F1 World Championship 2010 Thread

[Zoom7000]

This race is fantastic! FIA should make every race a mandatory 3 pit race! :p

Total mayhem on the track! All change on the leaderboard!

[.mcman]

Fantastic race!! Even better result! :woot:

if only world cup was this exciting...

[Kerm]

What a result. Great race!

[simonlang]

what a race! needless to say that on a track, where usually the safety-car is deployed 4 times, the only time it isnt, is, when massa has to start from behind. oh well, not surprised at all. :p

congrats to mclaren and lewis hamilton! they by now have the best car and get most out of it. BIG favourite for both championships now.

ferrari wont be too happy. they brought alonso in front of hamilton due to the pitstops just to see their paydriver screwing it up by lapping backmarkers like an idiot from driving-school. :no:

has anyone anything to say about schumacher? pathetic! :( im his fan but this is not looking good at all.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Schumacher was unlucky to have a puncture after the duel with Kubica - hence the extra pitstop - and a strategy victim. I have no idea what the team were thinking by letting him run on softs for almost half of the race...

The race itself was great. One of the most exciting dry races I've seen in ages.

[Sjokkel]

Shumachers puncture killed a fresh set of harder tires. He did't have any prime tires left so he had to finish the race on the super softs.

I thought his first session was good. He had a good pace and was attacking. Maybe he should have left Kubica a little more space after his pitstop but thats not what racing is about. Kubica on the other hand should have backed off going in to the second chicane. He completely missed the braking point forcing both of them on to the grass.

I don't know what happened with Massa. Massa tried the outside just before the braking zone. Shumacher went wide to take the chicane. Massa was still behind him at that point, you can clearly see that from the onboard camera on Massa's car. Massa was a lot quicker than Shumacher at that point. He should have waited a few more corners. Was he thinking to pass on the outside? He would just have ended up cutting the chicane.

Overall a very nice race to watch!

[Neowinian]

1,2 for McLaren yesterday, I was so happy for them. I hope Lewis Hamilton can win the world champion title this year, he looked on great form yesterday. :yes:

[Antaris Veteran]

1,2 for McLaren yesterday, I was so happy for them. I hope Lewis Hamilton can win the world champion title this year, he looked on great form yesterday. :yes:

Here's hoping, it was a great change of pace then the Red Bull duo leading it all again. McLaren have some more developments to come through Valencia into the British GP, so hopefully they can improve even more :D.

[Jonny_ Rockafella]

I'd say keep an eye out for Renault in the next race. Word going round is that they have a major update for the car that should put them back up the front of the pack again.

This entire season has been mental so far, I don't think we're going to see a clear front runner until the latter stages of the season.

[brentaal]

Lewis & Jenson Vodafone ad

[Jonny_ Rockafella]

Fantastic ad

[Shibby]

That is a pretty good ad. ?I'll have to show it to my Dad, he should like it as well.

[DreadBoat89]

as long as the sponsors (specifically vodafone) are on its all good i suppose :)

[san.W10]

cool ad :D

[Billus]

Ad was effin funny, loved it!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Adjustable wing to aid passing in 2011

Formula 1 is set to introduce an adjustable rear wing system to aid overtaking next year as part of the rules overhaul that will bring the end of double diffusers and F-ducts.

McLaren engineering director Paddy Lowe confirmed that the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) has proposed a system whereby rear wings can be adjusted to reduce drag - in the style currently controlled by F-ducts - when drivers are closely following a car in front, as outlined in Gary Anderson's AUTOSPORT technical column.

The device would increase the straightline speed of the car behind by approximately 15km/h to help overtaking, but could not be used on the opening laps of a race. The car in front would not be able to deploy the system in defence, but would be able to retaliate using the wing once it was following the rival car.

"The flap will be adjustable by the driver," Lowe explained during a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes teleconference. "He can run it however he likes in qualifying, so what we'll actually do is make the flap so it has very low drag, and in qualifying that will allow you to get a better laptime by using it wherever you can.

"In the race, you can't use it for the first two laps at all, but after that if you're within a second of the car in front then you will be able to deploy it.

"So that will be very interesting. That's a FOTA initiative to improve the show and I think it's very exciting."

The FOTA proposal could be ratified at today's meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

In a further bid to improve overtaking, the teams have also agreed to end their voluntary ban on the use of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in 2011 and to return the power boost-generating devices to their cars after a one-year absence.

Source: Autosport

Interesting idea imho.

[christophulus]

Bit gimmicky, but if it works then fair enough. It's safer than carrying on with the various F-ducts that require the driver to move about at high speed.

