2006 F1 Melbourne Grand Prix

[Paradizzle]

Knore where did you hear this? I heard that the cars were only 2 seconds slower when they were doing testing on engines towards the end of the season?

[Savage Bliss]

BRING IT ON!!

Nothing like taking everything you know about something and throwing it in a meat grinder!! It puts everyone on a level playing field (to some extent) and 'should' separate the men from the boys.

Schuey's lost his stanglehold on the sport and we have a new champ... which leaves teams with a thirst and determination to de-throne the newby. It seemed, for a while that teams just gave in to the fact that Schuey and Ferrari would dominate every race weekend (I know I did). It was absolutely brilliant to see Schuey stuggle so much this year. The untouchable became in a blink of an eye so vunerable. Due to tyres, car, and midfield qualifing. We finally got to see some of his week points (inability to drive through traffic etc).

Bridgestone will play a bigger part in the ranks next yeah (Williams moving to Bridgestone) which should make things interesting, Michellin had somewhat of the monopoly of the wins, so there should be that rivalry like we had a few years ago.

I can't help but feel kinda sad though to say goodbye to Eddie Jordan and Minardi... but hopefully this brings in some new blood wanting to make a name for themselves. And saying goodbye to that unmistakable V10 whine!! Things just won't be the same in that respect.

As for the new engines... who knows?? Time will tell I guess. It's gonna come down to Aerodynamic packages, tyres and drivers, finally, most of the driving will be done by the driver... not a computer.

Does anyone know anything about rumours to remove traction control??

Can't wait!!

p.s GO KIMI!

Edited November 18, 2005 by Savage Bliss

[yogi000]

i'm all booked for next year, hopefully it should be a good race.

might see u down there richard

[Silver-Arrowz]

The V8's are some 3-6 seconds off the pace. I think the Mclaren MP4/20 chassis with the Mercedes V8 was about 5 seconds off the pace at Silverstone.

The smaller teams will still be allowed to run V10's but at limted revs. The advantage here is that the V10's will have more torque at lower speed corners.

Hopefully Bridgestone will have learned their lesson and stop making rubber specifically for Ferrari. Silly that Max Mosley is preaching tyre long life rubber, and now making manufactuers re-develop shorter life rubber. They've infact spent more money.

Qualifying is changed once again, more like the V8 supercars shoot out format. 1 hour session where the slowest cars are taken off while the faster cars keep going on.

Traction control is illegal, it was reverted at the beginning of 2005 season. It was legal in 2004. I think also sometime this year teams were banned from using coded radio channels from pit to driver. I read somewhere that 2006 regs also say that driver steering wheels are only to have limited buttons.

Not too sure now if I can make Melb. I'm hoping but it looks doubtful.

[dezz]

who else is bridgestone gonna make tyres for? minardi?

no wonder michelin was in front with their tyres this year, look at the teams they have using their products, when bridgestone have ferrari, and the tail enders.

if schumacher had the tyres that the other big boys had, you can bet your ass he would have been right up there as usual.

ill try to get to the GP next year, as i missed it this year due to work.

[blind_elk]

...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!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe they'd be better off developing a tyre that won't blow apart on long bends!

[Silver-Arrowz]

Maybe they'd be better off developing a tyre that won't blow apart on long bends!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised the FIA have the balls to stage another race in the US. Watch the michelin teams get booed when they come out.. lol!

[Savage Bliss]

Yeah going to be interesting. I think there's talk of a single tyre manufacturer by the 2008 season. I wonder who??

Plus have you seen the new layout for qualifying. All cars are permitted on track at start of session, then after first 15 min, the slowest 5 cars are called off the track and placed in order from 16th - 20th. Then after a further 15 min the next 5 slowest cars are pulled off and are placed 11th - 15th and the process continues till the end of the session.

Should be good.

[Roy]

Driver line up is getting interesting for next couple of seasons

[Beer Baron]

yeah, what happend i hear alonso is going to be at mclaren? shame webber couldn't have wrangled that seat

[Beer Baron]

ok my mistake i just realised it's for 2007. hmmm maybe webber could get a drive with renault in 2007? man that would be nice.

i also read that mclaren have vodafone sponsorship now. have vodafone severed their relationship with ferrari? and more importantly does this mean we'll have red mclarens? what has the world come to? lol

[Silver-Arrowz]

Vodafone dropped their sponsorship this year with Ferrari. Red Mclarens.... think Senna/Prost era. LOL!

Even Alonso knows which team is the team of teams! haha! Toymotor *AHEM* Toyota has just also lost it's chief designer so he might be defecting to macca's since Newley's leaving.

[Beer Baron]

where is newey going?

edit: retirement i'm guessing.

[ECR033]

where is newey going?

edit: retirement i'm guessing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not quite - Newey was signed up by Red Bull

The Alonso defection to McLaren is an interesting one though. Apparantly Flavio Briatore (who's also Alonso's manager) had nothing to do with the deal, so I'm thinking there's probably going to be some resentment towards Alonso within the Renault team which might make his job a little difficult next seaon. That is of course unless both Renault and Alonso are trying to smoke screen the rumour that Renault are pulling out of F1 at the end of next season. Hopefully that's not the case, but who knows?

