thrown out. Okay, so everyone knows I'm a bit of a Button fan and it would please me no end to see him competing right at the front - but in no way at all would I want any driver, Button included, to win with an illegal car or making illegal moves. That just doesn't make sense. I want him to be winning on merit and in a good car, not by cheating. The same is true for any driver.

But I hope the appeal is thrown out and the car is declared legal because it's sure to shake the grid up a bit until the other teams get up to speed. It'll make for some exciting first races and would make the season very exciting - as we see which teams get the new diffuser on as fast as possible.

You can pretty much be certain that all the teams that are complaining are currently working on the new style of diffuser for if the appeal fails. The only team that won't be doing so is Red Bull, because they can't. So they do all they can do, and complain as loudly as possible.