[raj.barcode]

Hi Guys does anyone know if there is any limits on amount of ballast used in an F1 car if so any regulations regarding the same

[raj.barcode]

Hi guys i was going through the pictures and found this unusual comparison as the Mclaren car seems chaotic in the front while the Ferrari's and all other cars ( As marked in the image) which i have seen in 2009 season seems to be much simpler, whats the difference and why Mclaren needs so many more connecting struts in the front suspension unit

[im_srini]

Originally Posted by raj.barcode

whats the difference and why Mclaren needs so many more connecting struts in the front suspension unit

Hi Raj, I think you're right... The Ferrari & other F1 cars have an upper & lower wishbone on each side, & also a strut for the damper, with the track rod for the steering running within the upper wishbone itself.

In the McLaren, there appears to be an extra strut, which could be a separate track rod. In the McLaren, the upper wishbones also look markedly thinner than those used by the rest of the teams (probably because the track rod's not running within them). They probably have a good reason for switching back to this design.

I think KERS, while interesting, will do the teams no good in the current economic climate. Honda's up for sale, ING's cutting back on F1 sponsorship, other F1 sponsors (Toyota & RBS) are also in trouble. I don't think we've seen the last of vanishing teams yet.

Anyway, just 58 days to go

[Samir Taheer]

Bernie.E has just hinted at the possiblity of 3 car teams. Would be interesting to watch..

[raj.barcode]

The BMW Sauber F1 Team have decided to join both Ferrari and Toyota at Bahrain during the next test session. The team has shifted from Jerez, this will be good as there will comparison between BMW and Ferrari unlike last year where Ferrari thought they were very good comparing themselves to Toyota

[raj.barcode]

official 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship body today released the start time of each Grand Prix. Both Australia and Malaysia have pushed back the starting hour of their race to accommodates European audience



DATE GP LAPS START TIME
29/03 Australia 58 17:00
05/04 Malaysia 56 17:00
19/04 China 56 15:00
26/04 Bahrain 57 15:00
10/05 Spain 66 14:00
24/05 Monaco 78 14:00
07/06 Turkey 58 15:00
21/06 Great Britain 60 13:00
12/07 Germany 60 14:00
26/07 Hungary 70 14:00
23/08 Europe 57 14:00
30/08 Belgium 44 14:00
13/09 Italy 53 14:00
27/09 Singapore 61 20:00
04/10 Japan 53 14:00
18/10 Brazil 71 14:00
01/11 Abu Dhabi 55 15:00

[anachronix]

F1 : Trying to ensure KERS safety for marshals - FIA - F1-Live.com

Warning lights, insulated gloves and colour-coding will help keep F1 marshals safe from the dangers of new KERS technology, Charlie Whiting told the media on Tuesday. The dangers posed to drivers and team personnel by the high-voltage systems has been often discussed, but also at risk are the trackside marshals, whose mainly voluntary job it is to recover stricken or crashed cars.

"It's several hundred volts and the potential to be tens of amps, pretty lethal," said Renault Technical Director Bob Bell recently. "And it's DC, so if you hold it you cannot let go." A KERS Safety Working Group has been chaired by BMW, the team whose mechanic was given a shock during early testing of the new energy re-use technology. FIA delegate Whiting said a document prepared by the Group will shortly be circulated to all race hosts, in order to educate the marshals and other workers who will be exposed to KERS in 2009.


"There will be things like the KERS status warning light that will be on all cars," he said. "If there's a risk, it should be clear to a marshal who walks up to the car. He should approach the vehicle, look at the KERS status light and, if it is in the wrong state, he shouldn't touch the car," said Whiting. Another safety measure for marshals will be the colour-coding of potentially high-voltage parts, and the mandatory use of gloves "which are good for a thousand volts," Whiting explained.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

What if the car is burning with this danger lights on! Should the Marshal look on at the Driver being burned down to ash?

[vikram_d]

If the car is burning he will not be touching it, will he? He will obviously be first interested in putting the fire out.

[raj.barcode]

FIA: "Free use engine on Friday no longer possible"

The new engine rules called for teams, drivers and fans have a lot of question marks on.

Charlie Whiting,

race director of the international motor sports federation FIA, trying to clarify. "The eight engines drivers for seventeen Grands Prix have applied for all three days per event."

He continues: "What the teams will do so, for example, is an engine for the deployment Friday and then apply an engine change for qualifying and race. That is allowed. We will only punish out as a driver, the maximum number of eight power exceeded. "


Theoretically it means one team can actually has 16 engines for 2 drivers and they can use it any time and probably 8 in one race too with out any penalty

[raj.barcode]

I have observed some images of mclaren testing by Pedro it seems to have last years rear wing and not the 2009 spec, is it because it may generate more down force or their 2009 spec rear wing is not performing as required

[anachronix]

Originally Posted by vikram_d

If the car is burning he will not be touching it, will he? He will obviously be first interested in putting the fire out.

The driver would be a Ghost Rider by then!

[anachronix]

The Official Formula 1 Website

Ferrari have had to modify the exhaust exits on the side pods of the F60, as seen at its launch at Mugello earlier this month (left diagram). In testing the length of the tailpipes has already been reduced (right diagram). Under the original text of the 2009 technical regulations the Ferrari solution was legal. That changed following a later meeting of the Technical Working Group and FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting, in which it was it was decided that exhaust tailpipes are considered part of the bodywork. With most aerodynamic appendages outlawed for 2009, the fear was that without the change teams may come up with tailpipe shapes designed specifically to have aerodynamic benefits. This has been seen (legally) on cars in the past - for example, the Ferrari F2003 GA had tall, thin tailpipes which acted as fins to better direct airflow towards the back of the car.

[raj.barcode]

“The diffusers at the rear of the Williams FW31 and the Toyota TF109 appear to exceed the maximum height of 175 mm at their peak through clever aerodynamic shaping of the rear crash structure. Although both teams are confident that their designs are within the regulations, rivals outfits have expressed curiosity in the way their diffusers have been shaped - especially because it could give them an advantage in slow speed corners.”

Apparently now diffusers are a problem can someone elaborate on this thanks in advance

[raj.barcode]

After the changes in the aerodynamics of the cars the comparison between 2008 and 2009 cars are inevitable here are some pictures of Ferrari

Mclaren comparisons between Mp4-23 and Mp4-24

Toyota tf109 and BMW latest offering with its predecessors

[Samir Taheer]

Thanks anachronix.... so this means ferrari will have to change their tailpipes... or just shorten them to be in line with the body work... wouldnt think it will affect the team much..