2009 FIA Formula One World Championship Season

[commadore183 103]

McLaren called to appear before the WMSC

The FIA has released the following statement:

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been invited to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday, 29 April, 2009, to answer charges that, in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, it

- on 29 March, 2009, told the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix that no instructions were given to Hamilton in Car No. 1 to allow Trulli in Car no. 9 to pass when both cars were behind the safety car, knowing this statement to be untrue;

- procured its driver Hamilton the current World Champion, to support and confirm this untrue statement to the stewards;

- although knowing that as a direct result of its untrue statement to the stewards, another driver and a rival team had been unfairly penalised, made no attempt to rectify the situation either by contacting the FIA or otherwise;

- on 2 April, 2009, at a second hearing before the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix, (meeting in Malaysia) made no attempt to correct the untrue statement of 29 March but, on the contrary, continued to maintain that the statement was true, despite being allowed to listen to a recording of the team instructing Hamilton to let Trulli past and despite being given more than one opportunity to correct its false statement;

- on 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing that what he was saying to the stewards was not true."

And in true Obama-like fashion, McLaren threw someone under the bus regarding this case:

This morning, Dave Ryan was suspended from his position as sporting director of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team.

McLaren's press release on Dave Ryan's involvement in Australia GP controversy

McLaren's press release regarding the WMSC's invitation

[uk_redwing 495]

McLaren suck. Brawn FTW!

[commadore183 103]

Legal

The FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) has rejected protests against the diffusers used by the Brawn, Toyota and Williams teams, after concluding that their ‘double decker’ designs comply with the 2009 regulations.

The matter is now closed. On to Shanghai!

[hgimn 1]

Ferrari ditched the Kers system,and from speed's coverage of practise last night it seems as though Renault has ditched it as well.However Ferrari's straight line speed doesn't seem to be affected as Massa hit 195 mph at the end of the longest straight.Until Ferrari and the other usual contenders can re-design their cars with the diffusers it'll be a runaway for the Brawn GP team.Was anybody else surprised about Sutil's time last night,he was 11th overall,and beat out big names like Massa,Raikinen,Hamilton,and Alonso,while his teamate was 20th.Bmw seemed to be struggling as they are over 1.8 seconds back of Button.I guess this track,seeing as how fast it is,will show how much more the diffusers mean at higher speeds.

[Ernesto_182 1]

hell yeah Alonso 2nd :D he will win tomorrow

[uk_redwing 495]

hell yeah Alonso 2nd :D he will win tomorrow

No. One of the red bulls will take it. If not, then Button is going to steal in for the win. The tables have been turned this season and its ******* awesome!

[Ernesto_182 1]

Don't think so! Alonso is the best pilot there is and he can do it tomorrow, i am sure he will win or at least be in the first 3 positions

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Qualifying results:

1) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

2) Fernando Alonso, Renault

3) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

4) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

5) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

6) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

7) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

8) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

9) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

10) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

11) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

12) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

13) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

14) Timo Glock, Toyota

15) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

16) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

17) Nelsin Piquet Jr, Renault

18) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

19) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

20) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

[uk_redwing 495]

No. One of the red bulls will take it. If not, then Button is going to steal in for the win. The tables have been turned this season and its ******* awesome!

Hell yehs. Who's Alonso? I cant see him on the podium...

[hgimn 1]

Don't think so! Alonso is the best pilot there is and he can do it tomorrow, i am sure he will win or at least be in the first 3 positions

Renaults strategy of starting him really light really bit them when it started under a safety car.Anybody else surprised at the fact that Massa drove competently in the rain,as he normally forgets how to drive and careens off course 6 or 7 times.He was looking good until the car quit on him.How about Kubica driving over the back of Trullei.That was awesome,couldn't see him and just ploughed into him,lucky he didn't fly right over top of him.

In the end one of my boys(Vettel) won the race for his 2nd win in the rain,and scores team red bull's victory and pole in the same weekend(for the record he did the same thing with their sister team,Torro Rosso last season).

