Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

that does seem to be the problem FOM \ Bernie just seem to want to get as much money as they can so they turn up in places no one wants to go and with no fans there at all.

What would be better is to have most of the series in Europe \ US \ South America and then during the winter they can run the same cars in Asia \ Middle East as the Winter Championship open to new \ young drivers only. They get more revenue and can then lower the race hosting fees

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

No No No you have spoilt a rational argument by using Bernie and the phrase "lower the...... fees" together. Does not compute !

Anyway is the winter series thing what A1GP is all about with races from October to May. Trouble is trying to get fans to engage with it as a concept.

http://www.a1gp.com/About/WhatIsA1GP.aspx

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

The problem with A1 GP, is that it's not F1.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Looks like Mclaren may still have a problem...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7985669.stm

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

well A1GP is a winter series but it isn't as professional, the driver standards are lower, the cars are slower as it just isn't F1. Holding a F1 winter championship would help new drivers get into the sport as with testing banned they can only drive a car in a straight line now.

It would send out a better message to the environment as instead of building a car for 18 weekends and 4 tests a year they can now be used all year round,plus it will bring in more money

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Dont get me wrong I agree with what you are trying to suggest..:)

It would kill A1GP though. Another option would be to allow the GP2 teams to run the cars in the winter, that way the F1 teams could focus on the build and test on the next cars.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Yes it would kill A1GP but what would the public rather watch A1GP or a F1 Winter Championship ?

My theory was to have it centrally run and employ all the F1 test teams to tun the cars so people who have lost their jobs will now have a job. You could then have the F1 teams running with their new cars during the practice days so then the people who pay to go get to meet the F1 drivers plus those in the winter championship. You could expand the GP2 Asia series to run with it and then add in GP3 series

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

You should work for the FIA ;)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Considering A1GP's a dying series anyway due to admin incompetencies, late payments to teams and abandoned races, I think F1 in the winter has a much better chance of being more successful series. :)

The twilight races is a terrible idea, especially in Malaysia because it accelerates the chances of a race being stopped for good early on. Last weekend's race was the 5th time in 60 years of F1 that half points has been given out instead of the full whack because a race has been halted for good early (other times are Spain (Montjuich Park) 1975, Austria 1975, Monaco 1984 and Australia 1991). Even in the monsoons of Japan 1994 they did a 2-parter, but had the race been a couple of hours earlier in the day this weekend, they'd have done 56 laps and been wet on the podium.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Multi-plane diffusers are legal !! Go Williams

Lets get on with the season, imagination and lateral thinking has won through :):)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74475

Now lets see what beating is given to McLaren.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

They say late starts are to capture a bigger audience, but I used to love waking up in the very early hours to watch races. It made it much more of an event for me. I didn't realise the Malaysian Grand Proxwas going to start so late, I was expecting to have to wake up at 4am for the start of the show.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Not sure about that. Casual channel hoppers may not be too interested in sponsorship identification. It has been long proved that consistency with visual branding is far more effective than just casual observation. The "casual observer" is likely to be more interested in the action from the race, rather than who is displaying their brand on the car.

That said, perhaps more night races could be considered. I really enjoyed the Singapore GP last year. It really did add an extra dimension to the tension.

P.S. And Aunty, if you are watching, please, please, please give us F1 on HD!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

For what feels like the umpteenth time - the BBC could provide it if the cameras used at GPs were in HD - they're not because the race feed is provided by FOM (Formula One Management), which do all bar a couple of the races in a season. Until FOM provide an HD world feed, the BBC won't get it.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

This has been answered a few times and in multiple threads...

HD for this event is out of the BBC's control apart from the British GP, that's because the main race feed is supplied to the BBC by whichever broadcasting company ha the rights for that countries GP. None of these feeds are currently in HD so the best the BBC could ever do is upscale the picture..

It will though be interesting to see if the BBC does do HD for Silverstone

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I think the BBC might trial F1 in HD.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

It'd be a very short trial which consisted of only the British Grand Prix.. ;)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

The problem there is FOM do the track cameras for the British GP. ;) Unless the BBC is willing to take up host broadcasting for one time only to see whether it can deliver a quality HD feed, then it won't happen.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

correct FOM are the host for all races apart from Monaco and Japan so those are the only ones filmed with local kit.

