Whitmarsh (new McLaren boss) says "F1 needs America"
Even if it take FOTA's intervention

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...041450,00.html
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73679

 

Same vid from YouTube:
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BrawnGP is on top of the timesheet at the test.

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:18.926 110
2. Rosberg Williams F1 1:19.774 120
3. Glock Toyota 1:20.091 128
4. Vettel Red Bull Racing 1:20.576 83
5. Alonso Renault 1:20.664 64
6. Massa Ferrari 1:20.677 92
7. Kubica BMW Sauber 1:20.740 134
8. Hamilton McLaren 1:20.869 70
9. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:21.013 62
10. Fisichella Force India 1:21.045 141
11. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:21.629 27

 

I saw that, but I don't take it too seriously. We don't know if the cars would pass a tech inspection. I don't believe anything until the qualifying starts.

 

New rules 'disadvantaged' Ferrari - boss

Ferrari is facing "a slight disadvantage" heading into the 2009 season, its team boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted.

First, reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton's employer McLaren this week admitted its new MP4-24 is not ready to win races, and now the 2008 constructors' title winner has spoken with a similarly cautionary tone.

"Who, like us and our main competitors, was working until the last moment on the development of the 2008 car, might have a slight disadvantage compared to those who gave up last year and dedicated themselves and their resources to a new project," Domenicali said.

Maranello based Ferrari was believed to hold a slight edge on a close group of rivals this winter, but Domenicali admits last week's Barcelona test - remarkably dominated by the former Honda team Brawn - has blurred the picture.

Asked where Ferrari stands, Domenicali answered: "I don't want you to think that I'm avoiding an answer, but it's more difficult than ever to say anything about the levels on the track.

"Until a couple of days ago there was a great equilibrium between the different teams - some expected and some a bit less - and then there was Brawn GP's exploit. Their performance was incredibly surprising and they have to be watched with care.

"We think that we're part of the more competitive teams, but there are still many unknown factors to consider; we have to wait for Melbourne to get the answers," the Italian added.

Domenicali also commented on Flavio Briatore's assertion that up to three teams may be circumventing the new aerodynamic regulations in the area of the rear diffuser.

"We think that we've applied the modified regulations - after the works done by the OWG (overtaking working group) together with the FIA - to the letter," he said.

"It might be that others took a different approach; the FIA has to dissipate any doubt; let's hope they'll do if fast and clear."

 

This is great drama, and the season hasn't even started yet.

 

I'm really blown away by BrawnGP. Have they done any testing at all prior to Ross taking over the team? Maybe the rest of the field is sandbagging?

 

Either sandbagging or Brawn is not running to spec. They could be just trying to get some press for sponsors or additional sponsorship.

 

In 2008 Honda stopped all activity on the 2008 car and spent all on the 2009 challenger. The Brawn GP car is probably the most developed car on the grid at the moment. I am not too surprised at its results.

We don't know how much testing was done on this car during 2008 under the Honda badge. In season testing was permitted then after all. And noone was really following all Honda activity with scrutiny.

 

Well stated, I agree. So, did everyone see the news about the driver's championship?? Now its decided on race wins....and in the event of a tie, they go to the points. The constructors championship remains the same. I'm still a bit on the fence about this. I agree, there should be more emphasis on winning a race, but what about consistency? Better yet, what if Fillipe wins 9 races and DNFs 4, but Alonso wins 8 races and finishes on the podium for all the rest... Yeah, I realize this scenario is a bit far fetched, but it does begg the question? What say you my faithful F1 brethren?

 

^^ like ATL GP said, FIA just announced. but yah i am also on the fence on this one also. especially the DNF view that ATL GP mentioned. but at the same time, racers wont depend on their points to determine how they should drive that day. i prefer points sytem, but i also can see how the new rule will force drivers to drive harder.


http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090317....-2009-champion

The World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday rejected F1 teams' unanimous proposal to tweak the formula one points system.

