The Official F1 2009 Thread

[TDE30]

^ Okay, so like I said before, enable a budget cap, but loosen up on the technical regulations. It seems like it would satisfy both sides of the equation.

[PiercedE30]

The one thing I think we will see with the budget capped teams is a huge advancement with regards to engine technology. Especially since next year they will have the ability to make changes to the motor (unlike the unlimited budget teams).

[z31maniac]

Not saying that I have a problem with the FIA encouraging new teams into Formula One or with them trying to boost spectator numbers, it just seems like that is their only reason for creating all of these regulations. I know all professional motorsport series are concerned about making a profit, but unlike most others, FIA is turning Formula One upside down while doing it.

I guess brushing on what Joe posted, a budget cap with less of these technical regulations (tire warmers, pit stops, aero, KERS, etc.) is what I'd like to see. Give the teams an option, allow them to experiment with new technologies. I could better understand it if these new regulations were for the good of something (trying to conserve fuel/use different types of fuel, etc.) but they are trying to scale these teams budgets down ten fold, remove some of the most infamous venues from the schedule, giving drivers exorbitant fines/penalties, changing the points system for no apparent reason, I could go on and on. What are they trying to accomplish with those things?

I'm not asking for Schumacher 2000-2004, and I agree that 2007 and 2008 were some pretty exciting seasons (numbers don't lie,) so why all of a sudden does the FIA see it necessary to clusterfuck things?

You do know infamous means, famous for the wrong reasons, right?

So why would it be bad if they were moving problematic tracks? Problem is they aren't doing that, they are removing big name, high profile tracks, because the oil barons of the middle east are willing to hold events regardless of how much money they lose.

[The Driver]

Super Aguri died.
Honda pulled out.
Other Teams were probably grumbling about doing the same.

The global economy is a big reason.

That's going to happen anywhere and in any motorsport so be ready...


I mean look what Obama wants to do nascar. It might just happen too. Needless to say I hate nascar.

[The Driver]

^ Okay, so like I said before, enable a budget cap, but loosen up on the technical regulations. It seems like it would satisfy both sides of the equation.

I agree but they should bring back V10's :D

[z31maniac]

I agree they should let teams build whatever engine they want to.

I want to see the budget cap and have been wanting to for a long time. All the big teams are afraid because they don't think they'll be able to keep up with the ingenuity of the smaller teams.

I want to see some basic guidelines be in place ie, size of the car, dimensions of wings, stuff like that, and then have it basically be unlimited as far as engineering goes and building something to a price.

Would be much more interesting I think.

[TDE30]

You do know infamous means, famous for the wrong reasons, right?

Eh, meant famous, thought it sounded better, now I sound like a retard.

Doh.

I want to see the budget cap and have been wanting to for a long time. All the big teams are afraid because they don't think they'll be able to keep up with the ingenuity of the smaller teams.

I want to see some basic guidelines be in place ie, size of the car, dimensions of wings, stuff like that, and then have it basically be unlimited as far as engineering goes and building something to a price.

Would be much more interesting I think.

Absolutely agree. Add some life to the sport besides making everyone run weird-looking cars with devices that will either not work and/or weigh the cars down.

[hugh jass]

That's going to happen anywhere and in any motorsport so be ready...


I mean look what Obama wants to do nascar. It might just happen too. Needless to say I hate nascar.

what are you talking about with nascar and obama? are you referring to the april fools joke article that was floating around?

[z31maniac]

The biggest thing I don't get is a standardized, mandatory KERS system. If the "claim" is to trickle down to road car technology, a standardized system isn't going to advance the technology, only remain stagnant.

Then if everyone has it, what's the point? You lose the strategy again of, "is the extra weight worth the extra HP?"

God damn I wish Ecclestone and Mosley weren't in charge. Not to mention, why the fuck should the commercial rights holders be getting 50% of the take?

If CVT/CVA whoever the fuck it is took a normal management fee, 10%, along with a reasonable budget cap (which I feel the 40 million Euros isn't quite high enough), and lower the fees charged to have a race, the sport could be exciting, the teams could make money and the rights holders would still make millions a year for sitting around whacking their dicks.

[The Driver]

what are you talking about with nascar and obama? are you referring to the april fools joke article that was floating around?

Yea, one of my friends sent that to me. I assumed it was totally possible considering the 90% bonus taxation he wanted to levy on high up ceo's in companies bailed out.

[Jon325i]

Just got done watching quali in Spain.....its becoming real clear who the top teams for this season are as well as who seems to be making some gains with revised defuser/aero bits. Brawn GP is still on top but Vettel and Red Bull are right up their backside. Toyota is still looking strong and Ferrari made some gains with their set up but I cannot figure out what happened to Kimi (see results below). McLaren seem to be going backwards rather than forwards and BMW is still struggling as well. Below is the set grid for tomorrow's race along with the published weights of each car. Lastly, and I'm surprised it was never mentioned during the broadcast, the weather forecast in Barcelona tomorrow calls for a 60% chance of rain. Should the skies open up, we could have another eventful race on our hands.

Weather link: http://www.weather.com/outlook/trave...iness&dayNum=1

Position/Driver/Team/Weight (in lbs.)

1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 1,424
2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1,436
3. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 1,431
4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1,444
5. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1,436
6. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1,425
7. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1,445
8. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1,421
9. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1,472
10. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1,455
11. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1,491
12. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1,493
13. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1,491
14. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1,505
15. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1,494
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1,483
17. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1,475
18. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1,448
19. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1,488
20. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 1,446


Jon

[PiercedE30]

Yea, I was surprised at what happened to Kimi, given the fact that he has the new, lighter chassis. BMW has also made a few significant improvements. The car does look a lot better, even though the nose section doesn't. I believe that one of the commentators said that the reason they aren't running their KERS system is that they were unable to fit it inside the newly revised side pods.

[TDE30]

Ferrari and BMW both made significant strides on Friday and Saturday, not sure why a.) Heidfeld wasn't on course during Quali 2 when he got knocked out, and b.) why Kubica made no improvement in Quali 3, but they're both performing better than they did in Bahrain.

No surprise that Button is running the lightest in the whole field, since the other teams have had down time and are closer to their home bases, I don't see the magical Brawn GP team casually winning many more races. My money is on RBR and Toyota, with Alonso or Massa possibly grabbing a podium tomorrow.

[Jon325i]

Actually, I think the one to watch tomorrow will be Massa. Although he has KERS on board (hence his higher weight), I think he has a similar amount of fuel. If he gets a good launch at the start and stays out of harms way, he could move up a spot or two early on.


Jon

[PiercedE30]

Massa also didn't get the new lighter chassis that Raikkonen did, which is also why he is slightly heavier. Which also means the Raikkonen has a good amount of fuel on board.