Formula 1 2009

[fivebob]

An explanation of sorts about the rear diffuser issue for those that don't know

The rear diffuser rules which state all of the channels are the same height and length, with no difference in height between the main central section and the side channels.

Where does it state that in the F1 Technical Regulations???

3.9 Bodywork between the rear wheels:
3.10 Bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line:

And I was pointing out the area of contention, not making a ruling of the legality.

I think you may have missed my point. There is nowhere in the rules that actually states "all of the channels are the same height and length, with no difference in height between the main central section and the side channels." That's just one possible interpretation of the rules in section 3.9/3.10

[Mr Revhead]

yeah my understanding of it is the rules give dimensions for the diffuser, including a max height.
what these teams have done is design the rear crash structure, which is covered under a seperate rule, to work with the diffuser, rather than keep the two areas completly seperate. and in the case of the brawn appears to form the top element of a twin plane design.
cunning.

other teams are saying that makes the diffusers higher than legal.
imo its legal as their diffusers are within those limits, they just did a very good job in making the crash structure work aerodynamiclly with surrounding components. which you'd think would be second nature to f1 teams by now....

anyway first practice is about 5 hours away and we can see how fast those brawns really are....... live on sky to this year!!!

[JustinSpiderholden]

yeah my understanding of it is the rules give dimensions for the diffuser, including a max height.
what these teams have done is design the rear crash structure, which is covered under a seperate rule, to work with the diffuser, rather than keep the two areas completly seperate. and in the case of the brawn appears to form the top element of a twin plane design.
cunning.

other teams are saying that makes the diffusers higher than legal.
imo its legal as their diffusers are within those limits, they just did a very good job in making the crash structure work aerodynamiclly with surrounding components. which you'd think would be second nature to f1 teams by now....

anyway first practice is about 5 hours away and we can see how fast those brawns really are....... live on sky to this year!!!

So Pumped motor sport on 1 from 12pm friday, saturday and sunday

Thats one in oz not crappy nz tv 1

[JustinSpiderholden]

Defusers have been demeed legal

Awsome

No lets go racing

"Albert Park stewards have thrown out a protest against the much-talked-about diffusers on the Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams cars, leaving all three teams free to race their designs unchanged in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

Rivals suspect that Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams have found a loophole in the regulations which allows them to run a taller diffuser. The cars cleared Thursday scrutineering in Melbourne, prompting Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault to lodge an official protest, questioning the legality of the designs.

However, following lengthy discussions with the various parties, stewards reiterated their belief that the cars are legal.

"We are pleased with the decision of the race stewards but we prefer not to comment further on the situation,” said Toyota’s team principal Tadashi Yamashina. “This weekend promises to be a tremendously exciting Australian Grand Prix so we are now looking forward to starting the competition on track with the first practice sessions on Friday."

Williams' technical director, Sam Michael, added: "We are pleased with the Stewards’ decision and we have no further comment to make.”

Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull have confirmed that they will now take the matter to the FIA Court of Appeal, which cannot convene until next weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix has been run. Thus the outcome of the opening two races could be in doubt."

[fivebob]

Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull have confirmed that they will now take the matter to the FIA Court of Appeal

So much for "just seeking clarification", if that were really the case then there'd be no need for an appeal

[JustinSpiderholden]

First Practise is over

Rosberg was fastest followed by his team mate, then Raikkonen and Barrichello

Kovalainen is 2 second faster than his team mate who is down in 16th so far


Can't wait for the second session now

This season is going to be awsome

[Audi]

Well as is clear I am a Kimi fan and I know that Vettel is going to kick ass, but I'm glad to see Rosberg doing well. He is a damn good driver that was really slowed by his car last year. The battles between him and Heidfeld in 2007 were great! That said his car must be damn fast because personally I think that Kazuki is not that good!

[Adamal]

Looks like everyone was having trouble. Track temp low and adjusting to the new cars.

[xsspeed]

Just to let you guys know its awesome over here, had an epic night last night so caught a mid afternoon snooze, only to be woken by some F18s doing flyovers, saw a few of the f1 cars on display, look like sex. got some good pics, hops to have some good ones after sunday.

