F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread

Duke · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:08

Hi all,

I thought it would be best to create a new thread to discuss the news and developments running up to the first race of the new season.

======[ 2009 LAUNCH INFO ]======

Launch dates

Code:

Ferrari		January 12th
McLaren 	January 16th
BMW 		January 20th
Renault 	January 19th
Toyota 		January 15th
Toro Rosso 	March 9th
Red Bull 	February 9th
Williams 	January 19th
Brawn GP
Force India 	March 1st

Launch photos

Ferrari - launch photos | tech review

Toyota - launch photos | tech review

McLaren - launch photos | tech review

Renault - launch photos | tech review

Williams - launch photos | tech review

BMW - launch photos | tech review

Redbull Racing - launch photos | tech review

Force India - launch photos | tech review

Brawn GP - launch photos | tech review

Toro Rosso - launch photos | tech review

NathanE · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:10

Why do they always fit full wet tyres for promotional shots and special events? :confused:

Is it because they have loads of spare wet tyres in their yearly allocations?

rpstewart · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:12

NathanE said:
Why do they always fit full wet tyres for promotional shots and special events? Is it because they have loads of spare wet tyres in their yearly allocations?

I think it's something to do with the testing rules, if they fit race tyres then the event counts against the team's testing days / mileage.

Sone · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:15

could this be red bulls year with Newey or is he past his best nowadays?

Steeps · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:18

The rear wing looks completely out of place and having a wider front wing to me sounds like another recipe for disaster with the risk of it being damaged easier in wheel to wheel racing.

Shimmy · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:29

Sone said:
could this be red bulls year with Newey or is he past his best nowadays?

I hope not.

I'm going to be supporting Red Bull this year, mainly because they have my 2 favourite drivers, Vettel and Webber. Vettel who promises to be a star in the making and seems to have a good sense of humour, as for Webber I think he's hilarious and great personality and pretty damn quick too.

dthebuk · 12 Nov 2008 at 19:17

anyone know why aerodynamic devices have been removed from the body? they looked ugly anyway imo

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 19:26

Shimmy said:
I hope not.

I'm going to be supporting Red Bull this year, mainly because they have my 2 favourite drivers, Vettel and Webber. Vettel who promises to be a star in the making and seems to have a good sense of humour, as for Webber I think he's hilarious and great personality and pretty damn quick too.

Webber is a awesome bloke, funny as ****. Vettel i have yet to meet but looking forward to it. Today i met Sebastian Loeb, how effin cool is that!

The winglets etc have been removed for the 2009 regs to supposedly reduce aero grip.

Shimmy · 12 Nov 2008 at 19:29

Haha nice one, how come Loeb is going to be around then?

Ohh and first dibs on any pit passes you may be offering for 09

VaderDSL · 12 Nov 2008 at 19:39

dthebuk said:
anyone know why aerodynamic devices have been removed from the body? they looked ugly anyway imo

I'm probably waaaaaaaaaaaay off the mark but weren't the aerodynamic pieces off the body removed as they completely and utterly disrupted airflow for any drivers behind? They hope to allow airflow to not be as badly affected promoting overtaking? Probably talking rubbish there mind.

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 19:41

Shimmy said:
Haha nice one, how come Loeb is going to be around then?

Ohh and first dibs on any pit passes you may be offering for 09

Loeb got a test drive for winning the WRC again.

Yep remember you missing out this year, so no worries.

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:53

Van der Garde to test for Renault

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36573

dthebuk · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:15

VaderDSL said:
I'm probably waaaaaaaaaaaay off the mark but weren't the aerodynamic pieces off the body removed as they completely and utterly disrupted airflow for any drivers behind? They hope to allow airflow to not be as badly affected promoting overtaking? Probably talking rubbish there mind.

well thats why the rear spoilers have changed so you could be right!!!

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:21

frakker said:
Reckon the RB5 won't look too dissimilar to the new Williams?

I think a lot of the 2009 cars will be pretty similar, there are a lot of shall we say "flexible" rules for 2009 as usual with the FIA. Was taking a look at some of the moulds today for the RB5 and it is quite different to RB4, although not as noticeable once fitted up.

thepharcyde · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:27

CS||nuTs said:
Loeb got a test drive for winning the WRC again.

Yep remember you missing out this year, so no worries.

Would there ever be a chance he was offered a seat?

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36500

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:31

thepharcyde said:
Would there ever be a chance he was offered a seat?

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36500

Quite possibly but i doubt he would take it.

Goksly · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:53

Wonder how much slower the cars will be, and how long it takes the teams to claw back the time

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 23:00

Goksly said:
Wonder how much slower the cars will be, and how long it takes the teams to claw back the time

Now that would be telling

sunama · 12 Nov 2008 at 23:10

From that shot of the Williams, would it be fair to say that they already are well into developing their 2009 car? I was under the impression that for most teams, the 2009 chassis havent even come out of their moulds yet?

Sparky · 12 Nov 2008 at 23:12

This is why we have modelshops and wind-tunnels