F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread

[Duke]

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

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

 

[Duke]

Nice pics, MadJay

 

[Duke]

http://www.motorauthority.com/f1/toro-rosso-sounded-out-montoya-for-2009_5758.html

Shame, I'd like to see it happen.

I don't see the point as he's made it clear he doesn't want to return to F1, so not sure why they asked him and it becomes newsworthy anyway?

 

[Duke]

Shanghai may pull the plug on its F1 race after 2010!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/14112008/3/shanghai-axe-f1-grand-prix-official.html

I don't know if anyone watched the A1 GP last weekend.. that was at another track in China, although it looks somewhat old and run down, however the amount of bumps and the layout was amazing

Can't find any pics of it now

 

[Duke]

That was a great read, sunama. I didn't know Prost was like that - I only started watching GPs about the last season or two with Mansell on it, but was too young to know what else was going on at the time

 

[Duke]

Couple of pieces of weekend F1 news, just prior to this weeks test at Spain.


• Rubens not testing this week - Read more

- Anyone else think he won't get a seat for 09? I have a feeling they will get a GP2 driver in there.



• Canada's attempts of getting back on the 09 list fail again - Read More

- Shame to see it go. No doubt replaced with another tilk-drone track

 

[Duke]

I think the teams need to start laying the law down to Bernie - not having a race in a major market such as North America is unfathomable to the manufacturer constructors.

They need to race at Laguna Seca

 

[Duke]

That BM 09 car looks awful!

 

[Duke]

They look awful!!!!

 

[Duke]

Yep old rear wing.

 

[Duke]

Look very close at the BMW and you may spot something KERS related.

Is it the hole quite far underneath the front wing/nose? And they have various things taped on but assume they are weights or measuring devices of some sort.

 

[Duke]

Saw this earlier on autosport, what an idiot bernie is. Sounds like the stupidest idea I have ever heard.

Very stupid idea

 

[Duke]

Klien in "09 cars look poop" shocker - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72176

 

[Duke]

KERS working a bit too well there

 

[Duke]

Erm what on earth is inside that?! Wouldn't affect stability with it only being on one side

 

[Duke]

what is KERS?

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=Mark_Hughes&id=43467

 

[Duke]

I think only a handful of the circuits had HD equipment, which is why they won't broadcast until they are all up to scratch, which if you consider the aim of the sport and the money spent on that, is a bit odd really.

 

[Duke]

Interesting read about costs in F1 for Honda...

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36603

 

[Duke]

I agree with penski, that's a nice render (no idea how accurate it is mind you)

It does look nice, although the rear wing still looks pretty awful imo. I hope they get rid of the wheel covers as they spoil the look as well.

 

[Duke]

Testing pics from F1.com

http://www.formula1.com/gallery/testing/2008/331.html