I am staying about 600m from the track, and all I can hear all day is the cars lapping around albert park

[xsspeed]

Looks like everyone was having trouble. Track temp low and adjusting to the new cars.

Was cold today 20 deg, track temp will be up a bit tomorrow 26 deg, not sure what sundays forcast is yet.

Also highlights showed hamilton to be having a fair whack of trouble but also saw quite a few other cars cutting corners etc.

Are they running new tyres this year?

weather sure is changeable here, it was 35 deg last weekend, now down to low 20's. Has only rained once in the last week or so though.

[Adamal]

The tyres this year aren't grooved, they're full slicks.

[fivebob]

Looks like everyone was having trouble. Track temp low and adjusting to the new cars.

Don't forget that Albert park is a street circuit, so it won't really be "rubbered in" on Friday, traction should should improve over the weekend.

Was cold today 20 deg, track temp will be up a bit tomorrow 26 deg, not sure what sundays forcast is yet.

Sunday is for the same 26°C, but with a 25km/h southerly in the afternoon, so it will cool off quite rapidly just before the race starts

Also highlights showed hamilton to be having a fair whack of trouble but also saw quite a few other cars cutting corners etc.

Judging from the fact that Hamilton is quite high up the speed rankings in S3 and the main straight, I would guess that they're not getting as much downforce as some of the other cars and probably having problems getting heat into the tyres.

weather sure is changeable here, it was 35 deg last weekend, now down to low 20's. Has only rained once in the last week or so though.

Old Aussie saying... "if you don't like the weather in Melbourne, stick around for an hour, it'll change"

[Mr Revhead]

yeah quite a bit of talk about the neither of the two tyre options being really suitable and teams really struggling with them.
toyota saying the softs are only good for about 3 laps and the hards take way too long to get heat in them.

[Mr Revhead]

well, how about that! brawn one and two!
and vettel third!
i bet no one picked that a few weeks ago....

looks like theres a few teams with some work to do!

[fivebob]

well, how about that! brawn one and two!
and vettel third!
i bet no one picked that a few weeks ago....

I knew that if they made it to the grid they would be competitive, but front row of the grid is probably more than anyone expected

From last years F1 thread

I think you may well find that Brawn's decision this year to not develop the 2008 car (which was a complete dog) at all and concentrate on the 2009 car was probably the right one.

[Mr Revhead]

whats next weeks lotto numbers?

however.... if they do well this year (which looks likely) will they be able to carry it on into next year... i spose it depends on the funding they can rustle up!

[JustinSpiderholden]

Stoked

Awsome is the only words

Great to see the williams competive gain,

Brawn is amazing, but then again he did help MS to 6 titles so he defantly knows F1

I wonder if honda is regretting there decsion now ?

[fivebob]

:lol: whats next weeks lotto numbers?

That would be telling

however.... if they do well this year (which looks likely) will they be able to carry it on into next year...

If the rules don't change too much, and nobody makes a quantum leap in performance then they should at least be able to maintain a mid field position with the possibility of a few podiums. Remembering of course that they currently enjoy an advantage by virtue of the interpretation of their rules. My guess is that won't last long and I wouldn't be suprised to see some new crash structures appearing on all the other teams soon after Malaysia.

i spose it depends on the funding they can rustle up!

The higher up they finish the more funds they get from Bernie

[fivebob]

I wonder if honda is regretting there decsion now ?

Probably not, seeing as their engine was way down on power last year I doubt they would have had the same sucess, even with a better chassis

[xsspeed]

Ah yep was wondering about the tyres, was confirmed today on the tv, cos the cars that were on display were still wearing the grooved tyres. Spose they could have been 08 cars then.

Same thing was said over here about the soft tyres, only really any use for the last stint of qualifying, saw a few teams rolling out in the last 3 mins with fresh soft compound slicks on.

Was impressed by toyotas showing in practice, how did they fare in qualifying? Still havent seen the final grid yet. or williams?

Whats teh story with KERS do all teams need to be running it by the end of the year or something?