There have been a few races in the past like Australia and Japan that have been filmed in HD but that was a few years ago when each country produced the feed themselves

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

The trouble is that poisionous dwarf will want more cash to broadcast HD.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

As I understand, the BBC would like to show F1 in HD.

As for the comments about night races, I was actually thinking more along the lines of when the viewers will be asleep. If they hold (say) the Singapore race at 1pm local time, then in some of the countries that watch F1 most, it will be night and a lot of their potential viewers (casual or not) will be asleep. The sponsers will not like that as it will reduce their potential market.

As for the casual observer being more interested in the action rather than the sponsorship, this is true. But if they are seeing a selection of logos consistantly for two hours then that may influence their buying decisions (subconciously rather than conciously). Indeed, that is how sponsorhip works.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

That's what I meant.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

the thing is there is no point the BBC filming one race in HD as they don't provide the feed for other races so what would be in HD. Bernie has no intention of going HD.

As I stated the BBC aren't even the host broadcaster for the British GP that is FOM

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Brawn are majorly sandbagging in practice - Hamilton's fastest time in FP1 was done on soft tyres and probably low fuel - I dunno as I wasn't awake to find out. Ferrari are so far behind they've got more work to do than the entire field put together just to be on the pace!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Does Ron Dennis's departure mean that a deal has been done?

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

the press are stated that Hamilton's father and RD don't get in. It i claimed that during "liegate" Hamilton Snr tried to get Lewis to quit over what was going on. Part of the "deal" to keep the world champ on was for RD to relenquish all control of the team.

Either that or true to his word he is handing over the team to Whitmarsh and wants to concentrate on the other areas of McLaren

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Glock has a penalty for a Toyota gearbox change.

Seems them quickshift gearboxes aren't so reliable nowadays. :D

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Wet start today. Button heavier than Red Bull & Renault.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Yep, it's piddling down! :D

Liked DC on the gridwalk with Brundle, good partnership going on there. :)

This could be a good race, unlikely to be stopped before 3/4 distance this time, so I'm gonna go put the kettle on!

EDIT: S/C start according to Renault's Pat Symonds. There did seem an awful lot of standing water when Hamilton did his outlap!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Safety car start.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Finally running at speed

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

That is one wet circuit :shocked:

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Good, keeps em all honest and means a good car doesn't guarantee anything, onus on the drivers now.

---------- Post added at 08:42 ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 ----------

Oh dear Mr Kubica lol

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Well if the rest of the season is as exciting as the first three races, then this is going to be one excellent season. I think we've seen so more overtaking in these first three races than the throughout the entire last season.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

i think we've been helped a bit by the two wet races.

Still want to give the new rules a bit more time.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I enjoyed watching the rerun of the race in the afternoon. I didn't expect the Red Bull's to be so dominant. Brawn had been so confident, they pretty much did what Ferrari did last weekend, and underestimated the opponents.

Ferrari really haven't had a good start to the season have they? lol. Their worst start toa season since 1992, as they haven't gained ANY points this season. Where are the FIA now?

McLaren seem to have gotten over some of the problems they had in the first two races. They're still miles off the pace of Brawn and Red Bull though.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Red Bull were pretty strong in the 1st race - Vettel would have finished in the top 3 if not for the accident in the closing laps. A lot of good things are being said about him and I expect him to do well.

It's interesting how Hamilton coped in the conditions. They had a pretty much improved car and it was only his 2 or 3 mistakes that cost him a decent finish - nothing to do with the car, just driver error. I'm sure he's really happy he was given the championship in the last race last season ;)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

In the first race, Red Bull were a top 3 team, but they still were no where near Brawn. Brawn weren't even running their maximum. But now Red Bull have caught up.

Lewis was so highly acclaimed for his wet driving abilities, but yesterdays race was full of driver mistakes. Heikki has upped his game too, he was pegging Lewis, and made no mistakes. Maybe it's that the McLarens were better suited to the wet. I guess we'll see next week. I can't see it raining in Bahrain.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I've always liked Button, although I never rated him really highly as a driver, but as a personality I've always enjoyed watching him on TV and listening to him speak. I'm genuinely chuffed that he is now in a competitive car. And Ive always been a fan of Ross Brawn when he was at Ferrari so I do hope they do very well.