[commadore183 103]

Race Results:

1) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

2) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

3) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

4) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

5) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

6) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

7) Timo Glock, Toyota

8) Sebastian Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

9) Fernando Alonso, Renault

10) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

11) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

12) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

13) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

14) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

15) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

16) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

17) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes (Accident)

Ret) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota (Transmission)

Ret) Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Electrical)

Ret) Jarno Trulli, Toyota (Accident damage)

Driver's Championship Standings:

1) Jenson Button, 21

2) Rubens Barrichello, 15

3) Sebastian Vettel, 10

4) Timo Glock, 10

5) Mark Webber, 9.5

6) Jarno Trulli, 8.5

7) Nick Heidfeld, 4

8) Fernando Alonso, 4

9) Heikki Kovalainen, 4

10) Lewis Hamilton, 4

11) Nico Rosberg, 3.5

12) Sebastien Buemi, 3

13) Sebastien Bourdais, 1

14) Adrian Sutil, 0

15) Felipe Massa, 0

16) Kimi Raikkonen, 0

17) Giancarlo Fisichella, 0

18) Kazuki Nakajima, 0

19) Robert Kubica, 0

20) Nelson Piquet Jr, 0

Constructor's Championship Standings:

1) Brawn-Mercedes, 36

2) Red Bull-Renault, 19.5

3) Toyota, 18.5

4) McLaren-Mercedes, 8

5) BMW Sauber, 4

6) Renault, 4

7) Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 4

8) Williams-Toyota, 3.5

9) Ferrari, 0

10) Force India-Mercedes, 0

Next race: Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, April 26th.

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Bahrain Results:

1) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

2) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

3) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

4) Lewis Hamilton, Mclaren-Mercedes

5) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

6) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

7) Timo Glock, Toyota

8) Fernando Alonso, Renault

9) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

10) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

11) Mark Webber, RedBull-Renault

12) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

13) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

14) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

15) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force Inda-Mercedes

16) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

17) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

18) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

19) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

Ret) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota (Oil pressure)

Driver's Championship Standings:

1) Jenson Button: 31

2) Rubens Barrichello: 19

3) Sebastian Vettel: 18

4) Jarno Trulli: 14.5

5) Timo Glock: 12

6) Mark Webber: 9.5

7) Lewis Hamilton: 9

8) Fernando Alonso: 5

9) Nick Heidfeld: 4

10) Heikki Kovalainen: 4

11) Nico Rosberg: 3.5

12) Kimi Raikkonen: 3

13) Sebastien Buemi: 3

14) Sebastien Bourdais: 1

15) Felipe Massa: 0

16) Adrian Sutil: 0

17) Nelson Piquet Jr: 0

18) Giancarlo Fisichella: 0

19) Kazuki Nakajima: 0

20) Robert Kubica: 0

Constructor's Championship Standings:

1) Brawn-Mercedes: 50

2) Red Bull-Renault: 27.5

3) Toyota: 26.5

4) McLaren-Mercedes: 13

5) Renault: 5

6) BMW Sauber: 4

7) Toro Rosso-Ferrari: 4

8) Williams-Toyota: 3.5

9) Ferrari: 3

10) Force India-Mercedes: 0

McLaren's hearing before the WMSC is April 29th.

[commadore183 103]

McLaren given a suspended 3 race ban

McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix by motor sport's governing body, the FIA.

The British team admitted five charges of breaching Formula 1 rules at a special inquiry on Wednesday in Paris.

The penalty will only be enforced upon Lewis Hamilton's team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.

McLaren is going to be on their utmost good behavior from now until April next year, I can guarantee you that. Unless they shoot themselves in the foot, again.

[uk_redwing 495]

Hell yehs ma boy Jenson be a raping the field!

[commadore183 103]

Brawn GP won't receive Honda commercial money

The Brawn GP team will not receive the commercial revenue that would have been owed to Honda in 2009, Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed.

Amid Flavio Briatore's recent rant about Ross Brawn and the Brackley based team, the Renault boss - also in charge of FOTA's commercial arm - said he will be proposing to the F1 teams alliance that millions in Honda prize money not be released to its new guise.

The FIA had ruled that Brawn GP is a completely new entry as opposed to being a renamed entity, thus why the Brawn cars are numbered 22 and 23 as opposed to the numbers 18 and 19 that were the Honda cars last years.

If FOTA can't come to an agreement on how to divide the money, reported to be up to 20 million pounds (about 29.8 million US dollars), then Bernie gets to keep the money, which would go to service CVC Capital's debt from when they bought the rights to Formula 1 (which was bought for several BILLION dollars, thus explaining a lot of Bernie's financial decisions regarding Formula One ).

"We can keep it," said the F1 chief executive, referring to a scenario where the other teams do not unanimously agree what to do with the disputed money.

