F1

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AUSTRALIA
Albert Park

Friday 25 March
First practice: 0125-0305, BBC Red Button/online
Second practice: 0525-0705, BBC Red Button/online

Saturday 26 March
Third practice: 0255-0405, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online
Qualifying: 0500-0730, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live/online
Qualifying repeat: 1300-1415, BBC One

Sunday 27 March
Grand Prix live: 0600-0900, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live/online
F1 forum: 0900-1000, BBC Red Button/online
Grand Prix repeat: 1300-1500, BBC One
Highlights: 1900-2000 and 0255-0355, BBC Three

Standings:


Track:
Not uploaded yet, hopefully RedBull will continue to do them.


Track Diagram

Circuit information
Lap data
Lap length 5.303km (3.295 miles)
Race laps 58
Race distance 307.574km (191.118 miles)
Lap record* 1’24.125 (226.934 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2004
Fastest lap 1’23.919 (227.491 kph) by Sebastian Vettel, 2010
Maximum speed 303 kph (188.275 mph)

Car performance
Full throttle 69%
Tyre wear Medium
Brake wear Medium/Hard
Downforce level 8/10
Gear changes per lap
Fuel use per lap 2.503kg

Strategy
Pit lane time loss 17.9 seconds
2011 prime tyre**: Hard (2010: Hard)
2011 option tyre**: Soft (2010: Soft)


Australia preview quotes - Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes & Sauber
The 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship finally gets underway in Australia next weekend, with all 12 teams eager to discover how their new cars stack up against the competition. There’s new rules, new tyres and more, but one thing that remains reassuringly consistent is the warm welcome guaranteed for the paddock at Melbourne’s Albert Park…

F1 season preview - how testing has gone
The BBC F1 team preview the new season in a series of discussions starting with what we have learnt from pre-season testing.

F1 season preview - New for 2011
The BBC F1 team preview the new season in the second of a series of discussions. This time they talk about what is new for 2011 including Pirelli tyres and moveable rear wings.

F1 season preview - Driver changes for 2011
The BBC F1 team preview the new season in the third of a series of discussions. In this video, they look at the changes in driving personnel for the 2011 season.

F1 season preview - Champions on the grid
The BBC F1 team preview the new season in the fourth of a series of discussions. In this video, they look at the prospects for the five world champions who will line up on the grid in 2011.

Suzuka - Team Preview
Bridgestone Not uploaded yet
Cosworth Not uploaded yet


Red Bull Not uploaded yet
McLaren
Ferrari Not uploaded yet
Mercedes
Renault Not uploaded yet
Williams Not uploaded yet
Force India
Sauber
Toro Rosso Not uploaded yet
Lotus
Hispania
Virgin


