F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread

sunama · 15 Mar 2009 at 11:28

SKILL said:
If McLaren have serious aero/chassis problems why would they do a low fuel qually lap? it doesn't seem to make sense, surely it's better for them to do longer runs, get some real data on how the car handles?

McLaren were at Barcelona for 4 full days. I'm pretty sure they tested all types of fuel loads and settings. Remember re-fueling is still permitted, so it makes sense to test all fuel loads from full tanks to empty, as it gives the engineers an idea of how the car performs over different fuel loads.

Furthermore, I'm pretty sure McLaren would want to know just how fast they are in comparison to the rest of the field, so would've tried a few glory laps. It's better to do this in testing (and have the test data, to take back to the factory), than to go totally blind into the Australian GP without a clue how the car performs when set-up for aggressive qualifying runs.

The more set-ups and fuel loads a team tests, the better it is for the team and for driver, so that they will have an idea of what the car is capable of, which in turn should allow the team/driver to set the car up quicker, for qualifying/race runs on GP weekends. Going into a GP totally blind, is a VERY bad idea.

Based on past seasons, the teams who do the most testing miles, tend to be in the best shape for the start of the season (probably due to the fact that they have a lot of data and know how to set the car up).

SKILL said:
But of course we won't know for sure till Melbourne, Personally I think McLaren might be somewhere mid-field rather than right at the back, but who knows...

Agreed.

realscot · 15 Mar 2009 at 11:35

Given that the McLaren has shown to have a loose back end that has caught Hamliton out a few times in testing, this could spell real trouble for him come race day. We all know he likes to race on the edge, having the tail of that McLaren wagging about all the time. Throw in some traffic and a sprinkle of frustration on his behalf and Lewis could soon find himself facing the wrong way in a gravel trap.

I'm guessing it wont be long till we get a weather forecast report for the race weekend?

SoliD · 15 Mar 2009 at 12:19

realscot said:
Given that the McLaren has shown to have a loose back end that has caught Hamliton out a few times in testing, this could spell real trouble for him come race day. We all know he likes to race on the edge, having the tail of that McLaren wagging about all the time. Throw in some traffic and a sprinkle of frustration on his behalf and Lewis could soon find himself facing the wrong way in a gravel trap.

I'm guessing it wont be long till we get a weather forecast report for the race weekend?

This is true, but also Hamilton much prefers an oversteering car than an understeering car, and one that can be balanced from the rear could be a benefit if they get it right. Maybe they tried to make it too much to Hamiltons liking and have actually just cocked it up completely?

NathanE · 15 Mar 2009 at 12:35

I think Hamilton will know by the Australian race day whether he has a chance at some points or whether its a lost cause. I think that if he and McLaren realise it is a lost cause then they will use the Australian race as a test day more or less.

I don't think we will see him spinning off into the gravel because he can't handle the fact hes in a crap car.

Blackvault · 15 Mar 2009 at 14:19

Engines are started again

15:10 - The engines are started again. The McLaren team has chosen not to test today but tomorrow just to start.

Why not go out and use the data to try and fix this slowness?

I can see them being towards the back of the mid field

Blackvault

sunama · 15 Mar 2009 at 15:18

Perhaps Mclaren are not ready to run yet.

BrawnGP seem to be very organised and are not wasting any time at all, getting test mileage in at every opportunity. Not only that, but they are have been consistently posting the fastest times on a daily basis. I'm expecting a lot from them in Australia. They had better not dissapoint.

Type_R · 15 Mar 2009 at 16:04

sunama said:
Perhaps Mclaren are not ready to run yet.

BrawnGP seem to be very organised and are not wasting any time at all, getting test mileage in at every opportunity. Not only that, but they are have been consistently posting the fastest times on a daily basis. I'm expecting a lot from them in Australia. They had better not dissapoint.

Its Ross Brawn, he doesn't know the meaning of the word fail

Dup · 15 Mar 2009 at 16:12

sunama said:
Perhaps Mclaren are not ready to run yet.