Vettel is another driver who comes across as a really nice guy - there's no arrogance about him - and its good to see him in a competitive car too. I am a huge ferrari fan, but am really happy for Brawn and Red Bull. They've made the season extremely exciting so far and if they keep it up then this will be one of the best seasons in years.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

so far we've only had one dry race so still not sure about the new rules. Last weekend if it was going to be dry there were rumours the super soft tyre would only last about 5 laps, which would have ended up ruining the race and just looking stupid. Thank god that didn't happen and we got an actual race althoug I think they could have started straight away as the conditions were the same behind the safety car to when they started.

Next race is next weekend in Bahrain so should be dry and be able to tell who is where

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I didn't like him very much when he entered Formula One to be honest; a bit too arrogant and cocky in my opinion (kind of reminded me of a young Ralf Schumacher). But I think he has served his apprenticeship now and is reaping its rewards.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Ah, it's the Fake Champagne GP next week, wonder if they can keep the sand swept off the track.

At least it starts at a civilized hour.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

wonder how big a crowd they will have ? In China they had whole Grandstands empty hence the Expo 2010 sign they have up.

I wish Bernie would take F1 to some proper tracks where the fans actually want to watch F1 rather than just whoever pays the most cash.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Missed the race live as I've been in Anglesey at the Anglesey circuit for the weekend, but as usual the PVR came to the rescue...

Must admit that I really do enjoy the wet races, as already stated by someone else they really do negate the technological difference of the cars and make it so much a drivers race..

I do though really miss Jean Alesi's antics in the rain ;)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

The best wet race I watched was Monaco nineteen ninety-six. Only three or four cars finished and was won by Olivier Panis, his and Ligier's only ever win. What I find remarkable is that who would have thought that a Sauber team would be doing so well today. They were running similar positions as Jordan, Arrows and Ligier in the nineties, but look at them now (I know it is all but name, but still).

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Actually Ligier have had a few other wins with Laffitte and a few others. It's actually 9 but I had to check that on the net.

Used to have lovely looking cars and ran with Matra and Renault engines in the past.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Aah, apologies, but nothing since nineteen eighty-two before then.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

yes it was a long time ago. It's a shame all these great teams of the past a no longer with us.

As for Sauber now BMW they did at one point have the most advanced wind tunnel in F1, I think it was one of the first full scale tunnels, plus they now have "Albert" one of the worlds most powerful super computers, add into that the BMW staff in Munich and you can see why they made progress. I think the staff have doubled since BMW took over.

Do feel sorry for Kubica though they abandoned development of the car last year so they could concentrate on this years car and gave up a chance at the title. This years car so far isn't working very well and so with hindsight that doesn't look a good decision

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Might not work very well but after watching it in China it is a tough little beastie!!!!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Correct, Ligier's last win before Panis in Monaco 1996 was Laffite in 1981. Panis would have probably won for Prost at some point had he not had that awful accident in Canada in 1997.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Based on the results so far how long have Piquet and Bourdais got ? Both have been destroyed by their team mates this year.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I think Bourdais's record from last year may help him and Piquet's obvious familial connections may also save him this year, but I doubt his option will be taken up for next year.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Eeeekkkk, less than 10 minutes left in this practice session and Hamilton is top of the timing board by a big margin

Also had to laugh at a text to the BBC from one of thier viewers ---------- Post added at 09:43 ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 ----------

Friday's first practice session results

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.647 19
2 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:33.907 0.260 17
3 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:33.938 0.291 17
4 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:34.227 0.580 24
5 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.434 0.787 15
6 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.502 0.855 24
7 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.531 0.884 18
8 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.589 0.942 17
9 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:34.827 1.180 21
10 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:34.827 1.180 19
11 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:34.880 1.233 24
12 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:34.938 1.291 21
13 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:34.974 1.327 21
14 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:35.021 1.374 18
15 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:35.036 1.389 22
16 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:35.042 1.395 16
17 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:35.333 1.686 20
18 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:35.348 1.701 24
19 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:35.353 1.706 22
20 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:35.369 1.722 15

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Second practice times:

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:33.339 36
2 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:33.530 0.191 25
3 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:33.616 0.277 37
4 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:33.661 0.322 29
5 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:33.676 0.337 32
6 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:33.694 0.355 35
7 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:33.763 0.424 30
8 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:33.764 0.425 37
9 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:33.885 0.546 30
10 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:33.899 0.560 36
11 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.994 0.655 30
12 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:34.025 0.686 23
13 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:34.127 0.788 37
14 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:34.366 1.027 26
15 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:34.411 1.072 29
16 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.564 1.225 34
17 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:34.605 1.266 31
18 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:34.670 1.331 28
19 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.764 1.425 35
20 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:34.790 1.451 33

