[motor_breathing]

5 years and FIA is still deciding what rules are the best to stop the start of another Michael Schumacher Era! Long Live Schumacher!

There was no one who could stop Michael Schumacher. Rules was the last resort. It worked but killed the sport. Where is F1 heading?

I guess my signature sums it up!

I more or less agree with this point. The rule changes where brought to stop MS domination and now that he has retired they could have reverted to the old point system .

SilentEngine's point also is very much valid. Teams with clear #1 driver will be benifited.

[raj.barcode]

Bests times at jerez this week:

1. Nakajima (Williams - Toyota) 1:17.494
2. Button (Brawn - Mercedes) 1:17.844
3. Kovalainen (McLaren - Mercedes) 1:17.946
4. Rosberg (Williams - Toyota) 1:18.071
5. Alonso (Renault - Renault) 1:18.343
6. Piquet (Renault - Renault) 1:18.382
7. Barrichello (Brawn - Mercedes) 1:18.398
8. Hamilton (McLaren - Mercedes) 1:19.121


Ferrari don't figure in top 9 will they be strong or were they just taking it easy

Well after all the diffuser talks in F1 does someone have images of the diffuser or comparison done to enlighten us

[anachronix]

FORMULA 1 2009 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - 2008/2009 COMPARISON | KERETA INFO | MAJALAH KERETA MALAYSIA Car Automotive News Reviews Tips & Details

Gives a pictorial brief of the diffusers!

Ferrari have not tested in Jerez, they were testing in Bahrain & Barcelona!

The times posted in the testing are too confusing to come to any conclusions!

[anachronix]

EDIT: My bad, I forgot the testing they did in the wet @ Jerez!

Posting the times put up by Ferrari here:

Jerez testing from 09/12/2008 11/12/2008:

Track Conditions were usually cold/drying track; The times are reasonably good!

Raikkonen Ferrari 48 1:20.261 (Day1)
Raikkonen Ferrari 89 1:19.334 (Day2)
Raikkonen Ferrari 82 1:18.782 (Day3)
Massa Ferrari 67 1:19.050 (Day3)

[anachronix]

Now Mad Max getting a taste of his own crap!

autosport.com - F1 News: FOTA says points change is not valid

The Formula One Teams' Association has questioned the validity of the FIA's decision to impose a new points structure for this season.

The FIA announced on Tuesday that it would hand the world championship to the driver who scored the most wins in 2009. That decision was drawn criticism from several high profile figures, and FOTA now believes that the FIA is in fact not allowed to have made the change without the unanimous support of the teams.

In a statement issued on Friday, FOTA said that it hoped it could work together with the FIA for a new points structure to be put in place for 2010.

"Following the decision of the World Motorsport Council of the 17 March 2009 to change the way the drivers' championship is awarded, the Teams gathered and unanimously agreed to question the validity of this decision," said the statement.
"FOTA had made a proposal that was carefully based on the results of a Global Audience Survey, which allowed listening to preferences of the public, and all the Teams firmly believe that these indications should be properly taken into account.
"The amendment to the sporting regulations proposed by the World Motorsport Council was not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship.

"Since the change to the scoring system unanimously agreed by the Teams and proposed to FIA did not receive approval of the WMSC, no change can occur in 2009, and the Teams wish to reaffirm their willingness to collaborate with the FIA in order to jointly define a new point system for the 2010 season within a comprehensive set of measures aimed at further stimulating the attractiveness of the F1 Sport."
Appendix 5 of the F1 sporting regulations details how regulations can be changed in F1, while Article 199 of the International Sporting Code says that the FIA cannot make changes to the sporting regulations at this late stage without unanimous approval of the teams.

It says: "Changes to sporting rules and to all regulations other than those referred to in b) above are published at least 20 days prior to the opening date for entry applications for the championship concerned, but never later than 30 November each year.

"Such changes cannot come into effect before 1 January of the year following their publication, unless the FIA considers that the changes in question are likely to have a substantial impact on the technical design of the vehicle and/or the balance of performance between the cars, in which case they will come into effect no earlier than 1 January of the second year following their publication.

"d) Shorter notice periods...may be applied, provided that the unanimous agreement of all competitors properly entered for the championship or series concerned is obtained."