[deuz]

unless there is a system which alerts stewards when it is being used. maaan they are gonna have a fun time monitoring this.

[Shibby]

unless there is a system which alerts stewards when it is being used. maaan they are gonna have a fun time monitoring this.

It would probably be done electronically so it should be easy to monitor. ??

[san.W10]

107 per cent rule returns for 2011

The 107 per cent rule will return to Formula 1 qualifying sessions in 2011, the FIA World Motor Sport Council announced on Wednesday.

The regulation was first introduced in 1996 to ensure that no cars would be able to start a race if they were deemed too much slower than the leaders. It was scrapped at the end of the 2002 season, with the introduction of single-lap qualifying for '03.

But now that qualfying has resumed to free-running sessions and there are three new teams on the grid - with another likely for 2011 - the FIA has brought back the ruling.

A statement released by the World Motor Sport Council said: "From 2011, any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107 per cent of the fastest Q1 qualifying time will not be allowed to take part in the race.

"Under exceptional circumstances, however, which may include setting a suitable laptime in a free practice session, the stewards may permit the car to start the race. Should there be more than one driver accepted in this manner, the grid order will be determined by the stewards."

The World Council also moved to eradicate slow-moving cars during qualifying sessions ruining the laps of their rivals. From 2011, a maximum time will be introduced, within which all cars will have to circulate under - even on in and out-laps.

"With immediate effect, any car being driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically, or which is deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers, will be reported to the stewards," the statement said. "This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.

"In order to ensure cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly on in-laps during qualifying or reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is opened for the race, drivers must stay below the maximum time set by the FIA between the safety car line after the pit exit and safety car line before the pit entry.

"The maximum time will be determined by the race director at each event prior to the first day of practice, but may be amended during the event if necessary."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84690

Pirelli to become F1's tyre supplier from 2011

The FIA has announced that Pirelli has been picked as Formula 1's sole tyre supplier for three years from the start of the 2011 season.

Pirelli had emerged as a strong favourite for the deal in the wake of Bridgestone's decision to pull out after this year's campaign.

"Pirelli has been selected as the single tyre supplier for the FIA Formula One World Championship for a period of three years, commencing in 2011," said an FIA statement.

"The sole supplier will undertake to strictly respect the sporting and technical regulations implemented by the FIA."

Fellow former F1 supplier Michelin ended up as Pirelli's closest rival for the deal, with Cooper Avon having been the other main contender.

Pirelli has 44 F1 wins to its credit from several previous periods in the sport, starting in the 1950s. It was last on the grid in 1991.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84688

FIA announces movable wing changes

Drivers' use of movable wings will be reformed for 2011, after today's FIA World Motor Sport Council agreed a new regulation to improve overtaking next season.

Formula 1 is set to introduce an adjustable rear wing next season, in place of the current adjustable front wing and F-duct, and any device in 2011 will only be able to be activated to assist overtaking.

The bodywork will not be allowed to be moved during the first two laps of a race, and thereafter only when a driver is less than one second behind the car in front.

A statement from the World Motor Sport Council said: "From 2011, adjustable bodywork may be activated by the driver at any time prior to the start of the race and, for the sole purpose of improving overtaking opportunities during the race, after the driver has completed two laps.

"The driver may only activate the adjustable bodywork in the race when he has been notified via the control electronics that it is enabled. It will only be enabled if the driver is less than one second behind another at any of the pre-determined positions around each circuit. The system will be disabled the first time the driver uses the brakes after the system has been activated.

"The FIA may, after consulting all the competitors, adjust the time proximity in order to ensure the purpose of the adjustable bodywork is met."

The FIA also announced that F-ducts will be banned for 2011.

"With the exception of the parts necessary for the driver adjustable bodywork, any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited from 2011," the statement said.

The safety car rules have also been tweaked next season to confirm that drivers cannot overtake if the safety car enters the pit lane at the end of the final lap of a race, in reaction to Michael Schumacher's move on Fernando Alonso at Monaco.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84689

[san.W10]

Renault, Mercedes fit blown diffusers

Renault and Mercedes GP are also to join the exhaust-blown diffuser gang at this weekend's European Grand Prix as teams move to copy the idea put to such good use by Red Bull Racing.

With outfits realising that blowing exhaust gasses through the diffuser can bring a good performance advantage, a lot of work has gone on in this area over recent weeks.