Another interesting question is who will be Alonso's teammate at McLaren in 07??? I'd bet money that whoever it is that has to leave McLaren will probably end up at Ferrari replacing Schumi if he decides to retire after next season...

Should be another interesting season

[Beer Baron]

well i would say kimi will stay at maccas and juan will not be going to ferrari. he will go somewhere. i'm hoping webber can go to renault. that would be great news.

[Silver-Arrowz]

Well with Schuey gone it would leave Ferrari with some mega bucks to play with. And between Kimi and Juan, Jean Todt's always praising Kimi and trashing JPM. So you can guess who the red team will be eyeing out.

Webber at Renault would be intersting. But don't forget that Toyota's drivers are also up for renegotioations at the end of this year. His options are looking alright. RBR also has DC on a year to year contract. DC's getting on a bit so he might be dropped.

[Roy]

Ralf has been signe dup for anpother long term contract. Something silly like 5 years for big money. Which surprises me since Trulli has trounced him more often then not. The fact that Trulli doesnt seem to be their first concern is strange.

Newey to Red Bull, and part of the reason is the opportunuty to work with Couthard again. In fact i read that the long term relationship and respect between the two was the reason Newey started talkign to Red Bull.

As for Webber goign to Renault, well they have won the championship, and the fact that Alonso is keen to move on tells me he knows a thing or two about the long term plans of Renault. They may pull out and revert back to being an engine supplier...who really knows.

Nest season is up in the air, th eonly thinking im reasonably sure of is that given a few races and a few months to settle in Rubens will be showing up Button

[Savage Bliss]

Should be good...

Just an update of the new rules coming in over the next few years...

FIA RELEASE 2008 REGULATIONS

The FIA have today released the regulations for the 2008 Formula One season. They are required to do this before December 31, 2005

The following is a summary of the main changes:

- New technologies which give a team an advantage for one season but which are then adopted by all teams for subsequent seasons at significant expense will be banned after the end of the first season (Article 2.5).

Reason: To reduce costs. This allows a team which discovers a new technology to benefit from it, but prevents Formula One as a whole then spending money on the same technology only to leave all the teams in exactly the same (relative) positions as before.

- The rear wing is split in two.

Reason: Research indicates that this will produce a wake in which the car behind will perform much better, thus facilitating overtaking.

- Changes to the bodywork regulations to reduce downforce while maintaining drag levels so as to avoid an increase in cornering speeds over 2006 levels (Article 3).

Reason: Safety

- Changes to the bodywork regulations at the front of the car to make the car behave better in traffic (Article 3).

Reason: To facilitate overtaking.

- Limitations on possible “interesting” areas of aerodynamic research (Article 3).

Reason: To reduce costs.

-The minimum weight is reduced from 605 to 550kg (Article 4).

Reason: To eliminate the cost of purchasing 55kg of very expensive high density ballast for each car and transporting it all over the world. Cars will also be safer without this extra weight.

- Engine to be subject to a rev limit of 19,000 rpm, with a possible increase to

20,000 rpm in consultation with the competing teams (Article 5.1.3).

Reason: To reduce costs and to redirect engine research towards road relevant technologies.

- A standard electronic control unit for engine and gearbox to be used at all times in Formula One (Article 8.2).

Reason: To reduce costs, eliminate driver aids such as traction control and allow the FIA to check engine use and testing mileage.

- Gear ratios to have a minimum thickness of 12mm (Article 9.3.3).

Reason: To reduce costs by making gearboxes more robust.

- Tyre pressures may be adjusted by the driver while the car is moving (Article

12.5).

Reason: Safety, particularly during safety car periods.

- Maximum wheel diameter increased to 640mm front and 710mm rear, with maximum widths of 365mm front and 460mm rear (Article 12.4) with slick tyres.

Reason: To increase “mechanical” grip to compensate for reduced aerodynamic downforce to facilitate overtaking.

- Only permitted materials may be used to construct the car (Article 15.1).

Reason: To reduce costs.

- At least 5.75% (m/m) of fuel must be from biological sources (Article 19.4.5).

Reason: To keep ahead of developments in fuel for road cars.

2009

From 2009 each team may make only two changes of bodywork after the start

of the season (Article 3.15).

Reason: To reduce costs.

It is intended to allow systems for energy storage and recovery (hybrid systems) from 2009, provided this can be done without causing budgetary difficulties for any of the competing teams.

In addition to the proposed 2008 Technical Regulations it is intended to make changes to the Formula One Sporting Regulations for 2008. These will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council on March 22, 2006 and will include:

- arrangements for a single tyre supplier in 2008;

- three - Event engines;

- four - Event transmissions;

- weight penalties for early replacement of engine or gearbox;

- testing restrictions;

- a limit of two cars per team at an Event;

- the date for the opening and closing of entries for 2008.

It is not intended to renew the Concorde Agreement provisions which prevent teams selling components or complete chassis to other competitors. It is proposed to allow an entirely free market in this area.