[Formula 1] 2010 Silly Season

[sundayx Veteran]

That's a nice ice cool silver/blue for Schumacher, cooling him off from red in all these years.

[Buio]

Here is a big picture from the side;

http://joesaward.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/100125_003.jpg

That's a nice ice cool silver/blue for Schumacher, cooling him off from red in all these years.

That color would suit Kimi Räikkönen. Too bad his off to some WRC or whatever.

[san.W10]

Teams agree to points system tweak

Formula 1 has edged closer to a further overhaul of its points structure for the 2010 season after teams approved a new system that will offer greater rewards for winning, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

Just more than one month after the old 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system was replaced with a MotoGP-type format (25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1), sources have revealed a meeting of F1 think tank the Sporting Working Group in London on Friday approved a further overhaul to reward more for race wins.

Rather than there being a five points different between first and second, teams agreed to expand that difference to seven points - with further tweaks to the points taking place lower down the order.

The new points structure approved by the SWG is: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.

The matter still needs to be approved by next month's meeting of the Formula 1 Commission before the FIA World Motor Sport Council can put it into the 2010 regulations, but this is likely to be a formality with teams already having voted in favour of the changes.

Although yet another change to the regulations is not ideal for F1, especially after such fanfare in December at the first amendment, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is adamant that the sport should always be ready to put its hands up if it thinks things are wrong.

He also believed a greater points gap between first and second would provide greater motivation for drivers to fight harder for the win.

"I think you should never be afraid of change so long as it is a change for the better," he told AUTOSPORT ahead of the SWG meeting.

"And I think that what the points are trying to be designed to do are first of all - to generate a pecking order perhaps lower down in the top ten - so that with the points going down to 10th place there is reward for a top ten finish.

"But I think also one of the factors that Bernie is keen to look at is perhaps having a heavier weight between first, second and third, so there is more emphasis that rather than drivers cruising and collecting points, that they have to go for it.

"It is not because drivers don't want to take the risk, but if the points difference between a win and second is two points it is not the end of the world, whereas if it is a significant number then it adds motivation for the drivers to push each other very hard."

AUTOSPORT understands that the SWG also discussed the idea of awarding points for pole position or fastest lap, but neither of these concepts were agreed.

The SWG also talked at length about the possibility of introducing a rule that would force drivers to make two mandatory pit stops during a race, but this was not approved either. F1 drivers will therefore only need to make a single pit-stop in 2010 so as to ensure that they run on both types of tyres made available.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81048

[Subject Delta]

I like the new points structure, not so keen on the look of the Mercedes livery, although I guess it's better than the old Brawn look

[what]

I dunno, I liked the Brawn look at the beginning of the season, when it was pretty much white with green and black highlights. The Mercedes livery is just silver with a shade of blue I'm really not entirely sure about.

[Shibby]

It doesn't look classy or slick. ?But it's got a look that will at least make it easy to spot. ?although it doesn't look shiny like all the F1 cars normally do, I wonder why??

[Subject Delta]

Probably just the lighting conditions I would guess

[san.W10]

even the driver outfit is bland.

i dont understand why Merc. dropped Mobil1 :unsure:

[Buio]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81062

Jose Maria Lopez joins US F1 as one of their drivers.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

2010 Formula One Championship grid

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

1. Jenson Button

2. Lewis Hamilton

Petronas Mercedes GP

3. Michael Schumacher

4. Nico Rosberg

Red Bull Renault

5. Sebastian Vettel

6. Mark Webber

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro

7. Felipe Massa

8. Fernando Alonso

AT&T Williams Cosworth

9. Rubens Barichello

10. Nico H?lkenberg

Renault F1

11. Robert Kubica

12. ?

Force India Mercedes

14. Adrian Sutil

15. Vitantonio Liuzzi

Scuderia Toro Rosso Ferrari

16. Sebastian Buemi

17. Jaime Alguersuari

Lotus F1 Cosworth

18. Jarno Trulli

19. Heikki Kovalainen

Campos Meta 1 Cosworth

20. ?

21. Bruno Senna

US F1 Team Cosworth

22. Jose Maria Lopez

23. ?

Virgin Racing Cosworth

24. Timo Glock

25. Luca di Grassi

Sauber Ferrari

26. Kamui Kobayashi

27. Pedro de la Rosa

[Buio]

So just a few question marks left now. Soon testing and presentation of new cars.

And just 44 days until F1 2010!

[Subject Delta]

even the driver outfit is bland.

i dont understand why Merc. dropped Mobil1 :unsure:

They never. As Brawn, they where not ever partnered with Mobil 1. McLaren where, and still are partnered with them however

[san.W10]

what i meant was, Mercedes & Mobil1 are long time partners, in road car division also, so when Merc. decided enter F1 as a factory team, why didnt they consider Mobil1.

Petronas :x

[ahmz]

The rear wing seems too low, rule changes or presentation purposes? Front wing looks complicated :)

[san.W10]

Teams agree new tyre rule for 2010

Formula 1 teams have agreed to introduce an extra strategic element to races this season by forcing leading drivers to start races on the same tyres that they qualified on, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

With the ban on refuelling for 2010 already forcing a big change in tactics compared to how grands prix have run in recent years, the new rule looks set to have an impact on how teams approach qualifying as well.

Although the tweak has not yet been committed to the regulations, sources have revealed that last week's meeting of the Sporting Working Group agreed to the change as a way of improving the show.

It is understood that the majority of teams present voted in favour of a rule that will require the top 10 cars that make it through to the final session of qualifying to start the race on the same tyres that they set their fastest Q3 time on.