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Either Alonso and Renault are sandbagging majorly, or their car's not exactly quick round the desert! Brawn are running heavy to figure out which type of tyre should be used when in the race, and I think they'll have competition for pole if they run heavier than most in qualifying. They'll run away with the race though - I reckon about 20 seconds on the field at the end, provided there's no last-minute safety car. :D

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

BBC times today for the following

Third practice: 0855-1005 (red button/online)
Qualifying: 1100-1315 (BBC1/red button/online)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Saturdays Practice times

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:32.605
2 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:32.728 0.123
3 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:32.906 0.301
4 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.975 0.370
5 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:32.986 0.381
6 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:33.176 0.571
7 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:33.195 0.590
8 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:33.302 0.697
9 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:33.397 0.792
10 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:33.415 0.810
11 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:33.443 0.838
12 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.478 0.873
13 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:33.482 0.877
14 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:33.534 0.929
15 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:33.586 0.981
16 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:33.686 1.081
17 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:33.720 1.115
18 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:33.726 1.121
19 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:33.962 1.357
20 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:34.990 2.385

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Qualifying results

1 italy Jarno Trulli 9 Toyota 1:33.431
2 germany Timo Glock 10 Toyota 1:33.712
3 germany Sebastian Vettel 15 Red Bull-Renault 1:34.015
4 great britain Jenson Button 22 Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.044
5 great britain Lewis Hamilton 1 McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.196
6 brazil Rubens Barrichello 23 Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.239
7 spain Fernando Alonso 7 Renault 1:34.578
8 brazil Felipe Massa 3 Ferrari 1:34.818
9 germany Nico Rosberg 16 Williams-Toyota 1:35.134
10 finland Kimi Raikkonen 4 Ferrari 1:35.380
11 finland Heikki Kovalainen 2 McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.242
12 japan Kazuki Nakajima 17 Williams-Toyota 1:33.348
13 poland Robert Kubica 5 BMW Sauber 1:33.487
14 germany Nick Heidfeld 6 BMW Sauber 1:33.562
15 brazil Nelson Piquet Jr 8 Renault 1:33.941
16 germany Adrian Sutil 20 Force India-Mercedes 1:33.722
17 switzerland Sebastien Buemi 12 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:33.753
18 italy Giancarlo Fisichella 21 Force India-Mercedes 1:33.910
19 australia Mark Webber 14 Red Bull-Renault 1:34.038
20 france Sebastien Bourdais 11 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:34.159

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I think Sutil has now been sent to the back of the grid

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

not that it helps Webber much , at least he was man enough to own up to his mistake !

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

BUTTON WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINs

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Great race by Button, helped enormously by the wrong strategy by Toyota. That's been their achilles heel throughout their time in F1 - wrong strategy and dodgy pit-wall calls. Vettel looks like the main challenger against Button, but it's still early days.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

One thing I would like to see is the use of KERS outlawed for the start of the race - as a system designed to store braking energy for later use in acceleration it doesn't seem 'fair' to use at the start, when arguably there hasn't been any braking happened, yet?

Great win for Button, though - it will be interesting to see if some of the other teams can catch up with all their planned improvements for Barcelona.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Y'know the parade lap when they warm up the brakes and tyres by braking and accelerating? That'd count as use. :)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

So would Friday free practice, but I still don't agree with it being used for the start - just my opinion, of course :)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

My OPINION ;)is that it should be allowed at the start. You have the weight and complexity penalties so you should get all the benefit you can. I like the idea of a boost button and think KERS should be encouraged more than it is.

The flipside.....I really doubt the green credentials of KERS. How much natural resource goes in to the batteries? How easy are they to recycle etc?
I wish Williams would hurry up with their flywheel system.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Anybody spot the feature Martin Brundle did on McLaren's KERS? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8019577.stm

I was amazed how compact the battery pack was!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Great to see Button win. I hope he goes all the way.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8024661.stm

Three race suspended ban.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Surprised they didn't get longer. As much as I don't want them to be suspended, they deserve it imo. It comes off the back of the spy scandal. Unsportsmanlike conduct should never be tolerated.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I think the reaction to the lack of punishment would have been a lot different if it was ferrari as oppposed to Mclaren (and Hamilton) getting the same judgement. There'd be people screaming blue murder how Pro Ferarri the FIA are, etc etc etc.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

