I don't know about you, but this is the most i've ever looked forward to the new F1 season in my life. I thought i'd make a thread now just a few hours before the first main testing for the Melbourne GP Starts.

 

 

 

The reason i'm looking forward to this years season is because there are so many rule changes for the better. Unlike previous years, the rule changes have made the races more confusing and a bit more boring, but this years are going back to basics. For those not in the know, heres the main rule changes for this year (from the F1 website):

 

 

 

[hide=]Tyres

 

After 10 seasons on grooved tyres, Formula One racing returns to slicks in 2009, as part of moves to increase the emphasis on mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip. With no grooves, grip will increase by around 20 percent, bringing a significant performance gain. However, that gain will be offset by the vastly reduced downforce levels of the revised aerodynamic regulations (see below). The overall effect should be reduced performance through high-speed corners. Drivers will still have the choice of two dry tyre compounds and will still have to use both compounds during a race.

 

 

 

KERS

 

From 2009 teams have the option of employing a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to boost their cars performance. As its name implies, a KERS recovers the (normally wasted) kinetic energy generated by the cars braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a boost button on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just under seven seconds per lap. This could be worth several tenths of a second in terms of lap time, but the weight and packaging of the system - and its impact on the cars weight distribution - also have to be taken into account.

 

 

 

Engines

 

In a move designed to boost reliability still further, rev limits will be cut from 19,000 to 18,000 rpm and drivers must now use the same engine for three, rather than two, consecutive events. Teams will be limited to eight engines per season - eight for each race driver and an additional four for testing. Just one team - Renault - has been allowed to make performance modifications to their engine for 2009 in order to help equalise power outputs.

 

 

 

Aerodynamics

 

Along with slick tyres, this is the biggest area of change for 2009. Downforce will be dramatically reduced and the cars bodywork will appear much cleaner, thanks to new dimensional regulations that effectively outlaw extraneous items such as barge boards, winglets, turning vanes and chimneys.

 

 

 

As well as reducing overall aero performance, the revisions are also designed to increase overtaking by making the car less susceptible to turbulence when closely following another driver. The most obvious changes are to the front and rear wings.

 

 

 

The front wing becomes lower (75mm from 150mm) and wider (up from 1400 to 1800mm - the same width as the car) with driver-adjustable flaps. Drivers will be allowed to make two wing adjustments per lap, altering the wing angle over a six-degree range.

 

 

 

The rear wing becomes taller (up 150mm to bring it level with the top of the engine cover) and narrower (750mm from 1000mm).

 

 

 

Also at the back of the car, the diffuser has been moved rearwards, its leading edge now level with (rather than ahead of) the rear-wheel axle line. In addition, the diffuser has been made longer and higher, all changes that will reduce its ability to generate downforce.

 

 

 

Testing

 

Testing restrictions will be even more stringent, with none allowed for the duration of the race season.[/hide]

 

 

 

 

 

This should be a great season, it's wide open who will win the races. Anybody else really looking forward to sundays race?

 

 

 

 

 

I've also put a fiver on Kimi to win, the ice man always comes up trumps. :thumbsup:

Nice info, not a massive fan of F1 but will have it on in the background.

 

 

 

Kimi to win. 8-)

Cool. I'm not a big fan, but I have friends that F1 in college. It's pretty sweet.

(apologies for blatant advertisement, but at least I didn't start this thread!)

 

 

 

For F1 fans on Facebook, you might want to check out the FantasyTeam F1 app I co-founded: http://apps.facebook.com/dream_racing_team/

 

 

 

You pick a team of 4 drivers, 2 constructors, and your bonus track - and then attempt to get more points than others based on how your team does in the F1 season. Only 10 hours before qualifying though, so get cracking if you want to set up a team!

 

 

 

We can set up a tip.it league too if people are interested. See who's the most knowledgeable here!

So I have decided I'm going to watch it today. Didn't get to bed and since it is on in an hour I thought I would stay up for it. Not really bothered who wins but hope its a good race.

It was fun going to the Grand Prixs, but now that they've ditched Montreal I couldn't care less about F1 racing.

Was a great race, who would have thought a team that didn't fully exist a month ago could win a 1-2? How hardy is their car too, must have been involved in 3 or 4 crashes and survived.

 

 

 

Was really dissapointed vettel and kubica crashed together like 5 laps from the end, they were both going so well.

I have a moderate interest in it. Though watching can get boring.

 

 

 

The background stuff about the cars is fascinating.

Lol I stayed up till the start of the race but then fell asleep about 10 minutes into the race.

 

 

 

Was nice to see two Brits make a podium finish. :thumbup:

After going to bed at 3am I set my alarm for 6am to get up and watching it thinking I would be watching a great race with lots of overtaking. Instead I watched a race in which two cars did most of the overtaking (Trulli and Hamilton) and that was only because they started out of position. Brawn's rivals in Ferrari, Kubica and Vettel failed to finish so it was a bit of an anti-climax, especially with a safety car finish.

 

 

 

I am glad Button won though, he deserved it after sticking with Honda for so long despite having such a terrible car with them for two seasons. Hamilton could yet be the winner of the race though if the rear diffusers on the Brawns, Toyotas and Williams' are deemed illegal in a couple of weeks.

Hi, it looks good this season to me :)

 

hopefully next week we'll have very changeable conditions to make it even more interesting lol

Anyone wanna explain why they wasted 8 hours or so of TV putting this on TEN aswell as ONE..?

 

Kinda useless.

Anyone wanna explain why they wasted 8 hours or so of TV putting this on TEN aswell as ONE..?

 

Kinda useless.

 

 

 

To allow for people to watch it who didn't get up at 6am BST to watch it or those who forgot to record it. It is a little unnecessary though as they don't do it for most other sporting events.

I got up at like 9:00am and it started a while after that, with 2 seconds seperating on TEN and ONE. (one isnt just HD, Im pretty sure theres a digital channel for it too)

It was a shame that all these regulation changes were supposed to encourage overtaking, but didn't as much as hoped, but generally melbourne isn't the most overtaking geared track, with alot of chicanes and fast corners.

 

 

 

What channel is TEN (is it American?)

 

 

 

In the uk it was just on BBC 1, 6am, and repeated at like 2pm like it has been for since before i can remember.