F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread

Flibster · 12 Jan 2009 at 23:48

Another comparison using the cockpit as the dimension match.

Skeeter · 12 Jan 2009 at 23:59

Looks like the 2009 car is a bit longer, with the cockpit slightly further forward. Definate shortening of the wheelbase though.

I do love slick tyres again

sunama · 13 Jan 2009 at 00:13

I like Flibster's car comparisons.

I also like the look of the new Ferrari, though the proof will be in the pudding.

The fact that Ferrari have got their car out earlier than everybody else and can begin testing asap should serve them well.

Red Bull who release their car much later will be playing catch up right from the get-go. Why on Earth are they releasing their new car so late? CSI perhaps you can answer this?

ShakenNstirred · 13 Jan 2009 at 00:33

sunama said:
I like Flibster's car comparisons.

I also like the look of the new Ferrari, though the proof will be in the pudding.

The fact that Ferrari have got their car out earlier than everybody else and can begin testing asap should serve them well.

Red Bull who release their car much later will be playing catch up right from the get-go. Why on Earth are they releasing their new car so late? CSI perhaps you can answer this?

a lot of small teams get there cars out late, they dont has the resources of the big teams

Overlag · 13 Jan 2009 at 02:09

JRS said:
Once again - if a rule is written in a vague way, then designers have a clear duty to bend that rule.

Case in point - in 1981, a minimum ride was introduced to reduce the downforce granted by the ground effects designs in use by most teams at the time. Gordon Murray designed the latest iteration of the Brabham car with a hydropneumatic suspension setup that gave the car a legal ride height when measured (static in the pitlane) but dropped the car right down onto the track when racing to give it all the downforce. Completely within the rules, as they were written - the rulemakers never specified how much it could deflect by when downforce was applied, they just specified a static ride height.

Just wait for the rest of the cars to be unveiled, I'm sure we'll see some other bits of trickery that the rules couldn't quash

wasnt attacking them, it is, as you say there "duty" almost to bend the rules as far as possible.

The rule book is so open to different interpretations is silly. (not sure if i spelt that right)

NicktheNorse · 13 Jan 2009 at 07:42

Overlag said:
The rule book is so open to different interpretations is silly. (not sure if i spelt that right)

This isn't strictly true. Has anyone one actually sat down and read the regs? I have spent many tens of hours doing so, they are highly limiting! I'm pretty confident that the few loopholes that exist are known by all the teams by now.

Sparky · 13 Jan 2009 at 09:00

sunama said:
I like Flibster's car comparisons.

I also like the look of the new Ferrari, though the proof will be in the pudding.

The fact that Ferrari have got their car out earlier than everybody else and can begin testing asap should serve them well.

Red Bull who release their car much later will be playing catch up right from the get-go. Why on Earth are they releasing their new car so late? CSI perhaps you can answer this?

Having a working car and the official release date are two totaly different things

sunama · 13 Jan 2009 at 09:05

OIC. But if you have a working car (in some guise), then you would surely be testing it, right?

I mean, there is little point in having a working car early on, but not taking it out on track, while teams like Ferrari are already getting real data (not simulated) by having their drivers drive the actual car and getting a feel of it.

When Massa drove the 2009 car, (though I do understand he wouldnt have pushed it hard), he is already getting a feel for it, while Vettel is just waiting. Surely this puts the likes of Vettel at a huge disadvantage?

Sparky · 13 Jan 2009 at 09:22

Releasing your car late has its plus points and negative points.

Sparky · 13 Jan 2009 at 11:47

And speaking of which

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090113121856.shtml

Blackvault · 13 Jan 2009 at 15:37

FIA confirms new season entry list.

No real surprises.

Blackvault

Dup · 13 Jan 2009 at 15:39

No car 13?

Flibster · 13 Jan 2009 at 16:16

Dup said:
No car 13?

Same as last year... and the year before... and the year before that... and the year before that...

Last time that a driver had 13 on his car was in 1976 at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. Driver was Divina Galica. She failed to qualify.

Mad_Jay · 13 Jan 2009 at 22:38

Oh dear

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36824

Skeeter · 13 Jan 2009 at 22:43

"ADDY"

LOL

Flibster · 14 Jan 2009 at 00:26

frakker said:
Flibster: you visit Sidepodcast don't you?!!

Certainly do. All of 20 minutes to knock up those images. I'm so bored.

FrankJH · 14 Jan 2009 at 07:56

sunama said:
I like Flibster's car comparisons.

I also like the look of the new Ferrari, though the proof will be in the pudding.

The fact that Ferrari have got their car out earlier than everybody else and can begin testing asap should serve them well.

Red Bull who release their car much later will be playing catch up right from the get-go. Why on Earth are they releasing their new car so late? CSI perhaps you can answer this?

Ferrari are well behind on KERS though - so one balances out the other really

Interesting point though - and I honestly dont know the answer to it:

You say (and it could well be correct) that if a driver doesnt push a car he is still getting a feel for it - Im not so sure about that, simply because a huge percentage of the time the car is going hell for leather, ie in whatever condition it is at its maximum, and its the fact that its at its max that will define how it reacts surely, not when its being driven at 50% or whatever.....

gord · 14 Jan 2009 at 11:51

Mad_Jay said:
I love it, I think it looks mean and awesome.

I wonder if those mirrors could be used as winglets?

A video of it on track:

Looks so old school! Awesome!

Malt_Vinegar · 14 Jan 2009 at 11:52

Someone at pitpass has been on the sauce!! lol

Overlag · 14 Jan 2009 at 13:37

anyone noticed that the ferrari still has barge boards?

also why do people think them not using KERS is a bad thing? 40-60kg lighter might well be an advantage. A better balanced car for the whole lap, or a unbalanced car KERS boosted for 7 seconds?

Sure is going to make the racing close...