- Formula 1 - Season 2009 -

[UncleKracker]

Technical analysis: McLaren MP4-24

McLaren have revealed their car for the 2009 world championship: the MP4/24 not only has to meet the new regulations, but also the standard its title-winning predecessor set.

After over 18 months of development, the team have gone back to review every element of the new package to ensure the grip from slick tyres and reduced aerodynamics are maximised. As a result, the McLaren appears to be more developed than its peers and exploits some different concepts in its aerodynamics.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72822

[UncleKracker]

McLaren's 2009 MP4-24 In Pictures

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/index.php/id/1572

http://www.planetf1.com/gallery/0,18973,3524_4801256,00.html

http://www.itv-f1.com/photo.aspx?im_id=52031

[UncleKracker]

Dennis to step down as team principal

McLaren boss Ron Dennis will step down from his role of team principal before the start of the 2009 season, the Briton announced on Friday.

The 61-year-old, however, made it clear that he is not retiring, but will instead focus on other commitments related to the McLaren Group.

Dennis said he would still attend some races, but intends to pass on his team principal responsibilities to Martin Whitmarsh as of March 1 this year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72820

Whitmarsh expects smooth transition

McLaren's Formula One CEO Martin Whitmarsh expects a smooth transition when Ron Dennis steps down from his role as team principal.

During the launch of McLaren's new car, Dennis announced that he will pass on his responsibilities as team principal to Whitmarsh on March 1, before the start of the 2009 season.

Dennis will remain executive chairman of McLaren and will be focusing on other activities, although he said he would still travel to some races.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72826

[beglar_begi]

Bye bye Ronnie... he probably has to go wash his hands after shaking hands with sheikhs all day... did anyone follow that case against him? I know the court gave a judgment in his favor but what a thing to be accused of (here I am poking fun at the accuser and not the accused)...

I was watching Bernie Ecclestone's press conference on BBC yesterday and he was talking about the new points system he wants to introduce. I was wondering how all the other guys on this forum feel about it? Basically he who wins most races at the end of the year wins the title... not the guy with the most point but literally with the most race wins.

I kind of agree with ecclestone on the front that the current points system sometimes allows drivers in a good position to not take risks and play it safe by coming in third or fourth and taking some points when they could have had pushed for and tried to win the race... it did make me laugh that he used hamilton as an example but anyway I don't see the flaw in the argument. He who wins the most races takes the title. Like last year I think Massa won more races than hamilton...

Anyway... feedback on this would be quite interesting to read...

[genius83]

@beglar
I have been of the same opinion that the driver who wins most races should win the title too and that should not only be for drivers title but constructor title too so teams will go for all out till the last race. But their is one more suggestion that they should change the point system and the first ten finishers should be given points with the winner of the race have not 10 points but 15 points and then second should have 12 third should have 9 and the remaining should have 7,6,5,4,3,2,1 for 4th,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th,10th respectively

[UncleKracker]

I agree and disagree with the new proposed system. Whilst i agree that the man winning the most races should be rewarded, but i don't think it should mean the guy winning the most races winning the world title. There are many thing that come into play. I feel the man who has been more consistent through out the season needs to be rewarded. Winning the drivers championship is an art and if a driver who has inferior machinery can mount a challenge for the title and run someone close who has a faster car then they guy driving an inferior car needs to be rewarded more.
Case in point, the 1993 season. Williams Renault was the class of the field with its V10 engine while the Mclaren Ford of Ayrton Senna was running with a one year old V8 ford engine, but the circumstances in the first half of the season played into his hands with a lot of wet races and he was running Prost close. Sure, Prost won the title but it would have been a travesty had he done so just based on the fact that he was in the best car and so he won the most races. Any half assed driver in the best and fastest car on the grid will win the most races. This way only the guy with the best car will be crowned world champion and not necessarily the best driver.

A race winner is not rewarded these days and the reasons are very well known for that. I would suggest that the points system be such that there is more incentive for winning a race. The two point gap between first place and second is not a big enough reward. Nor do i feel that more people need to be allowed to score points who finish down the list. The points system in my opinion needs one change only, award 12 points to the winner, 8 to second place and so on and so forth. The four point gap as it was in the years gone by would be incentive enough for drivers sitting happily in second place to try and win the race.

Just out of curiosity who exactly sat back from winning a race last year or the year before when they actually had a car that could win?

[beglar_begi]

@UK

Was that a serious question or do you want to hear Hamilton's name again? Because I do believe it was Hamilton because you see Hamilton had a chance in a couple of races where Hamilton could have had pushed his car instead of playing it safe and finishing lower down the grid. So if I'm not mistaken Hamilton is your answer...

You see that's where the argument for the medal system unravels... what if there is a brilliant driver who is giving the better cars a run for their money (Kubica... even Alonso in the renault towards the end of the year) what of them... true under the medals system they would be treated very unjustly and the race would pretty much be against the dominant cars on the track.
Perhaps there can be bonus points that can be given to the driver with most wins at the end of the year... the driver would have to still fight to the skin of his teeth (if it came to it) in order to stay ahead of the pack and those close to him would have to strive to win every race because they would know that the driver with the most wins would be rewarded with bonus points at the end of the year which could possibly grant him the title. This is quite the pandoras box that ecclestone has cracked open

[genius83]

@UK and beglar
As you guys have pointed out that most win formula will only work in the top teams favour then their is one more suggestion for settling it out and it is that if at the end of season their is a tie out between two drivers on points and race wins i.e one have more points the other have more wins e.g, is last year Massa and Hamilton. They both should be awarded world champ on different basis, or their should be tie breaking race which these two only will race and only the winner gets the point.