[commadore183 103]

Mosely's son found dead

The son of Formula One boss Max Mosley has been found dead at his home in west London.

Alexander Mosley, 39, was discovered dead at a property in Notting Hill on Tuesday.

A Metropolitan Police (Met) spokesman said they are treating the death as "non-suspicious" and that officers were in the process of informing the family.

FIA's statement of condolence to the Mosely family

As much as many F1 fans here don't like Mosely's leadership and proposals, or how one views the BDSM scandal he was in several years ago, no one deserves this. Thoughts and prayers goes to the Mosely family and friends.

[commadore183 103]

Qualifying Results (highlight to read):

1) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

2) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

3) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

4) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

5) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

6) Timo Glock, Toyota

7) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

8) Fernando Alonso, Renault

9) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

10) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

11) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

12) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

13) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

14) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

15) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

16) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

17) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

18) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

19) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

20) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

Race will be on at 8 AM EDT. Enjoy the Spanish Grand Prix

[commadore183 103]

Race results (highlight to view):

1) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

2) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

3) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

4) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

5) Fernando Alonso, Renault

6) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

7) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

8) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

9) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

10) Timo Glock, Toyota

11) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

12) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

13) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

14) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

Ret) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Throttle)

Ret) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes (Gearbox)

Ret) Jarno Trulli, Toyota (Accident)

Ret) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari (Accident)

Ret) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari (Accident)

Ret) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes (Accident)

Another Brawn 1-2 for the team! And of course, it can't be F1 unless we have the obligatory 1st lap crash, as seen with the Trulli/Buemi/Bourdais/Sutil incident in turn 3.

Next race will be two weeks from now, at the famous Monaco Grand Prix, on May 24th. Enjoy

Edited May 12, 2009 by commadore183

[commadore183 103]

Driver and Constructor points:

WDC

1) Jenson Button: 41

2) Rubens Barrichello: 27

3) Sebastian Vettel: 23

4) Mark Webber: 15.5

5) Jarno Trulli: 14.5

6) Timo Glock: 12

7) Lewis Hamilton: 9

8) Fernando Alonso: 9

9) Nick Heidfeld: 6

10) Nico Rosberg: 4.5

11) Heikki Kovalainen: 4

12) Felipe Massa: 3

13) Kimi Raikkonen: 3

14) Sebastien Buemi: 3

15) Sebastien Bourdais: 1

16) Adrian Sutil: 0

17) Nelson Piquet Jr: 0

18) Robert Kubica: 0

19) Giancarlo Fisichella: 0

20) Kazuki Nakajima: 0

WCC

1) Brawn-Mercedes: 68

2) Red Bull-Renault: 38.5

3) Toyota: 26.5

4) McLaren-Mercedes: 13

5) Renault: 9

6) BMW Sauber: 6

7) Ferrari: 6

8) Williams-Toyota: 4.5

9) Toro Rosso-Ferrari: 4

10) Force India-Mercedes: 0

[commadore183 103]

Looks like 2009 may be the last season for the famed Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari had filed a court injunction against the FIA to block them from implementing new rules for 2010 that many feel would bring in a "two tier" Formula One championship regarding a budget cap. Today, the court ruled against Ferrari, paving the way for the FIA's 2010 regulations: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/20052009/3/f...-f1-appeal.html

And it's not only Ferrari that have threaten to quit F1. Toyota, Red Bull (and by extension, Toro Rosso), BMW and Renault have also said they would pull out over the regulations. I think the main reason Ferrari is against the cost cap is that it's too low at 40 million pounds/euros (about 60 million US dollars), and that Ferrari will have to cut from 400 million euros to the 40 million mark will be difficult to do, as there are contractual issues that will come up. FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) have proposed a "parachuting" cost cap, where the cap will slowly step down from the 400 million mark to the 40 million in a few years. That way, the teams can simply refuse to renew expiring contracts and let them go gradually instead of all at once.

Here's the 2010 sporting regulations from the FIA's website (in .pdf format):

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/7...006-05-2009.pdf

And here's the technical regulations for next year:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/8...030-04-2009.pdf

Changes in the 2010 sporting regulations that strike me involving the cost capped teams:

22) TRACK AND WIND TUNNEL TESTING

22.1 a) Track testing shall be considered any track running time undertaken by a competitor entered in the Championship with the exception of :

i) promotional or demonstration events carried out using tyres provided specifically for this purpose by the appointed supplier ;

ii) three one day young driver training tests carried out between the end of the last Event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year, any such driver having not competed in more than two F1 World Championship Events ;

iii) eight one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 January U2010U and the end of the last Event of the Championship.

b) No competitor may carry out more than 15,000km of track testing during a calendar year.

c) No track testing may take place between the start of the week preceding the first Event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year.

d) During all track testing cars must be fitted with the FIA ECU required by Article 8.2 of the U2010U FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.