New rules for 2010 and a budget of £40m preferred: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8025566.stm

By new rules, I mean the following:

• No rev limit on engines and teams allowed movable front and rear wings for those under £40m,
• Unlimited out-of-season testing,
• A ban on refuelling to stop teams freighting heavy refuelling equipment, and to encourage engine manufacturers to make them economical,
• Number of allowed cars on the grid to increase from 24 to 26, paving the way for 3 new 2-car teams to enter next year.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

am glad refueling has gone but we still have the tyre stops, I wish we had all the action taking place on the track then there is only one way to pass, overtaking on track, rather than in the pits

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Wider tracks would be good too, plus drivers not penalised for cutting across chicanes. You might gain an advantage but think of the risk to the car going off road as such.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

The whole point of a chicane is to stop the cars taking a particular area of the track in a straight line, if they can cut the chicane without penalty then it might as well not be there :rolleyes: and we'd end up with an oval track where the cars go round and round and round for 500 miles.... (why does that sound familiar!!! ;))

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I'm confused about this McLaren ban. So they aren't banned unless they break the rules again, or more facts come to light? Or is their ban later on in the season?

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I'm not even sure what they're in trouble for this time..... :erm:

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Under the safety car, Trulli went off and came back on, Hamilton went past him. Usually its against the rules to overtake under the safety car, but Trulli went completely off. (4 wheels off) Once Hamilton was passed, he didn't know if he should let Trulli back passed, so he called his team over the radio and asked. They weren't sure, so they told him to let Trulli back past.

Once Trulli was back infront, McLaren took Trulli to the stewards saying he overtook Hamilton under the safety car. This was a mistake by one of the head people at McLaren, and Hamilton hadn't actually done anything wrong.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Ah, ok - thanks for that :tu:

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Hamilton hadn't done anything wrong up untill the point that he lied to the Stewards under the direction of his race director(who's now been sacked).

McLaren have been found guilty of five charges, the main one of which was bringing the sport into desrepute by lying to an official.

The punishment, a three race ban, is "suspended" in the same way that a prison sentence can be suspended. As long as no other offences are commited is a pre-determined amount of time, then the sentence never has to be served.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Just a reminder that qualifying for this weekends Spanish Grand Prix is at 12.10 on BBC1.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Currently watching the final practice as I type..with just under 30 minutes left.

Hiedfeld has just gone off at turn 12....
Both Ferrari's are fastest, Hamilton 6th by half a second and Button 13th by 1 second

---------- Post added at 10:55 ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 ----------

Now it's a top four seperated by only .3 seconds of

GLOCK
BUTTON
MASSA
HAMILTON

5 minutes left

---------- Post added at 10:56 ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 ----------

Kovalainen just got 4th with 0.14 behind the leader

3 minutes left so it's low fuel and soft tyres time :)

Massa leading by .8s

---------- Post added at 11:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

1 Brazil F Massa Ferrari
2 Finland K Raikkonen Ferrari
3 Great Britain J Button Brawn
4 Brazil R Barrichello Brawn
5 Poland R Kubica BMW Sauber
6 Italy J Trulli Toyota
7 Great Britain L Hamilton McLaren
8 Germany T Glock Toyota
9 Switzerland S Buemi Toro Rosso
10 Spain F Alonso Renault
11 Finland H Kovalainen McLaren
12 Germany N Rosberg Williams
13 Australia M Webber Red Bull
14 France S Bourdais Toro Rosso
15 Brazil N Piquet Jr Renault
16 Germany S Vettel Red Bull
17 Germany A Sutil Force India
18 Japan K Nakajima Williams
19 Italy G Fisichella Force India
20 Germany N Heidfeld BMW Sauber

The top 11 is within a second of the leader

Qualifying starts at 1pm BST (though the TV program starts nearly an hour earlier)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

End of Q1 and Raikkonen doesn't go out again and ends up 16th!! Even though his team-mate ends up on P1 for that session..

---------- Post added at 13:50 ---------- Previous post was at 13:23 ----------

Hamilton is out after Q2

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I don't think Eddie Jordan is in a good mood today.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Another win for Jenson!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

4 wins outta 5, 5 podiums outta 5

Poor Ferrari










NOT :)

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I know, how are we gonna cope?

