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It's time one and all for a new season of Formula One, this time around things may be very much different than last season. New rules are in effect which really throw a wrench in any pre-season predictions this year. Let's go over the changes in rules as well as the teams this year.
The Rules
Engines
Engines must now last for 3 races(including qualifying). To help the reliability factor, the engines are also limited to 18,000rpms instead of the 19,000rpms which was in effect last season.
Tyres
We finally see the return to full race-slick tyres. During testing last season teams were averaging close to two seconds-a-lap faster times with last years aero package over the grooved tyres that have been used for about the past 10 seasons. This will definately yield more mechanical grip for the drivers, but with the aerodynamic changes will the overall times be faster?
Aero
One of the biggest changes this year is to the aerodynamic regulations on the cars. From last year we see about a 60% decrease in overall downforce. Gone are all the winglets and flaps along the sidepods, gone are the huge rear wings spreading over the rear tyres and in their place is a huge front wing, spreading all the way across the front tyres edge to edge. The the front wing there are moveable flaps, which will allow drivers to change the front downforce setting on the wing, with a set number of changes per lap.
Miscellaneous
This year is also the introduction of the KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on the cars. Use of this system is optional, but those teams running may have a huge advantage. More info on this system can be found here: http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/612.html and here http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/611.html.
The Teams
Ferrari
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Drivers: Kimi Raikkonnen, Felipe Massa
[DISCLAIMER]I personally don't like Felipe for the only reason that I think he looks like a little troll. That being said any negative comments I may make about him throughout the rest of this thread are based nearly on that soul reason.[/DISCLAIMER] Ferrari's back, and being the first to debut the new car, the F60, gives them a shot at doing more opening testing to see what does or doesn't work to develop it before Melbourne. I really hope Kimi does well this season and is able to challenge for the championship at the end of the season, other than that I hate the troll. It may drive well, but I still hate it.
Mclaren
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Drivers: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen
Well, I liked Lewis when he first appeared and showed up Alonso(no trollish comments here[though there could be], I just think Alonso's stuck up), so I hope Lewis is ready for the pressure of defending his championship this season. Heikki did very well last season and hope he can doing well again and stay close, if not beat his teammate.
BMW Sauber
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Drivers: Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfield
After a damn good drive last season, Robert's definately going to be a contender this season if the car's up to shape. I'm a bit surprised that Heidfield still kept his drive at BMW after being shown up by his teammate nearly every race. Hopefully Nick will drive better this season after realizing he might've come close to losing his seat in F1.
Renault
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Drivers: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet JR!
Alonso started to be competitive towards the end of last season and he might take the fight to the front this season depending on the ride. Now what make absolutely no F***ING sense to me is why Piquet JR's still in a drivers seat for Renault? Last season there were so many mistakes and poor performances out of him that I'm shocked they're asking for a second helping of it? He never seemed to learn from his rookie mistakes early in the season and kept the bad luck all season. I'm wondering if it's only his 3-time world champion father who was able to keep him there.
Toyota
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Drivers: Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock
After a grand video debut to the new car(check out http://www.tf109-premiere.com/) it looks like Toyota's finally going to take things seriously when it comes to F1, well maybe that is. Last year, Jarno was at the front, if not middle of the pack while Timo actually did a damn good job throughout the season. Of course there were a couple of crashes, but overall I was pretty impressed by his performance, especially later in the season.
Red Bull
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Drivers: Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel
Vettel's finally stepping up to the parent team this year, replacing David Coulthard who finally realized he's not in his prime anymore. It will be interesting to see the performance of Mark Webber early in the season after breaking his leg during his charity bike race during the off-season.
Toro Rosso
[Pics of 2009 car not released]
Drivers: Sebastien Buemi, Sebastien Bourdais
With a new car and possibly a whole new driver lineup, Toro Rosso has the cleanest slate so far to start with this season, we'll see if that'll help or hinder them. There's three drivers all trying to get the remaining seat on the team: Sebastian Bourdais, Takuma Sato, and Bruno Senna. The latter is the nephew of the LEGENDARY Ayrton Senna.
Williams
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Drivers: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima
I'm hoping that Williams will be able to step up their game this year over the mediocre performance they put in last year. That's about all I have to say on that.
Force India
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Drivers: Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella
Hopefully Vijay will have enough money to turn around the under-performaning team. I do hope that they can manage to run mid-pack this season, it's about the only team I think will do well with the cost-cutting measures.
