2006 F1 Melbourne Grand Prix

[Beer Baron]

Well folks now that the F1 season has come to an end it's time to look to the next one.

After hearing the news on sunday that tyre changes are back in and that we will have a new more interesting qualifying system i decided that i will go to the melb GP afterall. So i have booked and paid for some tickets in the Brabham stand. I can't wait.

Who else thinks next year is going to be good?

What do you think about the new rules?

[Paradizzle]

Shit already booked your tickets!!?? your keen.

I think its great that they are reverting back to letting the teams change tyres during the course of a race.

Im also interested to see if the new v8 engines they will use will be just as fast as the old v10's. Also interesting to see if the engines will rev the same and what note they will have.

Hope there is more passing next year, and Webber and Williams get their act together and win plenty of races + the championship if thats not to much to ask

[Beer Baron]

yeah mate, october 31 is the cut-off to be able to buy grandstand tickets at the previous years pricing I got in on the last day!

I am hoping the new rules will give some chance back to the bridgestone runner who have been absolutely pounded by michelens this year.

[Patto-]

I don't understand the qualifying changes. Whats the point of qualifying for qualifying? Just one run to see whose the quickest is good enough.

It seems to punish the fastest as they have to spend more time qualifying, but I guess in way it makes it more even I suppose.

I'm not bothered by the tyre changes, but michelen is pretty pissed off. They'll probably just let bridgestone be the only tyre supplier for 2007. Undecided as to whether this is a good thing or not. I suppose it brings the performance down to the car makers and drivers rather than the tyres.

[benm]

I can't wait for the F1 season to start again. I think the tyre changes will be great.

As for the qualifying, totally weird! They should just go back to the old 12 lap maximum 1hr session.

[Beer Baron]

yeah i still think the old system that was in place for 30 years was much better than anything they have dreamt up lately.

Syshter: I would be quite sad to see michelein leave F1 as the tyre war really adds to the excitement seeing different teams trying to make the most of two very different tyres.

[Bec]

Cant wait - they have already started to get the roads set up for the F1 next year (i drive it every day and my office looks over the track).

Being right after the Commonwealth Games - they are expecting more numbers next year.

New rules / qualifying will certainly make it interesting!!!

[Beer Baron]

sweet. hmm my office overlooks circular quay and the harbour bridge, but i think i'd choose a piece of the albert park track any day! Must be nice when the week of the race rolls around

[Silver-Arrowz]

Look at it from the manufactuer's point of view. Max Mosley and Co. are blabing on about cost saving and what have Michelin saved? They spent an entire year developing tyres to last 1 weekend, and now they have to go back to developing short life tyres again! Back to square 1. If I were Michelin I'd be pissed off too.

The good thing is we get to see tyre changes in pit lane again. Have you seen the drawings of the 2008 cars? They want teams to develop cars with a gap in the rear wings.

[knore]

Yeh ill be there, Wanted to go this year but things came up

Im pissed ill never get to hear the v10s roar at 19000rpm

Is there any official power figures for the new V8?

[Patto-]

shyster: I would be quite sad to see michelein leave F1 as the tyre war really adds to the excitement seeing different teams trying to make the most of two very different tyres.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah it adds another dimension to it. But some manufacturers can be disadvantaged by the tyres they use. As you said every team with Bridgestones was getting their arse kicked by the teams with micheleins. If they all used the same it would show how good the manufacturers are at building race cars and how good the drivers are. But then again I suppose how good they are at building f1 cars doesn't exactly correlate to how good they are at building road cars.

Look at it from the manufactuer's point of view. Max Mosley and Co. are blabing on about cost saving and what have Michelin saved? They spent an entire year developing tyres to last 1 weekend, and now they have to go back to developing short life tyres again! Back to square 1. If I were Michelin I'd be pissed off too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah exactly. I think that was their point that by pissing michelein off, michelein will leave f1 so Bridgestone is the sole supplier. This would cut development costs for tyres, as teams wouldn't be competing with other teams tyres.

[R31Nismoid]

Must be nice when the week of the race rolls around

come say "HI" to a few of us.

we hopefully will be displaying our cars there again in 2006... and needless to say, this is what my boot looks like every event in relation to car shows

Oh, and i wouldnt like to see it become a one tyre branded race.

The competition is what makes it on certain circuits etc

[ECR033]

I agree, competition is a good thing, although the chances of Michelin hanging around after 2006 are looking pretty slim...if MM has his way.

I'm glad tyre stops are back. The one set of tyres per race did do it's job in dishing up some exciting racing towards the end of races, but it just didn't seem right not to have the mechanics in the pit lane changing tyres during the stops.

As for qualifying, I personally didn't mind the current format. It provided it's fair share of grid shake ups through the season and that led to some of the more exciting racing through the season with the likes of Raikonnen and Montoya carving their way through the pack from the rear of the grid.

The only thing I would have changed would be the way the running order was worked out. Instead of it being based on where you finished in the previous race, it should have been based on provisional qualifying results.

In saying all that, the new system could be ok. It all sounds a little confusing, but I guess you get back some of the excitement of having the top runners on the track battling it out for pole towards the end of a session. I think I'll just reserve judgement on this one till a few races go by...

I'm also keen to go down to Melb for F1 next year as I'm keen to hear the V8's in action for the first time. Hopefully all the changes lead to some more exciting racing next season.

[Beer Baron]

i still think both michelein and bridgestone are equally disadvantaged. as bridgestone also spent last year delevoping 1 race tyres (they just weren't that good at it lol).

nismoid, nice boot mate. plenty of space in the ol 31 eh? I will drop by for sure.

[R31Nismoid]

The V8's were the better part IMO.

Especially the Utes... it was gold. Its more like destruction derby than a race.

You need to fork out good $$$ to get a decent spot to see @ Albert Park.

Or get there very early to get into the grand stands.

Otehrwise (where we are) isnt too bad but they just go past you too fast!

hehehe, 31 can accomodate everyone

[Beer Baron]

yeah i will be in the brabham stand again. it's $620 a ticket but i figure if i'm going to make the effort to travel down i may as well get the best tickets they have!

i'm sure it's going to be awesome as the 2005 race was a little lame.

[Kel]

I'll be there (and trying to squeeze in the GP rally beforehand)

[Beer Baron]

kel where is there any infor on 2006 GP rally? I've searched and searched but all i can find is 2005 info. I was actually keen to compete in the 06 one.

[Kel]

I've got a hard copy of some GP rally info somewhere- I'll scan it and post.

But I'm now out- best mate is taking us to Bali for her 30th.

Hope they've got a good telly and satelite!

[knore]

Have heard the F1 cars are ALOT slower with the new v8 engines

Drivers have also complained

Why do they have to change something that was so good