Someone's fallen out with Mosley or Eccleston!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

More racist *******s in the Spanish GP:mad:

Strip the of the GP next year as punishment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8042572.stm

The anti-racism campaigns are worth SFA

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8044860.stm

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Wonder how much sabre rattling will occur at the next meeting.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind - yet again Ferrari putting their own interests in front of those of the sport.

Let 'em go I say :tu:

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

yep, shut the door on your way out :)

if they can't get it right now with the biggest budget they've got no hope with a capped budget, but no doubt the plans for capping will not surface into reality now.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I think if Ferrari leaves it'll benefit the sport 1000%.... They're like some little rich kid who's pater is threatening to cut up thier credit cards!!!!!

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

After following motorsport and F1 in particular for 25 years I must confess to being confused by the budget cap proposals.

"The FIA will allow those teams that sign up to the budget cap to have increased technical freedom to make it easier to compete with the uncapped teams. This includes adjustable front and rear wings as well as an engine that can run without a rev limit.

In addition, the budget cap teams will be allowed unlimited testing outside of the racing season, and will not be restricted by the wind tunnel scale and speed stipulations "

As I understand it if you commit to spend less cash you can have more freedom to explore technical solutions with less testing restrictions and unlimited RPM. Not sure how that adds up? Do more and spend less? Discuss.........

I Suppose you have to focus on which areas give you the most bang for your buck.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

If it becomes 2-tier, I guess there's not much problem as we've had the same thing before! Remember the turbo vs non-turbo rule differences? Ferrari are just a spoilt little rich kid who are throwing their toys out of the pram. If they find one set of rules is markedly faster than the other, pick that, but don't say you'll quit because one side can spend more money than you. Geez....


Watched the Spanish GP yesterday, Rosberg should be far more aware of how fast he's going when off-track, as he caused the 4-car pileup. Trulli could have done more to either stay off-track while others screamed past or remain further in control. Still, at least we know the cars are still as strong as ever. Alonso and Webber's antics down the main straight were fantastic! For Webber to get a podium was also very good. I am very surprised however that Barrichello wasn't switched to a 2 stopper like Button was, as he should have easily won that race.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

i doubt it will be able to survive with out them especially if they go off with other manufacturers and set up their own world series that was mooted a few years back

the budget cap may seem they way to go in this time of tightening belts but F1 has always been about the cutting edge of technology and i cant see that being the case with limited budgets

they may as well go to a single car and engine with money spent on developing better fuel and engine for next year i doubt that could be any more boring lol

half the interest at the moment is to see what new bit of kit the old front running teams can come up with to make up ground

i for one will be much less likely to watch ( especially the early morning ones ) next year if they do leave

but i think this will just be a bargaining tool to get better ideas for what to do rather than budget caps or the two tier system proposed

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

I am willing to bet that FIA will back down, think how many fan they have.

Plus Max and the poison dwarf will never be able to set foot in Italy either.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

At the moment only Brawn Force India and Williams have said they are ok with it.
Toyota and Red Bull has said they will have to strongly consider their future participation, and have talked about quitting as well, should a 2-tier championship be created.
I don't think BMW, Renault and McLaren are to keen on it either. McLaren might be a bit too scared to say anything at the moment as they are a bit preoccupied sucking up to the FIA at the moment after their latest sting of shenanigans.

Wonder how F1 would be with a handful of teams ... maybe Force India can score some points. How exciting ...

What I do know is that Max has been slowly destroying the sport I love over the last few years, and this will be the final nail in the coffin, should it be forced through.

Edit:

Renault:
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37895
Toyota:
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37858
Red Bull:
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37886

Lets hope the door don't hit them on the back on their way out as well then shall we...

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37893

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Interesting list, but where is Reubens? Has Brawn not confirmed his contract for next year?

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Renault have now joined Ferrari saying they'll leave the sport at the end of the 2009 season if the budget isn't reviewed.

This is causing the sport more problems than its solving, so its not really benefiting. I remember Toyota mentioning not long after the budget was announced they would pull out if it is kept.

If it goes ahead, that's 3 teams out, leading for another 6 to join. I can't see another 6 teams joining. I can't see another 3 to be honest.

Add the whole medals system into this for 2010...its starting to become a joke.

Re: Formula 1 2009 Season [may contain real time spoilers]
 

Red Bull have also said they will pull out too unless the £40 million cap is shelved.

Source: BBC Sport