F1 World Championship 2009 Thread

[Nicholas-c Veteran]

Badoer to drive F60 at Fiorano

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer will be able to familiarise himself behind the wheel of one of the team's F60s ahead of his return to Formula 1 next weekend, when he drives the car for promotional purposes at Fiorano on Monday and Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Italian, who will stand in for the injured Felipe Massa in next weekend's European Grand Prix at Valencia, has had little experience of Ferrari's 2009 challenger given the strict ban on in-season testing this year.

Ferrari made it clear that Badoer was not partaking in a test but would be driving the car for 'promotional purposes' only.

The Italian will be restricted to using Bridgestone's ultra-hard promotional tyres and will not be able to exceed the 100km limit agreed by the teams on either day.

A statement on the team's website read: "While Felipe is recovering in Brazil, tomorrow the Scuderia will take up its work after a two-week break, which had been agreed with the other teams. Over the next three days the team will concentrate on the preparations for the races in Spain and Belgium, which will be held on the last two weekends in August.

"Next to Kimi Raikkonen, Luca Badoer will start into the races, debuting as an official Scuderia driver. Tomorrow and Tuesday Luca will be part of a video shooting for promotional purposes behind the F60's wheel at the Fiorano race track."

Badoer has been given the chance to race for Ferrari, after more than nine years of service as its loyal test driver, after Michael Schumacher was forced to give up on a high profile comeback because of a lingering neck injury.

The seven-time world champion spent a day driving an F2007 from Ferrari's historic Clienti department as part of his preparation, but the team was denied a request by some of its rivals to allow the German to test the F60.

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77721

Clever Ferrari... Very clever... Super-hard tyres will make it a hard job but will still give him an idea on how it handles.

Also... Are hard and super-hard tyres actually used for a race? lol, never seen/heard about super hard for a fair few seasons...

[Subject Delta]

The compounds they use are soft, super-soft, medium and hard, there will be no super hard tyres. Still, it should be good for him to get a few laps to get used to the car's electronic systems, and I can't see it being long before other teams start to use this gap to test their cars as well

[Woj]

Renault cleared for European GP

Renault and Fernando Alonso have been cleared to compete in the European Grand Prix in Valencia after winning an appeal against a one-race ban.

The French team were punished after allowing Fernando Alonso to leave the pit lane with a loose wheel, which then came off, at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, Alonso will now be able to race at his home grand prix this weekend after the ban was overturned.

Motorsport's governing body (FIA) will instead fine Renault ?30,000.

Alonso's right front wheel came off and bounced across the track at the race four weeks ago, race stewards subsequently ruling that the team's pit crew knew the wheel was not properly secured and failed to tell the driver.

But Renault team manager Steve Nielsen had said he was confident the team's suspension would be lifted.

"I've been optimistic since we got the penalty. We feel it's unjust," he said.

The stewards said Renault's pit crew "knowingly released car number seven from the pit stop position without one of the retaining devices for the wheel-nuts being securely in position."

They also determined that "being aware of this, Renault failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pit lane... and failed to inform the driver of this problem or to advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances, even though the driver contacted the team by radio believing he had a puncture."

However, Nielsen insisted his team did not realise there was a problem with Alonso's car.

"We admit we did some stuff wrong, but we don't think that the penalty fits the crime," added Nielsen.

To argue their case Renault used comparative footage from races where drivers breached safety rules - but either went unpunished, or were punished less severely.

One example was German driver Sebastian Vettel racing at the Australian Grand Prix in March with a loose wheel hanging by the side of his car after colliding with BMW's Robert Kubica.

Vettel was fined ?30,000 - the maximum amount that race stewards can levy - for continuing on three wheels and Renault said their punishment - at worst - should be a similar fine.

But Whiting said that incidents such as Vettel's had not occurred when leaving the pits, but during the race itself.

Renault engineering director Pat Symonds

Renault engineering director Pat Symonds attended the hearing

Renault were represented at the hearing by engineering director Pat Symonds and technical director Bob Bell, while F1 race director Charlie Whiting represented the FIA.

With the ban overturned Alonso will now race at his home grand prix while Renault test driver Romain Grosjean is likely to take Nelson Piquet Jr's seat.

Frenchman Grosjean should be asked to step in after Piquet Jr was told by Renault he will not continue driving for them in F1 this season.

The decision to allow Alonso and his Renault team to race is also likely to delight the Spanish crowd.