This will open up the possibility of teams gambling on sacrificing the best possible time in Q3 by running a more consistent but less quick tyre so as to have a better chance in the race. Alternatively, teams may choose a tyre that is better over a single lap to secure a good grid position, even if it runs the risk of compromising race performance.

The teams hope that the rule tweak will serve to mix up the tactics throughout the grid and therefore lead to more exciting races.

The change still needs to be voted on by the Formula 1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council next week before passing into the regulations, but this is likely to be a formality.

The refuelling ban this season has brought about mixed opinions about whether it will improve the racing - with some suggesting that the difficulties in overtaking will result in races turning into pure processions.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said on Monday that he hoped the ban would prove a positive for F1.

"Inevitably, when you make a change, there are pros and cons," he said. "Regarding the pros, it arguably makes qualifying purer because the fastest car/driver combination will be setting the fastest times, and the public can understand that.

"Secondly, in the race itself, overtaking was often being planned and implemented to occur as a consequence of strategy, and therefore happening in the pit lane and not the circuit.

"In the absence of that effect, drivers will have a greater incentive to overtake. There have been occasions in the past where a driver hasn't had that incentive because he knows he will be running longer and can get past the car ahead strategically through the pit stops.

"Additionally, the fact that drivers will qualify on low-fuel, and then the next time they drive the car in anger into the first corner will be after a standing start with cold tyres and cold brakes and 160kg of fuel.

"That will be very challenging for them, not just in terms of getting round that first corner, but in terms of how they look after their tyres and how the balance of the car will alter as a consequence of that. And there will be drivers who are able to deal with those changes better than others.

"Those are all the positives. On the negative side, it's possible that if all of the above is managed equally well by every driver, then we'll have lost one of the strategic campaign interests that the more avid fans enjoyed in the sport. Hopefully the former points will outweigh the latter."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81069

[ahmz]

Yea, I read that yesterday and thought.. they always bring in a new rule to stuff up qualifying (and possibly the race), now it won't be about the outright fastest anymore, and the race won't be equal.. but I suppose it (the race) would probably be more exciting.

[Fubar]

I have reservations about this rule and the constant rule changes from season to season just to try and get more over taking,seems to me the tracks need sorting not the cars tbh just my 2 pence worth hehe

[mad_onion]

Yea, I read that yesterday and thought.. they always bring in a new rule to stuff up qualifying (and possibly the race), now it won't be about the outright fastest anymore, and the race won't be equal.. but I suppose it (the race) would probably be more exciting.

Qualifying hasn't been about the outright fastest driver for a while, the pole position generally goes to the driver who put less fuel in the car (because they have to carry it over to the race). Doing the same thing with tires seems like a natural progression to me. tbh I'm surprised it wasn't like that already.

[ahmz]

Qualifying hasn't been about the outright fastest driver for a while, the pole position generally goes to the driver who put less fuel in the car (because they have to carry it over to the race). Doing the same thing with tires seems like a natural progression to me. tbh I'm surprised it wasn't like that already.

Indeed, but it looked like it was going to be about the outright fastest this season, just like back when they had 1 hour to run a limited amount of laps, but alas, not to be.

[mad_onion]

Indeed, but it looked like it was going to be about the outright fastest this season, just like back when they had 1 hour to run a limited amount of laps, but alas, not to be.

Oh right I see, it would make more sense in one way for pole position to actually mean the fastest driver but I think tactics are what make F1 good. So I'm not sure either way would be ok I think.

[san.W10]

Ferrari launch to be broadcast online

Ferrari has announced that the launch of its 2010 Formula 1 car will be broadcast live online via its website www.ferrari.com.

The car will be unveiled in the New GT Assembly Line Pavilion at the Ferrari factory at 10.30am local time tomorrow.

As well as the launch ceremony, the subsequent press conference with the team and drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will also be shown on the website.

The new car is scheduled to complete a few laps of the Fiorano test track for promotional filming following the launch tomorrow afternoon, subject to weather conditions. Ferrari's internet broadcast will feature this run too.

McLaren has already announced that its launch will also be streamed online, with the British squad unveiling its new car at Vodafone's UK headquarters on Friday morning.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81079

[Subject Delta]

what i meant was, Mercedes & Mobil1 are long time partners, in road car division also, so when Merc. decided enter F1 as a factory team, why didnt they consider Mobil1.

Petronas :x

Fuel is fuel to me, you stick it in the tank, it burns, and the engine goes. Couldn't care less as long as it still works to be honest :p

As for the tyre rule, not sure about it. Having the absolute fastest car always at the front would make races a bit processional I guess, but I am not so sure about keep introducing artificial ways to make races less processional, none of them have ever worked in all honesty. If they want to improve overtaking, they need to remove the stupid planks off the bottom of the cars, and make it all about generating downforce from ground effect again, that way turbulent air would have a far less drastic effect on the upper bodywork of a car and make it far easier to follow and pass another car.

[san.W10]

not just fuel, its mainly lubricant oil.

btw, on overtaking - they should have got rid of the double diffuser this season itself, & underbody planks as frank said.

[Buio]

Wonder if F1 will ever adapt some form of boost button. They have that in some US racing leagues, and last year the KERS did provide a boost for those using it (but it also came with design penalty).

[Subject Delta]

not just fuel, its mainly lubricant oil.

btw, on overtaking - they should have got rid of the double diffuser this season itself, & underbody planks as frank said.

Nope, I think the doble diffuser should actually stay, it increases the amount of ground effect downforce generated. I would just like to see all the stuff removed from the undertray that prevents the efficient generation of ground effect downforce.