2010 F1 Sporting Regulations 9 of 48 6 May 2009

e) No track testing is permitted at sites which are not currently approved for use by Formula 1 cars. In order to ensure that venue licence conditions are respected at all times during track testing, competitors are required to inform the FIA of their test schedule in order that an observer may be appointed if deemed necessary.

f) During all Formula One track testing :

- red flag procedures must be respected ;

- no other type of vehicle is permitted on the track ;

- every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that the recommendations concerning emergency services detailed in Article 16 of Appendix H to the Code are followed.

g) If, after an incident during track testing, the Medical Warning Light signals that threshold forces have been exceeded the driver must present himself for examination in the circuit medical centre without delay.

h) No wind tunnel testing may be carried out using a scale model which is greater than 60% of full size.

i) No wind tunnel testing may be carried out at a speed exceeding 50 metres/second.

Cost capped teams are exempt from rules a, b, c, h, and i, which means that b) they have unlimited testing, c) they can test any time of the calendar year, h) they can use a full sized car for wind tunnel testing, and i) they can run the tunnel speeds at more than 50 metres per second (180 kilometres per hour/112 miles per hour). Not sure what to make of the exemption to rule 22.1a, so maybe the more knowledgeable members can help out there (hell, I'm not sure if I interpreted the exemptions right!)

Now, here's what they have about the spare cars, engines, and gearboxes:

28.4 a) Each driver may use no more than eight engines during a Championship season. Should a driver use more than eight engines he will drop ten places on the starting grid at the first Event during which each additional engine is used.

An engine will be deemed to have been used once the car’s timing transponder has shown that it has left the pit lane.

b) If a driver is replaced at any time during the Championship season his replacement will be deemed to be the original driver for the purposes of assessing engine usage.

c) After consultation with the relevant engine supplier the FIA will attach seals to each engine prior to it being used for the first time at an Event in order to ensure that no significant moving parts can be rebuilt or replaced.

2010 F1 Sporting Regulations 14 of 48 6 May 2009

Within two hours of the end of the post race parc fermé exhaust blanking plates (with one 10mm diameter inspection hole per cylinder) and further seals will be applied to all used engines in order to ensure that these engines cannot be run between Events. Upon request to the FIA these additional seals will be removed after the start of initial scrutineering at the next Event at which the engines are required. All such engines must remain within the team’s designated garage area when not fitted to a car and may not be started at any time during an Event other than when fitted to a car eligible to participate in the Event.

d) If any of the FIA seals are damaged or removed from an engine after it has been used for the first time that engine may not be used again unless they were removed under FIA supervision.

e) If an engine is changed in accordance with Article 34.1 the engine which was replaced may not be used during any future qualifying session or race with the exception of the last Event of the Championship.

Cost capped teams are exempt from this rule, as well as rule 28.6:

28.6 For the purposes of this Article only, an Event will be deemed to comprise P3, the qualifying practice session and the race.

a) Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events in which his team competes. Should a driver use a replacement gearbox he will drop five places on the starting grid at that Event and an additional five places each time a further gearbox is used.

Any replacement gearbox must be fitted with the same gear ratios that were declared under d) below and will only be required to complete the remainder of the Event in question. Any change to the gear ratios declared under d) below will incur a further five grid place penalty. In either case a new four race sequence may start at the following Event.

Unless the driver fails to finish the race (see below) the gearbox fitted to the car at the end of the Event must remain in it for three further Events. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first, second or third of the four Events for reasons which the technical delegate accepts as being beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the following Event with a different gearbox without a penalty being incurred.

A gearbox will be deemed to have been used once the car’s timing transponder has shown that it has left the pit lane.

b) If a driver is replaced after the first, second or third of a four Event period, having finished the first, second or third Events, the replacement driver must use the gearbox which the original driver had been using.

c) After consultation with the relevant team the FIA will attach seals to each gearbox in order to ensure that no moving parts, other than those specifically permitted under d) below, can be rebuilt or replaced.

d) At each Event seals may be broken once, under supervision and at any time prior to the second day of practice, for the sole purpose of changing gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears). Competitors must inform the FIA technical delegate which ratios they intend to fit no later than two hours after the end of P2.

Gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears) may also be changed under supervision for others of identical specification at any time during an Event provided the FIA technical delegate is satisfied there is evident physical damage to the parts in question and that such changes are not being carried out on a systematic basis.

e) Other than under d) above, a replacement gearbox will also be deemed to have been used if any of the FIA seals are damaged or removed from the original gearbox after it has been used for the first time.

Appendix 8 has all of the regulations for the cost capped teams.

That's a lot of info to take in, and that's just the sporting regulations! The technical regulations will be in the next post, as I'm just skimming through them right now.

[commadore183 103]

And now, the technical regulations (found on the previous post, or here)

Changes for the Cost Regulated Teams (hereto referred as CRT):

3.18.1: A single closed section situated each side of car centre line in the volume bounded by :

- lines 450mm and 800mm in front of the front wheel centre line ;

- a vertical plane which intersects these lines at a distance 250mm from the car centre line ;

- and the inboard face of the bodywork described in Article 3.7.5 ;

is allowed to change incidence while the vehicle is in motion within a maximum range of 6º, provided any such change maintains compliance with all of the bodywork dimensional regulations. This figure will be increased to 10º for Cost-Regulated Teams.

Alteration of the incidence of these sections must be made simultaneously and may only be commanded by direct driver input and controlled using the control electronics specified in Article 8.2. Except when the car is in the pit lane, a maximum of two adjustments may be made within any single lap of a circuit. This paragraph will not apply to Cost-Regulated Teams.

Basically, the CRT will be allowed to change the front wing angle by a maximum of 10 degrees, while the other non-CRT are limited to 6 degrees. And the CRT teams are not limited to the 2 adjustments per lap for the front wing angle.

3.18.2 The incidence of the upper section described in Article 3.10.2 (if two sections are used) may be varied whilst the car is in motion, provided any such change maintains compliance with all of the bodywork dimensional regulations.

Alteration of the incidence of this section may only be commanded by direct driver input and controlled using the control electronics specified in Article 8.2.

This Article applies only to Cost-Regulated Teams.

5.1.3 Crankshaft rotational speed must not exceed 18,000 rpm.

This Article will not apply to Cost Regulated Teams

No rpm limit to the CRT.

5.2.3 The maximum power, in or out, of any KERS must not exceed 60kW.

Energy released from the KERS may not exceed 400kJ in any one lap.

Measurements will be taken at the connection to the drivetrain.

For Cost-Regulated Teams only the following will apply:

- the power in is unrestricted;

- the power out is limited to 120kW;

- the energy released per lap is limited to 800kJ;

- measurements will be taken at any FIA approved point in the drivetrain.

Self-explanatory there.

9.1 Transmission types :

No transmission system may permit more than two wheels to be driven.

This Article will not apply to Cost-Regulated Teams.

Opening the possibility of four-wheel drive?

9.9.1 The KERS must connect at any point in the rear wheel drivetrain before the differential.

The restriction to only the rear wheel drivetrain will not apply to Cost-Regulated Teams.

From what I understand, it either means input to KERS can come from both the front wheels and rear wheels, or output from KERS can go to all four wheels, which would probably explain 9.1 (above this article).

That's all I saw from skimming through the regs.

Granted, these were posted on May 6th (sport regs) and April 30th (tech regs), and Mosley has said that a "two tier" championship is out of consideration, so these can change in the future. Either way, this does look like a "two tier" championship, which would be bad, IMO. Having different regs works in sports car racing/touring car racing because of the different ways the cars have been made for homologation. The last time there were two different classes was in the Turbo era for Formula 1 when many of the teams had turbos that helped the engines produce nearly 1000 hp in qualifying trim and the smaller teams were naturally asperated, and that was because they didn't have the money to work with turbos.

If Ferrari, Toyota, BMW, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, and Renault pull out, that's more than half of the field gone, and it's possible that new teams can't fill the grid to the minimum number of cars necessary to carry out the championship (12 is the miminum number of cars needed to run a championship event under Article 5.7). And that doesn't mention the various contract breaches Bernie Eccelstone would be in if there are fewer than a certain number of cars for an event (rumored to be about 18).

The deadline for 2010 entries is May 29th, and the list of eligible teams will be published on June 12th. We will see then if the six mentioned teams hold to their rhetoric and do pull out or if it's one of F1's many, many political pissing matches.