"The reason there are two races in Spain is largely because of Fernando's involvement," said Nielsen.

"People in Spain were not so interested in F1 until he got involved, and now it's a big sport there."

The incident was particularly pertinent as it happened the day after Brazilian Felipe Massa was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries suffered while racing.

The Ferrari driver was struck by an object dislodged from the Brawn GP car of Rubens Barrichello car during qualifying at the Hungaroring.

Massa had surgery on his skull and is recovering.

The previous week, 18-year-old F2 driver Henry Surtees - the son of former F1 champion John Surtees- was killed after losing consciousness and crashing into the barrier after a stray tyre hit him.

BBC Sport

[Antaris Veteran]

Cool, glad they won the appeal, all in all, a 1 race ban seemed a bit harsh for what was essentially an accident that lead to further accidents...

[Subject Delta]

I am glad that common sense prevailed. I felt all along that it was more unlikely that Renault unwittingly allowed the car out, than that they did it deliberately. Removing teams from races does no favours to anyone, and I can assure anyone that Renault would have worked harder than anyone even if no penalty had been imposed to stop a recurrence of the incident due to the loss of points

[Subject Delta]

Four teams supported Renault case

Renault received letters of support from four of its rival teams in its bid to overturn its European Grand Prix race ban at this week's FIA International Court of Appeal hearing, it has been revealed.

On Wednesday, the FIA published the reasons behind the Court's decision to drop Renault's suspension from the Valencia event and replace it with a $50,000 (USD) fine for the unsafe release of Fernando Alonso after a pit-stop at the Hungarian GP.

In the reasons it was clearly explained that the ban was dropped because there was no proof that Renault deliberately let Alonso out of the pits without his front right wheel safely attached.

The findings stated: "The Court endorses the FIA's view that it is always necessary to have regard to the potential dangers which arise from a situation, as recent tragic incidents have proved.

"However, in assessing the penalty which is appropriate in an individual case, great care must be taken not to equate potential danger with conscious wrong-doing."

It was also revealed that Renault’s case was helped by the fact that Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Ferrari and Toyota all wrote letters supporting Renault’s case - with two teams admitting that their own pit-stop procedures have had to be changed to avoid a repeat of an Alonso-type situation.

The court stated: "The Court notes that it has taken account of the letters of support which the Appellant has received from Red Bull Racing, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, and Toyota F1 Team and which it has submitted to the Court.

"These letters confirm that two of the above-mentioned teams lay claim to having followed improved procedures precisely in order to avoid the very serious safety risks which unquestionable arose in the present case.

"While the Court accepts the FIA’s submissions that the letters should not be regarded as wholly unsolicited testimonials of support, it considers that it would be wrong in the circumstances of this case to ignore the other teams’ views, which they have formally recorded in writing with the knowledge and intention that they should be submitted to the Court."

Source: Autosport

[san.W10]

Changes to qualifying in 2010 rules

The FIA's new sporting and technical regulations for the 2010 Formula 1 world championship, published today, feature changes to the qualifying procedure to accommodate the expected 26-car grid next year.

The hour-long session will still be split into three segments, but will now see the slowest eight dropped in the opening 20-minute Q1 session, and another eight in Q2 to allow for 10 drivers to contest the shoot-out over 10 minutes.

Moreover, in a move that will please fans, Q3 will now be run in low-fuel configuration with the regulations taking into account the re-fuelling ban for 2010.

Other significant points in the document, posted on the FIA's website, include a continuation of the current points system, as opposed to Bernie Ecclestone's previously mooted winner-takes-all medals scheme.

Each car's minimum weight has been raised to 620kg, to take into account the added weight of KERS - which will still be allowed under next year's regulations, despite FOTA's agreement not to use the system.

Tyre warmers will also be allowed, despite previous indications that they would be banned on cost-saving grounds.

The re-written regulations also no longer contain any reference to the proposals for a two-tier Formula 1, that was at the centre of the row between the sport's governing body and the Formula One Teams' Association prior to the signing of the tri-partite Concord Agreement last month.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77775

[CrashG]

Massa targets Brazilian GP comeback

Felipe Massa is targeting a comeback at this year's Brazilian Grand Prix as he continues to make good progress in his recovery from the head injury he sustained in Hungary three weeks ago.