Classic F1

Technical Changes

Weather Forecast

News

• Vettel: 'Almost impossible' to predict order
  Sebastian Vettel believes there is more uncertainty over the pecking order heading into the first race of the new season than ever before since he has been in Formula 1.
• Webber: Red Bull's winter reliability best ever
  Mark Webber believes world champions Red Bull have enjoyed their best pre-season ever from a reliability point of view, after he completed his on-track work for the winter on Thursday.
• We pushed it too far, admit McLaren
  McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that the squad probably took things too far in some elements of their design process this year.
• McLaren gamble on ‘dramatic’ changes for Australia
  Martin Whitmarsh admits McLaren have taken some risks in making last-minute changes to the MP4-26 – including the decision to shelve a more complex exhaust layout – in a bid to ensure the team is in more competitive shape for this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
• Hamilton vows not to let his head drop
  Lewis Hamilton says his motivation hasn't been dented in the slightest by the prospect of McLaren starting the season off the pace.
• Lewis determined to prove he is best of his era
  Lewis Hamilton has declared that he won't be satisfied with his Formula 1 career unless he can win multiple world championships and prove he is the best of his era.
• Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button thrilled with new car nose
  Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button divulge their secret new front-end F1 car design in an exclusive interview with Comic Relief.
• Schumacher: 2011 Mercedes could be a winning package
• Massa: DRS already an “automatic reflex”
  Felipe Massa says he is already so comfortable with the Drag Reduction System he hardly thinks about it.
  Michael Schumacher is now optimistic that the Mercedes W02 can be the car that takes him back to the top of the Formula 1 podium after the team's late surge at the end of winter testing.
• Mercedes GP drivers quietly confident for 2011
  Mercedes GP’s pre-season preparations have not gone quite to plan, with the MGP W02 initially struggling for pace and reliability. Drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, however, are keen to downplay any concerns and are optimistic that the team could well notch up podiums and wins this year.
• Rosberg: Mercedes upgrades should be 'big step'
  Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes have developed some “impressive” upgrades which will help the team make a “big step” forward with the performance of their W02 ahead of the first race.
• Williams give KERS green light for Oz
  Williams will definitely use KERS in the opening grand prix in Australia despite some reliability worries with the system in testing.
• Kobayashi: Hard to focus on season-opener
  Japan's only current Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi says his thoughts are dominated by the tragic events in his homeland as the new grand prix season approaches.
• Sauber to show support for Japan at Australian race
  The Sauber team will run a special message on the livery of their cars at next weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in support of the Japanese people, following last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
• Sutil: Force India need aero gains
  Adrian Sutil fears Force India are in for a tough start to the 2011 season - though his team boss Vijay Mallya insists the squad have what it takes to thrive this year despite a low-key testing performance.
• HRT duo shrug off lack of testing
  Hispania drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Tonio Liuzzi say they are not concerned that they did not get to drive the new F111 in testing before the season opener, as they are confident that it should be a sufficient step forward over the team's dreadful 2010 machine.
• Virgin expect 'challenging' start of season
  Virgin team principal John Booth has conceded his team are likely to find the opening races of the new season “challenging” from a performance point of view – but thinks focusing on reliability and strategy will prove beneficial in the longer-term.
• No timeline on Kubica return – Doctor
  Robert Kubica’s doctor says he can still not put a timeframe on when the recovering Renault driver will be able to return to Formula 1, but says that encouragingly the Pole’s condition continues to improve with each day.

Rookie Drivers

The track and TV coverage starts

FIA Thursday press conference - Abu Dhabi


Technical changes



FIA Friday press conference - Abu Dhabi


Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes


Practice 1



Practice 2


Practice 3



Qualifying


Race


Standings

 

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Red Bull

Full Team Name: Red Bull Racing
Base: Milton Keynes, UK
Team Principal: Christian Horner
Technical Chief: Adrian Newey
Drivers: S Vettel
M Webber
Chassis: RB7
Engine: Renault
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2005
World Championships: 1
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x15)
Pole Positions: 20
Fastest Laps: 12

Sebastian Vettel

Mark Webber

Technical

 

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McLaren

Full Team Name: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Base: Woking, UK
Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh
Technical Chief: Paddy Lowe
Drivers: L Hamilton
J Button
Test Drivers: P de la Rosa
G Paffett
Chassis: MP4-26
Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 108Y
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 1966
World Championships: 8
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x169)
Pole Positions: 146
Fastest Laps: 142


Lewis Hamilton

Jenson Button

Technical

 

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Ferrari

Full Team Name: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Base: Maranello - Italy
Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali
Technical Chief: Aldo Costa
Drivers: F Alonso
F Massa
Test Drivers: J Bianchi

Chassis: 150° Italia
Engine: Ferrari
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 1950
World Championships: 16
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x215)
Pole Positions: 205
Fastest Laps: 224

Fernando Alonso

http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/drivers/18/Felipe Massa

Technical

 

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Slightly early

Yep but it is the first race and It's a work in progress hence in testing.