Red Bull Racing's RB6 has had its low exhausts since pre-season testing, while Ferrari tried out its own version of the concept during a 'filming day' test at Fiorano in Italy last week ahead of its introduction this weekend.

AUTOSPORT understands that both Renault and Mercedes GP have also tweaked their cars to make use of the system for this weekend's race in Valencia - although the latter may only trial it during Friday free practice rather than use it for the whole event.

McLaren and Williams are set to introduce their own versions of the blown diffusers for the British Grand Prix.

Paddy Lowe, the engineering director at McLaren, said earlier this week that he reckoned the advantage from a blown diffuser was easily several tenths of a second over a lap. That is why he is worried Ferrari could make a big leap forward in performance in Valencia this weekend.

"That is a concern," he said. "I think we'll have to see how they get on with it. It's a shame that some others have been slightly quicker than we were getting it, but we are where we are. I think we'll have to do what we can and see.

"It all depends at each circuit on how the different characteristics suit some cars and not others. For instance Ferrari really struggled in Turkey. I can't predict where they'll end up any more really than I can predict where we'll end up.

"What's very interesting and really great for the interest in the sport is the variation you get in very fine differentials between teams as you go through the different circuits with different characteristics. It's not very predictable."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84702

[san.W10]

Vettel leads all-Red Bull front row

Red Bull resumed its domination of qualifying in Valencia as Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber took a front row sweep for the European Grand Prix - despite the team predicting it would struggle at the Spanish street track.

Montreal polesitter Lewis Hamilton had to settle for third for McLaren, alongside home favourite Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

It was Webber who held provisional pole going into the closing moments of Q3, but a big improvement from Vettel thrust the German onto the top spot for the first time since China, as he produced a lap of 1m37.587s.

Although Webber was just 0.001 seconds down at the final split, that became 0.075s by the finish line and the Australian had to settle for second.

An error on his last lap saw Hamilton unable to defend his provisional front row slot and he fell to third, just ahead of the two Ferraris, both of which had slightly messy Q3 runs.

Both Renault and Williams got both cars into Q3. Robert Kubica completed the top six, with his rookie team-mate Vitaly Petrov 10th.

In between them, world champion Jenson Button was only seventh for McLaren, just ahead of the two Williams - where a strong run from Nico Hulkenberg saw him equal last year's Valencia winner Rubens Barrichello's time and take eighth by virtue by setting his lap first.

Mercedes was the main victim of the underdogs' Q3 efforts, with the silver cars enduring an even worse qualifying session than in Montreal. Nico Rosberg could only manage 12th after a dramatic brake-locking last lap, and Michael Schumacher looked set to depart in Q1 before his final effort salvaged a Q2 spot - where he was only 15th, among his worst ever Formula 1 starts.

Force India also lost out as the likes of Williams improved. Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi will share row seven. But it was an encouraging session for Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi, who grabbed 11th and came within 0.034s of sneaking into Q3.

Schumacher's last-gasp Q1 escape meant it was Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi who ended up down with the new teams for the second event in a row. His team-mate Pedro de la Rosa was just two places ahead, with Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso splitting them.

Lotus remained on top among the tail end group, but this time the gap to the rest of the field was back up to 1.3s. Jarno Trulli overturned team-mate Heikki Kovalainen's recent superiority and led the new teams - and there was a change of form at Virgin too, where Lucas di Grassi outqualified Timo Glock for the first time.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84779

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MS in 15th :-|

[simonlang]

that was quite a bit of surprising result for me. so many websites, forums and others have suggested ferrari gains at least 0.7s with their huge big mega super update. so i expected them to be in front on a track which suits their natural car characteristics anyway. but they werent! not only beaten by redbull, but also by mclaren. what a shocker. for me they are now one of the two topteams on my list which can skip this years car development and start next years. might give them an advantage who knows.

the second team which totally failed today was mercedes. they also had an update, but they are falling back with an impressive speed. neither car reached q3. desastrous! skip this years car now and go for next year, please. i feel so sorry for schuey, as this guy really deserves a top-car to drive and fighting for wins.

redbull was expected to be arround the top again, as on every track. their car is really amazing. but mclaren is right there with them and usually has a better race pace. plus hamilton looks hungry. and he can start on the clean side of the track.

tomorrow, massa should pass alonso at the start and hamilton webber. i think thats a given.

[Buio]

In a short interview before the race, commenting on safety cars, Button said he wishes there are no safety cars, because he want to watch the football game (between England and Germany) afterwards. :laugh:

[acnpt]

****, now that was a big crash. Glad Webbers ok, got a bit worried when his car was smoking.