The Brazilian sustained a brain concussion and damage to his skull and left eye after being struck on the helmet by a spring that had fallen out of Rubens Barrichello's car.

Massa is now recovering at home after being released from the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo two weeks ago, and is hoping to return to Formula 1 as soon as possible - targeting his home race in October.

Full Article @Source

[Subject Delta]

Changes to qualifying in 2010 rules

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77775

I like the fact that Bernie's winner takes all system has finally been canned for good, I always hated the idea. I am not so sure about the low fuel final session though, for me it will create predictable grids.

[CrashG]

I don't really see how not refueling during the race is going to reduce costs by that much. You still need a fueling rig and someone to get it in the car and enough fuel to get through the weekend. Or is there some other reason for it?

Not to mention it kinda screws pit strategy.

[Shibby]

Thats the point, its to remove the "organized traffic" bit. Basiclly it means the drivers have to look after tryes and it should mean more battles on the track.

[Subject Delta]

I don't really see how not refueling during the race is going to reduce costs by that much. You still need a fueling rig and someone to get it in the car and enough fuel to get through the weekend. Or is there some other reason for it?

Not to mention it kinda screws pit strategy.

I suppose the point is that without refuelling in the race the rigs won't need to be such high performance, therefore they can reduce their size, and technical complexity.

Thats the point, its to remove the "organized traffic" bit. Basiclly it means the drivers have to look after tryes and it should mean more battles on the track.

I actually think it will make it worse, due to overtaking becoming a lot harder since the last time refuelling was banned, I can imagine it making races more processional.

[CrashG]

It's also going to put the cars that aren't as fuel efficient as others at a disadvantage, because of having to carry more fuel. Granted it may only be something like 2-3 laps worth, but more fuel = more weight.

[Subject Delta]

Yeah, and it is well known that the Ferrari engine is less efficient certainly than the Mercedes, and probably the renault as well, which will put cars powered by their engines at a slight disadvantae, but that in my opinion makes for a potentially interesting performance differentiator. It will also be interesting to see what tyre strategies teams go for, and to see which drivers try and go whole races without changing. I feel drivers that are harder on their tyres like Alonso, Hamilton, and Massa will find it a bit more difficult than drivers like Trulli and Button that are generally pretty smooth and precise.

[Nicholas-c Veteran]

had a scan through the regulations my self... The weight jumps out, 620kg to accommodate kers, that means that teams who dont use Kers will have to carry around the weight of a kers system...

[Antaris Veteran]

If they standardised the unit across all teams it may prove cost effective, and perhaps more teams will use it.

[san.W10]

Barrichello fastest in first practice

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77814

[Antaris Veteran]

Glad to see Maclaren are keeping pace, they must be loving their new aerodynamic package! Will see how well they do at Qualifying tomorrow.

Badoer is still getting used to the car I take it, will probably see some better times from him tomorrow.

[Subject Delta]

I can't see Badoer scoring any points. I think the fight for the win will be between Brawn and McLaren, Red Bull look somewhat off the pace this weekend, and Ferrari don't appear to be as strong as they where in Hungary

[Antaris Veteran]

Yeah, Ferarri are somewhat at a disadvantage at the moment. Was reading the paper today, Lewis has apparently said he is not out to help Button win, but just score as many points for the team as possible. It'll be a side affect of keeping Red Bull at bay in which Brawn may get an advantage. Maclaren have really stepped up their game, finally.

Glad Alonso is allowed to race.

[Subject Delta]

Well I don't know why lewis is drinking a 'state the bleeding obvious smoothie' there, but the resurgence of particularly McLaren, and to a lesser extent Renault and Ferrari is going to cause Brawn and RBR some problems. I think both are at a critical point of the season, where they need to decide who to push for the title. In Brawn's case, Button is the obvious choice, with RBR it is a little less clear cut, and that may play to Brawn's advantage

[Mike]

It's also going to put the cars that aren't as fuel efficient as others at a disadvantage, because of having to carry more fuel. Granted it may only be something like 2-3 laps worth, but more fuel = more weight.

If they're going to promote fuel efficiency they should allow engine development otherwise teams at a disadvantage can't do a thing to "fix" it. That's also ignoring the fact that Cosworth can make an engine from scratch with efficiency in mind giving them an advantage.

[Subject Delta]

I think Cosworth are going to be using a revised version of their 2006 engine.

[san.W10]

Hamilton leads all-McLaren front row

[san.W10]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77892