[anachronix]

Ferrari Visited by the Italian President
The Ferrari boys look all geared up, especially the one of Kimi & Massa

[raj.barcode]

Originally Posted by anachronix

Now Mad Max getting a taste of his own crap!

autosport.com - F1 News: FOTA says points change is not valid

I think this is good for Ferrari and Mclaren i guess even if they dont start in the front they might be able to make up in the end

[bottle]

Originally Posted by anachronix

Ferrari Visited by the Italian President
The Ferrari boys look all geared up, especially the one of Kimi & Massa

yeah everyone was dolled up and kimi looks like he doesnt give 2 hoots as usual

[anachronix]

Source, AFCA @ Atlas F1

Stefano Domenicali speaking in front of the Scuderia Ferrari Malboro: "Our strenth is the team" applause at a moving farewell of Jean Todt

Stefano Domenicali Aldo Costa and Gilles Simon spoke in front of the Scuderia Ferrari at the traditional meeting at the beginning of the season with CEO Amedeo Felisa and Jean Todt, taking part for the last time.

Domenicali thanked everybody for the work over the last months and reminded everybody to remain concentrated. "It will be a very demanding season, as usual. We've got a new single-seater, which we've prepared with less miles of tests, due to the rules. But you've been really brave and we're leaving for Melbourne convinced that we can fight for the top positions as usual."

"It won't be easy," Domenicali said, "and we've got to remain concentrated. Our strength is the Team, this is what distinguishes us from the other teams. We know about our responsibilities, but we know about being a the team Ferrari more than anything else."

After Aldo Costa and Gilles Simon, who spoke about the technical details, Stefano Domenicali invited Jean Todt on stage for his last speech to "his boys".

Todt thanked everybody for the magnificent experience of his 16 years at Ferrari, for the commitment and for the team spirit. "Life at Ferrari is unique, always intense. As our President Luca di Montezemolo says, the people are important and it's you who make the difference. No driver or technician can make it alone."

Domenicali presented Jean Todt with the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater with a plaque reading "To Jean Todt, who steered us for many years. With affection, Scuderia Ferrari."

Jean Todt was honoured with a long applause and the guys from the Scuderia all wanted to give him their hands. They all received hand-written letters from Todt in which he also wrote that "Ferrari is unique company, which will always stay in my heart" (...). "At the beginning of the Formula 1 Championship, my best wishes for the success you deserve."

Jean Todt's evening went on at the Industrial Department, where he met the management and receiving a Prancing Horse made out of aluminium to remember his years at Ferrari.

---------

Massa has a new personal sponsor: Soccerade, a sports drink company.

[speedzak]

Mclaren seems to be starting up in trouble this year.
It was very much evident in Whitmarsh's interview that they're not going to be in front of the grid in Melbourne.

Man! if the car isn't good to catch up with the rest, then we are going to miss Hamilton's controversial moves and challenges in the front rows!

Hope they get it all sorted out before the season gets out of their hands!

[dreamdiesel]

Good times are back again after a really really long wait.. In a weeks time the F1 season begins. Lets hope the best team and the best driver wins the championships.

MODS: Can we have the The official F1 grand prix discussion & prediction thread reopened?

[SilentEngine]

FIA is now willing to defer the new point systems if all teams don't agree.
The Official Formula 1 Website

less than a week left for the first race, still we don't know how the point system is gong to be.

[danlalan]

Originally Posted by speedzak

Mclaren seems to be starting up in trouble this year.
It was very much evident in Whitmarsh's interview that they're not going to be in front of the grid in Melbourne.

Man! if the car isn't good to catch up with the rest, then we are going to miss Hamilton's controversial moves and challenges in the front rows!

Hope they get it all sorted out before the season gets out of their hands!

Iam sure they will get their problems sorted out. Can never say until the race starts. This years prediction thread will be wide open.

[Rocky_Balboa]

Why would the FOTA not agree to the changes, especially when the change is gonna be refreshing. Would McLaren, being behind or rather BGP up front have caused this.

[speedzak]

The change in the points system isn't completely great or fully refreshing. There're many aspects which are left unanswered by FIA or doesn't have any clue of.
And the decision came very late. If it was atleast planned out properly with full support and discussions with the teams earlier, it would've been amazing and very much welcomed by all.

The method suggested by FOTA for points revision could've been brought into discussion too. I believe that system is equally good or better!