 

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Mercedes GP

Full Team Name: Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team
Base: Brackley, UK
Team Principal: Ross Brawn
Drivers: M Schumacher
N Rosberg
Chassis: MGP W02
Engine: Mercedes-Benz
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2010
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 3 (x3)
Pole Positions: 0
Fastest Laps: 0

Michael Schumacher

Nico Rosberg

 

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Renault

Full Team Name: Renault F1 Team
Base: Enstone, UK
Team Principal: Eric Boullier
Technical Chief: James Allison
Drivers: N Heidfeld
V Petrov
Test Drivers: R Grosjean
B Senna
Chassis: R31
Engine: Renault
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 1977
World Championships: 2
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x35)
Pole Positions: 51
Fastest Laps: 31

Nick Heidfeld

Vitaly Petrov

Technical

 

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Williams

Full Team Name: AT&T Williams
Base: Grove, UK
Team Principal: Frank Williams
Technical Chief: Sam Michael
Drivers: R Barrichello
P Maldonado
Chassis: FW33
Engine: Cosworth CA2011
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 1975
World Championships: 9
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x113)
Pole Positions: 126
Fastest Laps: 130


Rubens Barrichello

Pastor Maldonado

Technical

 

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Force India

Full Team Name: Force India F1 Team
Base: Silverstone, UK
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya
Technical Chief: Andrew Green
Drivers: A Sutil
P di Resta
Test Drivers: N Hulkenberg

Chassis: VJM04
Engine: Mercedes-Benz
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2008
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 2 (x1)
Pole Positions: 1
Fastest Laps: 1


Adrian Sutil

http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/drivers/851/Paul di Resta

 

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Sauber

Full Team Name: Sauber F1 Team
Base: Hinwil, Switzerland
Team Principal: Peter Sauber
Technical Chief: James Key
Drivers: K Kobayashi
S Perez
Test Drivers: E Gutierrez

Chassis: C30
Engine: Ferrari
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 1993
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x1)
Pole Positions: 1
Fastest Laps: 2

Kamui Kobayashi

Sergio Perez

 

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Good to see "Qaulifying" is still present for 2011

Common you lot you know how terrible I am at well everything. Unless they are pointed out, I won;t notice it. Wonder how many seasons that's been a cut and paste job for.

 

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Toro Rosso

Full Team Name: Scuderia Toro Rosso
Base: Faenza, Italy
Team Principal: Franz Tost
Technical Chief: Giorgio Ascanelli
Drivers: S Buemi
J Alguersuari
Test Drivers: D Ricciardo

Chassis: STR6
Engine: Ferrari
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2006
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 1 (x1)
Pole Positions: 1
Fastest Laps: 0


Sebastien Buemi

Jaime Alguersuari

Technical

 

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Lotus

Full Team Name: Team Lotus
Base: Norfolk, UK
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes
Technical Chief: Mike Gascoyne
Drivers: J Trulli
H Kovalainen
Test Drivers: L Razia, R Teixeira , D Valsecchi
Chassis: T128
Engine: Renault
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2010
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 12 (x1)
Pole Positions: 0
Fastest Laps: 0


Jarno Trulli

Heikki Kovalainen

 

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HRT

Full Team Name: HRT F1 Team
Base: Madrid, Spain
Team Principal: Colin Kolles
Technical Chief: Toni Cuquerella
Drivers: N Karthikeyan
V Liuzzi
Chassis: F111
Engine: Cosworth
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2010
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 14 (x3)
Pole Positions: 0
Fastest Laps: 0


Narain Karthikeyan

Vitantonio Liuzzi

 

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Virgin

Full Team Name: Marussia Virgin Racing
Base: Sheffield/Bicester, UK
Team Principal: John Booth
Technical Chief: Nick Wirth
Drivers: T Glock
J d'Ambrosio
Chassis: MVR-02
Engine: Cosworth CA2011
Tyres: Pirelli
First Season: 2010
World Championships: 0
Highest Race Finish: 14 (x2)
Pole Positions: 0
Fastest Laps: 0



Timo Glock

Jerome d'Ambrosio

 

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2011 season changes

SPORTING REGULATIONS
TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

Adjustable rear wings
Under new moveable bodywork regulations, drivers of suitably equipped cars can adjust the rear wing from the cockpit, altering its angle of incidence through a set range. (The moveable front wing, used in 2010, has been dropped.) The system’s availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying, but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. In combination with KERS, it is designed to boost overtaking. Also like KERS, it isn’t compulsory.

