The Official 2008 F1 Series Thread

[E30Kaiser]

Is it already finalized that Vettel is going to RBR? I was under the impression nothing had been finalized yet, but I might be wrong. There is not a team that would not want him, going to RBR would just be a let down.

Also was it STR or RBR that is changing to McLaren power?

He is definitely going to RB since he has always been a Redbull Junior Racer or whatever it is called. Red Bull to me could be 4th best team next year if Adrian Newey works his magic and BMW sucks. And neither team is going McMerc, that is Force India.

I just hope that once STR is sold that Red Bull switches to Ferrari power. That and STR gets Sato for next year. He is another underrated driver with huge amounts of skill. I wonder if Bourdais will stay as well, as I didn't necessarily like him at the beginning of the year but he grew on me and showed that he could at least throw down a good pace.

[Moberg12]

Is it already finalized that Vettel is going to RBR? I was under the impression nothing had been finalized yet, but I might be wrong. There is not a team that would not want him, going to RBR would just be a let down.

Also was it STR or RBR that is changing to McLaren power?

[TDE30]

I heard about the standard engine thing. Ferrari is not happy about that, said they might pull out. I personally don't favor it.

I have my doubts that FIA would implement such a radical idea. It really evens out the playing field, but it is so much against everything Formula One stands for that I imagine it to be quelled by next year.

[e30bmw]

I am pretty sure there is still a freeze but they have been talking about having a standard engine/transmission supplier that makes engines for the different teams or works with each team to make sure their engine meets the specifications.

Personally I have mixed feelings on that. As I don't think the engine right now really matters anyway. I mean you have 3 teams running Ferrari engines, with Ferrari being at the front of the pack, STR in the middle, and Force India at the very back. Obviously Aero makes a much much larger difference. To the people that look at the difference between STR and RBR and say there is only a difference in engines and there is a difference in performance, that is partially true but the STR runs a different diffuser since it has a different gear box. This does give a different in Aero characteristic. On the other hand I don't want to see the end of different engine manufacturer's so I hope that it isn't instituted for that reason or at least it is lax enough to not constrain the teams that still make their own engines.

I heard about the standard engine thing. Ferrari is not happy about that, said they might pull out. I personally don't favor it.

[E30Kaiser]

Thanks, I think I remember something about the tires or "tyres" as they were called in the story I saw them in.

Anything different with the engines?

I am pretty sure there is still a freeze but they have been talking about having a standard engine/transmission supplier that makes engines for the different teams or works with each team to make sure their engine meets the specifications.

Personally I have mixed feelings on that. As I don't think the engine right now really matters anyway. I mean you have 3 teams running Ferrari engines, with Ferrari being at the front of the pack, STR in the middle, and Force India at the very back. Obviously Aero makes a much much larger difference. To the people that look at the difference between STR and RBR and say there is only a difference in engines and there is a difference in performance, that is partially true but the STR runs a different diffuser since it has a different gear box. This does give a different in Aero characteristic. On the other hand I don't want to see the end of different engine manufacturer's so I hope that it isn't instituted for that reason or at least it is lax enough to not constrain the teams that still make their own engines.

[e30bmw]

They are switching back to slicks(tires without grooves for the Dry tires) which will give the cars better traction and speed. Less aerodynamic levels allowed on the car which will speed up the cars and actually decrease traction but the slicks should make up for that. Also KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System or something like that) is coming into affect which as I understand it is an electric motor that recovers energy under breaking and allows you to use that energy for a little bit more acceleration when you press a button. I have also heard they may allow a wing design that can be changed while driving, but I don't remember if that was just a concept for the future or planned for 2009.

Thanks, I think I remember something about the tires or "tyres" as they were called in the story I saw them in.

Anything different with the engines?

[TDE30]

Speed Channel did a feature recently regarding the amount of points lost by both Massa and Hamilton. I believe Massa and his team lost more points as a result of careless mistakes and errors in judgement.

[Hick]

if massa's engine had not blown while he was leading 2 races and if the fuel rig scenario didn't happen massa would have been in the clear. Imo ferrari lost it for him.

x1000000000000000000

[tg318is]

with Massa being so close to Hamilton by seasons' end and Hamilton having barely won the Driver's title, I'd say either of them have a very good shot at the title next year.

Jon

If Massa's engine had not blown while he was leading 2 races and if the fuel rig scenario didn't happen Massa would have been in the clear. IMO Ferrari lost it for him.

[E30Kaiser]

They are switching back to slicks(tires without grooves for the Dry tires) which will give the cars better traction and speed. Less aerodynamic levels allowed on the car which will speed up the cars and actually decrease traction but the slicks should make up for that. Also KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System or something like that) is coming into affect which as I understand it is an electric motor that recovers energy under breaking and allows you to use that energy for a little bit more acceleration when you press a button. I have also heard they may allow a wing design that can be changed while driving, but I don't remember if that was just a concept for the future or planned for 2009.

[e30bmw]

Watched the race, fucking awesome. I thought at first that Glock gave it away, but realized that he was still on his drys. I would have been really pissed, don't like things being decided like that. Hoping that next year BMW Sauber can actually hang with Ferrari and McLaren the whole year, instead of just tricking me to think that they can.

And just for the record, I am a casual F1 fan, I just watch the actual races, I try to watch all of them, but sometimes I am just doing stuff. So what exactly is different about the new rules next year?

[Jon325i]

I agree that Vettel is going to be one to watch for the '09 season. However, he's transitioning from Scuderia Toro Rosso to the Red Bull team, the latter which has been off the pace compared to the junior Red Bull team. With vastly changing car specs for 2009, its going to be a crap shoot for everyone on the grid. We will have to wait until the first race or two of next season shakes out to see who got the design right and who got it wrong. Also, with Massa being so close to Hamilton by seasons' end and Hamilton having barely won the Driver's title, I'd say either of them have a very good shot at the title next year. Might as well throw Kimi into the mix as well because when he gets it right, he's damn quick.

Jon

[E30Kaiser]

Well with Massa in the dry I don't know, Vettel's car was far lighter. I just don't think that the Red Bull car will be too competitive in the dry for the whole season next year compared to Ferrari or McMerc. In the wet though where the car matters slightly less I think Vettel is the best guy out there, and this race showed that. Peter Windsor may not like Vettel but I have been a supporter of him since he stepped up at Indianapolis last year. I just hope RB switched from Renault to Ferrari power so that it is not really a demotion for Vettel. Keep your eye on Vettel, he can drive the wheels off any car out there.

[Moberg12]

As the rain started to fall harder, both Toyota's Struggled on the last lap turning times in the 1:40's I believe. No Conspiracy, just a gamble by Toyota that didn't pay off.

Vettel '09 > than Massa and Hamilton

Watching Vettel stay glued to Massa's gear box in his STR was amazing!!

[Dave]

GLOCK WAS ON DRYS!!!!

I dont know where you chumps were coming from. He ran wide because it was raining more than before. Had he not, and had he got the power down 1 sec. before Hamilton got past him, then Massa would be WDC. Thats how it works, heartbreaking for the Tifosi, but thats how it is.

Massa '09 [better driver then Kimi, IMO]

QFT.

I was leaping off the couch when Vettel knocked Hamilton down to sixth. And then in the last lap, it happened.

What a heartbreaker. I wanted it to go the other way, but no real fan can complaint about having the championship go down to the last lap of the last race like it did. Awesome theater of reality.