However, the governing FIA did adopt a variant of Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' idea, to be implemented immediately, where the winner of the most grands prix is crowned 2009 world champion.

Unlike on Olympic rostrums, there will be no actual medals awarded, with the existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system still applying to both the drivers' and constructors' tallies.

But, using the example of the 2008 season, if the winner of the most races (Felipe Massa) lags his closest rival (Lewis Hamilton) in points, the former would win the championship according to the new system.

And "if two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of wins, the title will be awarded to the driver with the most points," the FIA said in a statement after a meeting in Paris.

Also on Tuesday, the FIA rubber-stamped a number of measures to enhance spectators' enjoyment of the sport via the media.

For instance, the weights of cars will be published after qualifying, and mandatory driver autograph sessions and interviews will take place at races.

Also, Brawn GP's name change was officially accepted.

 

....It's beautiful isn't it. I swear, Newey is a MASTER when it comes to designing a new car. The Torro Roso looks just as good. Notice how you don't see too many rear shots of the cars this year!!?!???! This rear diffuser issue is going to come to a head pretty soon....DAMN I CAN'T WAIT TILL THE 29TH. My cheap *** actually copped for a DVR in anticipation of this season.

 

lol yah. all the cars i seen so far (except ferrari lol) looks good. but once you get the back part i am stiil like WTF lol.



here some news about next year

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090317....t-cap-for-2010


The FIA on Tuesday announced that a voluntary budget cap will apply in formula one next year.

Following a meeting in Paris of the World Motor Sport Council, the body said the annual limit, set for now at 33m euros, will be "an alternative to running under the existing rules" which will remain unchanged until 2012 according to a deal reached with the FOTA alliance.

The budget cap is clearly designed to make the sport accessible to existing and new independent outfits, while allowing the bigger teams to keep spending bigger amounts of money.

The catch for the non-capped teams will be less technical freedom than the capped teams, who will be able to run a more efficient (standard) underbody, moveable wings, and engines without rev limits or frozen development.

Capped teams will also have no limits on testing, and FIA president Max Mosley said a bigger-capacity KERS is a possibility.

"The FIA has the right to adjust elements of these freedoms to ensure that the cost-capped cars have neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when compared to cars running to the existing rules," a statement read.

The 33m figure will cover "all expenditure of any kind", including driver and team boss salaries, and only excluding the motor home and FIA fines.

"These rules will encourage clever engineering -- success will come to the teams with the best ideas, not only the teams with the most money," said Mosley.

He said "very intrusive audits" and the fear of "severe penalties" will deter capped teams from overspending, and that the number of teams allowed in F1 will be increased from the current 12.

"We understand that FOM will pay the cost-capped teams on the same basis as other teams and will also provide $10 million plus the standard transport package for the 11th and 12th teams starting in 2010," added Mosley.

 

Since no one has posted the link about the new 2009 rules here is one:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/9024.html

 

^^ great find. i can just see it now with all the interviews with the drivers who didnt finish etc.

 

Jean Todt retires from Ferrari....
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/18/j...-from-ferrari/

 

^^ lol i still see the image of him in the pits when they thought Massa won the championship. i know that is sad

 

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090318....ns-than-praise

The FIA's decision to overhaul the points system for 2009 was not widely welcomed in F1 circles.

Although the principle is simply to crown the winningest driver world champion, rather than he with the most points, the F1 teams' alliance FOTA only wanted to increase from 2 to 3 points the gap between first and second places.

FOTA said its rejected proposal was based on a global audience survey across 17 countries, raising the question of why the FIA instead plumped for a variation of Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' idea.

"It would be a shame if, while encouraging drivers to do what they are paid handsomely to do by winning races, the FIA has adopted its own flawed scheme purely to snub the teams and keep them in line," a report in the Guardian newspaper said.