No F-ducts or double diffusers
Any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited from 2011 - that means no F-ducts. Tightening of the regulations on stepped floors means double diffusers in their original sense are also banned.

KERS
A badge of honour for some, a bugbear for others on its debut in 2009, KERS - or Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems - have been reintroduced in 2011 after the teams mutually agreed to suspend their use in 2010. KERS take the waste energy generated under braking and turns it into additional power. This is then made available to the driver in fixed quantities per lap via a steering wheel-mounted ‘boost button’. The systems are essentially the same as those seen in ’09, with no increase in the maximum permitted power (though that could change in subsequent seasons). The challenge for the engineers this time round is packaging. Last time KERS was run, refuelling was legal. Now, with it banned, fuel tanks are larger and finding room to accommodate battery packs etc is not as easy. Hence don’t be surprised if bodywork has grown in places, relative to 2010. On the plus side, minimum car weight has been upped by 20kg to 640kg, meaning larger drivers don’t pay the weight-distribution penalty they once did in a KERS-equipped car.

Wheel tethers
In response to several stray wheels over the course of the 2010 season, teams must now place a second tether on every wheel to improve safety. The two tethers must be contained in separate suspension members.

Tyres
Following Bridgestone’s decision to withdraw at the end of 2010 after 13 years in Formula One, Pirelli take over as the sport’s sole tyre supplier. The Italian company, last part of F1 in 1991, will provide all teams with rubber for the next three years.

Tyre allocation has been reduced for 2011, with 11 rather than 14 sets of dry-weather tyres available to each driver per race weekend. Drivers will receive three sets (two prime, one option) to use in P1 and P2 and must return one set after each session. A further eight sets will then be at their disposal for the rest of the weekend, although one set of each specification must be handed back before qualifying.

If a driver fails to use both specifications of dry-weather tyres during a (dry) race, they will be excluded from the results. If a (dry) race is suspended and can’t be restarted, and a driver has failed to use both specifications, 30 seconds will be added to the driver’s race time.

Each type will carry its own distinct colouring on the Pirelli and PZero logos affixed to the sidewall. Under the sport's rules, only two compounds of slick tyre - known as the prime and the option - will be used for each race. In addition to this, intermediate and wet tyres can be fitted if it rains.

The six colours are as follows:
Wet - orange
Intermediate - light blue
Super soft - red
Soft - yellow
Medium - white
Hard - silver

In order to make the differences between the prime and option tyre more pronounced, Pirelli's strategy is to offer a step of at least one compound between the tyres nominated for each race. If the track conditions require it though, this strategy may be revised.


Gearboxes
As part of the sport’s cost-saving and environmental initiatives, gearboxes now need to last for five race weekends, instead of the previous four.

107% qualifying rule
During the first phase of qualifying, any driver who fails to set a lap within 107 percent of the fastest Q1 time will not be allowed to start the race. However, in exceptional circumstances, which could include a driver setting a suitable time during practice, the stewards may permit the car to start.

Team curfew
A clampdown on long working hours has been introduced, with a curfew on team personnel connected with the operation of the cars. They will not be allowed into the circuit between midnight and 6am when practice is scheduled to start at 10am the following day, or between 1am and 7am when practice starts at 11am. Each team is permitted four individual exceptions to this rule during the season.

Penalties
Stewards now have the power to impose a wider range of penalties for driving and other rule transgressions. Added to their armoury are time penalties, the right to exclude drivers from race results, or suspend them from subsequent events.

Team orders
The clause in the sporting regulations banning team orders has been removed.

 

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