I will also pose the question of everyone's ideas on Bernie Ecclestone's medals concept.
The Rules
Engines
Engines must now last for 3 races(including qualifying). To help the reliability factor, the engines are also limited to 18,000rpms instead of the 19,000rpms which was in effect last season.
Tyres
We finally see the return to full race-slick tyres. During testing last season teams were averaging close to two seconds-a-lap faster times with last years aero package over the grooved tyres that have been used for about the past 10 seasons. This will definately yield more mechanical grip for the drivers, but with the aerodynamic changes will the overall times be faster?
Aero
One of the biggest changes this year is to the aerodynamic regulations on the cars. From last year we see about a 60% decrease in overall downforce. Gone are all the winglets and flaps along the sidepods, gone are the huge rear wings spreading over the rear tyres and in their place is a huge front wing, spreading all the way across the front tyres edge to edge. The the front wing there are moveable flaps, which will allow drivers to change the front downforce setting on the wing, with a set number of changes per lap.
Miscellaneous
This year is also the introduction of the KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on the cars. Use of this system is optional, but those teams running may have a huge advantage. More info on this system can be found here: http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/612.html and here http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/611.html.
The Teams
Ferrari
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonnen, Felipe Massa
[DISCLAIMER]I personally don't like Felipe for the only reason that I think he looks like a little troll. That being said any negative comments I may make about him throughout the rest of this thread are based nearly on that soul reason.[/DISCLAIMER] Ferrari's back, and being the first to debut the new car, the F60, gives them a shot at doing more opening testing to see what does or doesn't work to develop it before Melbourne. I really hope Kimi does well this season and is able to challenge for the championship at the end of the season, other than that I hate the troll. It may drive well, but I still hate it.
Mclaren
Drivers: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen
Well, I liked Lewis when he first appeared and showed up Alonso(no trollish comments here[though there could be], I just think Alonso's stuck up), so I hope Lewis is ready for the pressure of defending his championship this season. Heikki did very well last season and hope he can doing well again and stay close, if not beat his teammate.
BMW Sauber
Drivers: Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfield
After a damn good drive last season, Robert's definately going to be a contender this season if the car's up to shape. I'm a bit surprised that Heidfield still kept his drive at BMW after being shown up by his teammate nearly every race. Hopefully Nick will drive better this season after realizing he might've come close to losing his seat in F1.
Renault
Drivers: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet JR!
Alonso started to be competitive towards the end of last season and he might take the fight to the front this season depending on the ride. Now what make absolutely no F***ING sense to me is why Piquet JR's still in a drivers seat for Renault? Last season there were so many mistakes and poor performances out of him that I'm shocked they're asking for a second helping of it? He never seemed to learn from his rookie mistakes early in the season and kept the bad luck all season. I'm wondering if it's only his 3-time world champion father who was able to keep him there.
Toyota
Drivers: Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock
After a grand video debut to the new car(check out http://www.tf109-premiere.com/) it looks like Toyota's finally going to take things seriously when it comes to F1, well maybe that is. Last year, Jarno was at the front, if not middle of the pack while Timo actually did a damn good job throughout the season. Of course there were a couple of crashes, but overall I was pretty impressed by his performance, especially later in the season.
Red Bull
Drivers: Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel
Vettel's finally stepping up to the parent team this year, replacing David Coulthard who finally realized he's not in his prime anymore. It will be interesting to see the performance of Mark Webber early in the season after breaking his leg during his charity bike race during the off-season.
Toro Rosso
[Pics of 2009 car not released]
Drivers: Sebastien Buemi, Sebastien Bourdais
With a new car and possibly a whole new driver lineup, Toro Rosso has the cleanest slate so far to start with this season, we'll see if that'll help or hinder them. There's three drivers all trying to get the remaining seat on the team: Sebastian Bourdais, Takuma Sato, and Bruno Senna. The latter is the nephew of the LEGENDARY Ayrton Senna.
Williams
Drivers: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima
I'm hoping that Williams will be able to step up their game this year over the mediocre performance they put in last year. That's about all I have to say on that.
Force India
Drivers: Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella
Hopefully Vijay will have enough money to turn around the under-performaning team. I do hope that they can manage to run mid-pack this season, it's about the only team I think will do well with the cost-cutting measures.
I will also pose the question of everyone's ideas on Bernie Ecclestone's medals concept.