It is a fact that, if the new system was retrospectively applied to the 2008 results, Felipe Massa would have won the title. "Are grand prix bosses out to get (Lewis) Hamilton?" the Daily Mail newspaper wondered.

Former driver, and now BBC commentator Martin Brundle told the Daily Telegraph: "What we may just have is some more exciting races, but whether it will generate a more worthy champion remains to be seen."

Another fact is that, again if retrospectively applied, the new points system alters the outcome of past world championships some 13 times.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who last week said FIA president Max Mosley would have made a better British prime minister than Tony Blair, made clear he supports the new scheme.

"This is what I proposed, just without the second and third place awards," he said.

"What it does is make drivers bloody well go for the win, rather than settle for second. It will be real racing. It's good for the fans and the sport," added Ecclestone.

 

I like what they have done with giving the winner of the most races the championship. Screw consistency. I want to see drivers dueling on track every race.

 

I'm hedging on both sides of the fence there. I like the rules as they promote duels for first place. Anyone thinking of Spa 2008 in the rain? (And no I'm not thinking about who finally won )

On the other hand I like to see a driver being steady throughout the season.

I suppose a compromise is that the constructors championship still use the point system entirely. Therefore someone who has a solid car with a solid driver will get his kudos there.

 

^^ Yeah, I agree with the constructors side of it...and really, as far as the team goes...that's the one they want anyway. OH...hehehehehehe McLaren found about a second

 

If the new rules were in effect last year, Massa would have won the driver title. Massa had 6 wins and Hamilton had 5.
This will also put pressure on a team to have a true #1 driver. On Ferrari last year Räikkönen also had 2 wins, Kovalainen had 1. If Hamilton had won that one race (he finishe 4th) instead of Kovalainen, then it would have taken it to the points which would put Hamilton back on top. But, then in Spain, if Massa had finished 1st instead of Räikkönen (he finished 2nd), that would have put Massa in 1st place again.
In the other race that Räikkönen won, Massa crashed out so that one would have made no difference.

(facts source: www.Formula1.com)

 

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090319....test-fia-rules


Two of the racing veterans of the formula one circus have reacted with concern to the FIA's latest wave of fundamental rule changes.

The change to the 'gold medals'-style points system for this season has been roundly panned, but it is the duel-rule budget cap idea for 2010 that Fernando Alonso publicly appealed to be "reconsidered".

"I don't understand the need to constantly change the rules of this sport," the 2005 and 2006 world champion said.

"I think that these types of decisions can only confuse the fans," the Spaniard added, insisting that the desires of "the teams, the sponsors, the drivers and above all the fans" were ignored by the sport's governing body.

Jarno Trulli, an Italian veteran of 200 races, echoed his former Renault teammate's view, telling La Stampa that the World Motor Sport Council's decisions this week comprise "many negative factors and no positive" ones.

"It seems to be that formula one wants to die and we will all have to go and race in some other championship," he is quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Trulli, 34, said the 'gold medals' system runs the risk that if one driver dominates the season as in 2002 and 2004, the championship will be officially over even earlier than usual.

"It is right to try to give the public more, to improve the show, but it shouldn't distort the spirit of formula one. I am very, very worried," he added.

 

You know, thinking about it....if this drivers championship rule would have been in effect back in 07 I wonder if Alonso would still be at McLaren? My reasoning for this is that SURELY there would have been a designated #1 and #2...or better yet the (DC).."driver's championship" squad and a (CC) squad. I think this rule is going to really make a difference in the races. You'll see one squad going for consistency (heavy fuel, bigger brake ducts, etc.) and one going flat out (running the newest developments, light fuel, etc.) For each car within the team to be running similar programs doesn't seem to make sense. Or maybe, a better way to do it, whomever qualifies highest on the grid gets the "DC" set up? I don't know, I'm just typing out my ***, but it's interesting to think about.

 

I hope such sharp thoughts aren't coming from that region sir, that could be painful.

Paul.