[beglar_begi]

@genius

I dont know about that scheme. Sounds like something nascar would do. This is why I was against Schumi quitting... at least while he was driving there was either a clear winner or a clear second...

@UK

I forgot to ask... you described the '93 scenario a little too vividly... dude seriously how old are you?!

[UncleKracker]

@genius83

I concur with beglar about your idea of a tie breaker race or something along those lines. Its something that one would except to see in Nascar. It adds to the spectacle but doubt we`d ever see anything like that in F1.

As for giving the title to two different people...hmmm nah i don't think so. You`d hardly find that the driver who won the most races did not win the title besides i personally wouldn't want to go down that route because you are more or less rewarding the fastest car and not the best driver.

@beglar_begi

A good ten years old er than you. Those years the early 90`s haunt me. Prost was a particular " favourite" of mine if you know what i mean:p so i remember pretty much all that he did, the paranoid f**k!!

As for Hamilton sitting behind someone and not trying to win in 2008, I dont really recall any such incident. That is something an intelligent man would do. He might be many things, the greatest driver to ever sit in an F1 car, Gods gift to F1, the greatest choker of all time, but one thing he is not, and that is intelligent!! Please don`t insult him by accusing him of being that. If ever there was need for proof then Fuji was the best example of what an idiot he is.

[genius83]

@UK and beglar
I have taken the idea of a tie breaker race from the Nascar series based animated movie Carz. As for the difference between the best car against best driver system then you are advocating a standard car rule proposed by F1 governing board. Because we can never find who is the best driver until we have test everyones in the best performing and the least performing car at the same time.

Just another suggestion take the drivers out of the team that is they are not bound to any team with contracts for the whole season and have them as freelance. A rule should be made that through out the season they have to race atleast for half of the teams on the grid. These drivers were being paid by F1 governing body. By this way we could check the level who is good and who is excellent and who is bad it certainly make this sport a bit more exciting.

[beglar_begi]

@genius

Hmmm... I'm sorry man but suggesting rules from the movie cars is a bit out of left field. No I think the whole argument was stoked by the fact that massa finished second despite having won more races. I dont think they need to revolutionize the points system really but if they must then they have to make it feasible. I dont think there is a single points system applicable that could be considered fair for both the manufacturer and the driver adjudicating points on both their abilities. The most they can do is perhaps space out the points awarded to the drivers but then there is the counter argument that if a driver wins a few races then he has some breathing space and may not perform to his best in the following race. Frankly I find that argument flawed... all those guys on the track are there to race... they aren't suffering those G's to simply give it a half a$$ed attempt. Lets see what they come out with.

@genius

Well that puts things in perspective.

[UncleKracker]

WILLIAMS REVEAL THEIR 2009 CAR

Williams have unveiled their 2009 challenger, the FW31, at the Portimao circuit.

The team are relying on the new car to revive their fortunes after a disappointing 2008 season, but have cause for optimism having switched their attention to this season's radical new rules earlier than many of their rivals.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72860

[UncleKracker]

WILLIAMS FW31 IN PICTURES

http://www.planetf1.com/gallery/0,18973,3524_4816562,00.html

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/index.php/id/1575

http://www.itv-f1.com/photo.aspx?im_id=52057

[UncleKracker]

Technical analysis of the Williams FW31

At the first test of the year, Williams unveiled their definitive 2009 car, the FW31.

Having already run a 2009 wing and diffuser package as well as their flywheel-based KERS system in winter testing, the team are ahead on their development for 2009, hence their car appears simple, but very well detailed.

It strikes similar design chords with other cars seen so far, but with a striking nose treatment and shapely sidepods.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72865

[UncleKracker]

RENAULT UNVEIL THE NEW R29

Renault pulled the covers off their new R29 at the Portimao circuit in Portugal on Monday morning in the latest low-key Formula One unveiling.

The car has a strikingly different colour scheme, with more of Renault's yellow colours adorning the rear portion of the car. Furthermore, new oil supplier Total adorns the front and rear wing endplates.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72862

[UncleKracker]

R29 I N PICTURES

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/index.php/id/1576

http://www.itv-f1.com/photo.aspx?im_id=52067

[UncleKracker]

Technical analysis of the Renault R29

Almost immediately after Williams unveiled their new car in the Portuguese pitlane, Renault rolled the R29 in front of the gathered media.

Striking with both a new livery and an aggressive shape, the new car is a departure for the team. Again, the most apparent feature is the nose treatment, but also the extraordinary sidepod exits.

The new nosecone arrangement takes some ideas from last's year scalloped undernose and applies them to the FIA neutral middle wing element.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72866

[UncleKracker]

Ferrari F60 Launch Ceremony. Formula 1 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk7htrExZvY

Mclaren MP4-24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhA_SgCg

Toyota TF109

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL-OE3HOGs

[saad02]

sry 4 such a poor picture..but i'm reali hatin al da 2009 models...they reali suck..hre's da comparison...wid last year's model..