BrawnGP seem to be very organised and are not wasting any time at all, getting test mileage in at every opportunity. Not only that, but they are have been consistently posting the fastest times on a daily basis. I'm expecting a lot from them in Australia. They had better not dissapoint.

Hear hear.

In one of JBs interviews, when he got the news that Honda were pulling he said he went to the factory to show his support. He mentioned that they were all pretty much getting on business as usual and that nothing had really changed.

They would have to try really hard to fail given the evidence we have so far!

NathanE · 15 Mar 2009 at 16:59

Perhaps they have nothing new to test until Monday. Probably waiting on the aero guys in Woking to finish some new parts before having them courier'd over to the test track!

SoliD · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:03

Is there any actual news yet on any forthcoming sponsors for BGP?

NathanE · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:06

I'll sponsor them for £100.

Dup · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:07

SoliD said:
Is there any actual news yet on any forthcoming sponsors for BGP?

Not sure. I noticed that the drivers helmets carried no sponsors either. I always though the helmet was there for the drivers sponsors (As opposed to the teams). Maybe they'll go for something controversial like the Honda green campaign.

Duke · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:49

Testing Times - Day 1 - Circuit-de-Jerez

Another 102 laps covered

dalin80 · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:51

Blackvault said:
Why not go out and use the data to try and fix this slowness?

I can see them being towards the back of the mid field

Blackvault

why use up a test day and the very limited miles when new bits are on the way after all the testing last week which was used to collect data?

might as well get the new bits bolted on and set-up and use a extra day to test them.

philjohn · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:10

Apparently McLaren were waiting for some parts and have decided to write off today and test for an extra day at Jerez instead.

Deleted member 11679 · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:14

SoliD said:
Is there any actual news yet on any forthcoming sponsors for BGP?

If you have a look at any of their most recent documents published via the website:

http://www.brawngp.com/pdf/bcn03_05web_4.pdf

...for instance, there are some brands beginning to appear in the footer of each document. I don't know whether these will ultimately be the sponsors or whether they are part of the Formula 1 systems support. Much like how Bridgestone do the tyres so therefore they have their branding on the BGP car already. No sign of a Mercedes logo or anything along those lines yet.

I think another drinks company will be a sponsor, just my guess though.

dannyjo22 · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:15

NathanE said:
I think Hamilton will know by the Australian race day whether he has a chance at some points or whether its a lost cause. I think that if he and McLaren realise it is a lost cause then they will use the Australian race as a test day more or less.

I don't think we will see him spinning off into the gravel because he can't handle the fact hes in a crap car.

No you will see him in the gravel due to trying harder than the car will allow like many other drivers that end up in the gravel. Its easy to stay on the circuit in the best and fastest car.

I really hope he's at the back. She if he has the ability to change the car and pull of results like alonso has.

sunama · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:19

Duke said:
Testing Times - Day 1 - Circuit-de-Jerez

Another 102 laps covered

Their testing schedule is relentless.

I've noticed that doing over a race distance every day for BrawnGP seems standard now. I've also not heard of them having any reliability problems during these longs runs, which bodes well for them.

I know there are a lot of Button (and by association, BrawnGP) supporters in this forum and I dont want to jinx them, but the last time I saw a team consistently going faster than everybody, at all test tracks, was when Williams totally demolished the field in 1992 and 1993, where they won the vast majority of races and poles in those years. Such was the dominance, that Senna offered on TV, to join Williams for free (no salary).

I can't help feel though, that now that BrawnGP don't have access to Honda's vast resources, their performance will stagnate, allowing the well funded teams to catch and pass them.

I think 2009 is going to be one cracking season. :cool:

sunama · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:22

dannyjo22 said:
I really hope he's [Hamilton's] at the back. She if he has the ability to change the car and pull of results like alonso has.

Or he could just change teams at the end of the year. It wouldnt surprise me, as he is a very determined individual. I'm sure most teams would be happy to have him.

Kinitawawi · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:26

Roger Barrichello, whos he then?

F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread

Deleted member 11679

Deleted member 11679