[commadore183 103]

Qualifying results:

1) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

2) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

3) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

4) Sebastien Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

5) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

6) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

7) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

8) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

9) Fernando Alonso, Renault

10) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

11) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

12) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

13) Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

14) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

15) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

16) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

17) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

18) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

19) Timo Glock, Toyota

20) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

EDIT: Hamilton originally qualified 16th, but will start last after changing his gearbox. Lineup has been edited to reflect that.

The race will be on at 8 AM EDT here in the states

Edited May 23, 2009 by commadore183

[commadore183 103]

Race results:

1) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

2) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

3) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

4) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

5) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

6) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

7) Fernando Alonso, Renault

8) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

9) Gianacarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

10) Timo Glock, Toyota

11) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

12) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

13) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

14) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

15) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

Ret) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes (Accident)

Ret) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber (Brakes)

Ret) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault (Accident)

Ret) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault (Accident damage)

Ret) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari (Accident)

WDC Points:

1) Jenson Button: 51

2) Rubens Barrichello: 35

3) Sebastian Vettel: 23

4) Mark Webber: 19.5

5) Jarno Trulli: 14.5

6) Timo Glock: 12

7) Fernando Alonso: 11

8) Kimi Raikkonen: 9

9) Lewis Hamilton: 9

10) Felipe Massa: 8

11) Nico Rosberg: 7.5

12) Nick Heidfeld: 6

13) Heikki Kovalainen: 4

14) Sebastien Buemi: 3

15) Sebastien Bourdais: 2

16) Gianacarlo Fisichello: 0

17) Adrian Sutil: 0

18) Nelson Piquet Jr: 0

19) Robert Kubica: 0

20) Kazuki Nakajima: 0

WCC Points:

1) Brawn-Mercedes: 86

2) Red Bull-Renault: 42.5

3) Toyota: 26.5

4) Ferrari: 17

5) McLaren-Mercedes: 13

6) Renault: 11

7) Williams-Toyota: 7.5

8) BMW Sauber: 6

9) Toro Rosso-Ferrari: 5

10) Force India-Mercedes: 0

Next race will be at Turkey in two weeks. The race will be shown on the local FOX affiliates, tape delayed (unfortunately), here in the States.

Edited May 26, 2009 by commadore183

[commadore183 103]

2010 entries submitted (official list will be published in June 12th, IIRC):

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro

Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes

Brawn GP F1 Team

Red Bull Racing

Scuderia Toro Rosso

Panasonic Toyota Racing

Renault F1 Team

AT&T WilliamsF1 Team

BMW Sauber F1 Team

Force India F1 Team

USGPE

Campos Meta 1

Prodrive F1

Lola Cars

Litespeed GP

All 2009 teams are automatically qualified for the 2010 championship.

Right now, the FIA only allows a maximum of 26 cars for the championship (13 teams), so the five new entries will have to be narrowed down to the 3 most viable teams. Right now, the 3 teams that I think will be on the grid will be the USGPE/USF1 Team/Team America F**K Yeah!/whatever the name is now, Prodrive F1 (might become Aston Martin F1 if Richards gets backing from the manufacturer), and Lola. Campos currently races in the GP2 championship, and Litespeed GP races in the F3 series.

A wrinkle in the 2010 entries, especially the current 2009 teams, are the regulations for next year that involve a "two tier" championship and financial agreements to FOM (Formula One Management, which is controlled by Bernie Eccelstone). If there is an agreement by June 12th, then all 2009 teams will compete.

Also, there's word that Alex Wurz is working on a F1 team called Team Superfund, funded by the Superfund Group, and a return of the March brand. So that could be 7 new teams going for 3 spots. No pre-qualifying, just the 3 most viable teams.

I'll post the official entries from the FIA website once it's posted on June 12th. If everything goes well, we'll see 13 teams on the grid.

[commadore183 103]

Qualifying results:

1) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault

2) Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes

3) Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes

4) Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault

5) Jarno Trulli, Toyota

6) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

7) Felipe Massa, Ferrari

8) Fernando Alonso, Renault

9) Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota

10) Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber

11) Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber

12) Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota

13) Timo Glock, Toyota

14) Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes

15) Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes

16) Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes

17) Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault

18) Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

19) Gianacarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes

20) Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari

The race will be run tape-delayed on your local FOX channel in the States around 3PM, I think.