F1 Grand Prix 2009

After an exotic finish in 2008 (which the Champion was decided on the last lap of the last race of the year), yet another season has kicked off in Melbourne with Roseberg finishing Top in both practices.

Here is a brief preview:


2009 Drivers:

Changed teams

Sebastian Vettel: Scuderia Toro Rosso → Red Bull Racing
Entered F1

Sébastien Buemi: Trust Team Arden (GP2) → Scuderia Toro Rosso

No. Driver Nationality Team Points
1 Lewis Hamilton British McLaren-Mercedes
2 Heikki Kovalainen Finnish McLaren-Mercedes
3 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari
4 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish Ferrari
5 Robert Kubica Polish BMW Sauber
6 Nick Heidfeld German BMW Sauber
7 Fernando Alonso Spanish Renault
8 Nelsinho Piquet Brazilian Renault
9 Jarno Trulli Italian Toyota
10 Timo Glock German Toyota
11 Sebastien Bourdais French STR-Ferrari
12 Sebastien Buemi Swiss STR-Ferrari
13 Mark Webber Australian RBR-Renault
14 Sebastian Vettel German RBR-Renault
15 Nico Rosberg German Williams-Toyota
16 Kazuki Nakajima Japanese Williams-Toyota
17 Adrian Sutil German Force India-Mercedes
18 Giancarlo Fisichella Italian Force India-Mercedes
19 Jenson Button British Brawn-Mercedes
20 Rubens Barrichello Brazilian Brawn-Mercedes


2009 Schedule:

Round Official Race Title Grand Prix Circuit City / Location Date Time Laps Local UTC
1 ING Australian Grand Prix Australian GP Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne, Victoria 29 March 17:00 06:00 58
2 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Malaysian GP Sepang International Circuit Kuala Lumpur 5 April 17:00 09:00 56
3 Chinese Grand Prix Chinese GP Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai 19 April 15:00 07:00 56
4 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain GP Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir, Manama 26 April 15:00 12:00 57
5 Gran Premio de España Telefónica Spanish GP Circuit de Catalunya Barcelona 10 May 14:00 12:00 66
6 Grand Prix de Monaco Monaco GP Circuit de Monaco Monte Carlo 24 May 14:00 12:00 78
7 ING Turkish Grand Prix Turkish GP Istanbul Park Istanbul 7 June 15:00 12:00 58
8 Santander British Grand Prix British GP Silverstone Circuit Silverstone 21 June 13:00 12:00 60
9 Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland German GP* Nürburgring Nürburg 12 July 14:00 12:00 60
10 ING Magyar Nagydíj Hungarian GP Hungaroring Budapest 26 July 14:00 12:00 70
11 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe European GP* Valencia Street Circuit Valencia 23 August 14:00 12:00 57
12 ING Belgian Grand Prix Belgian GP Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Spa 30 August 14:00 12:00 44
13 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia Italian GP Autodromo Nazionale Monza Monza 13 September 14:00 12:00 53
14 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix† Singapore GP Marina Bay Street Circuit Singapore 27 September 20:00 12:00 61
15 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix Japanese GP Suzuka Circuit Suzuka 4 October 14:00 05:00 53
16 Grande Prêmio do Brasil Brazilian GP Autódromo José Carlos Pace São Paulo 18 October 14:00 16:00 71
17 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Abu Dhabi GP Yas Marina Circuit‡ Abu Dhabi 1 November 15:00 11:00 55



2009 Rule changes

As the 2009 Formula One season kicks off this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, a lot of questions remain as to how extensive rules changes implemented during the offseason will impact teams throughout the year. The new rules, put in place during the winter months, marked an effort to increase competition and reduce costs for teams during the global economic slowdown. Meanwhile, preseason testing has produced a number of surprises so far, most notably with the resurrection of the former Honda team to Brawn GP, as the new team impressed the competition with its performance in testing earlier this month in Spain.

THE NEW RULES

The most significant rules changes relate to aerodynamics, with smaller rear wings and wider front wings which may be adjusted by the driver twice per lap. This should allow for more passing opportunities.

The new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), a mechanical system that collects energy during braking and converts it to give the car a slight power boost, will not be mandatory during the 2009 season. KERS will provide drivers with additional horsepower and therefore speed up their lap times. Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW Sauber are the teams who have confirmed they are ready to run KERS in '09. Williams, Brawn and Force India have said they won't.

Slick tires will also return to F1 this year.

Rules that limit engine performance, ban testing during the season and reduce the number of personnel at the track will help F1 teams cut costs significantly.

Last week, F1's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), announced drastic changes in determining the driver's championship, with the winner of the most grand prix, not points, deciding the title. If two or more drivers finished the season with the same number of wins, the title would be awarded to the one with the most points, based on the current system.

However, the FIA reversed its decision Friday by agreeing to delay its new points system until 2010. F1 teams did not agree with the revised system, saying the change came too soon prior to the start of the season without their unanimous agreement.

Looks like this diffuser could decide the race.

Probably means a Toyota, Williams or Brawn GP will win but the first race is always unpredictable.

I have a feeling Trulli will win but that's just an incling.

I'm a huge fan of a massive pile-up in the first corner Survival of the fittest

Can't wait for this to start. Looking forward to seeing Team Brawn.

I'm so glad they changed the rules this year, means Hamilton won't win the championship by finishing second and third.

C'mon Massa!

Giolazio wrote:

Can't wait for this to start. Looking forward to seeing Team Brawn.

I'm so glad they changed the rules this year, means Hamilton won't win the championship by finishing second and third.

C'mon Massa!

Ha, or not, the re-changed that scoring system back to how it was last year so technically he can do it again. But he won't.

Caxi wrote:

Giolazio wrote:

Can't wait for this to start. Looking forward to seeing Team Brawn.

I'm so glad they changed the rules this year, means Hamilton won't win the championship by finishing second and third.

C'mon Massa!

Ha, or not, the re-changed that scoring system back to how it was last year so technically he can do it again. But he won't.

For real? Ah! They should put the points back to 10-6-4-3-2-1. It was better that way. Imagine winning 5 races with the same guy in second every race and only being 10 points clear. If you retire the next race and your rival wins he will be equal on points even though he won 4 less races. It's so stupid!

Yeah, the 10-6-4-3-2-1 was the best way of doing it.

Amazing, Brawn GP made history!. Jenson Button and Barichelo finished first and second. Poor Ferrari today

Ferrari's stategy was genius and they probably would have won if they could finish.

Kubica and Vettel were supreme until they ended each other's race as was Rosberg, Buemi and a few others. Great win from Button. Shame about Trulli and Vettel's penalties. Undeserved in my opinion.

Caxi wrote:

Ferrari's stategy was genius and they probably would have won if they could finish.

Kubica and Vettel were supreme until they ended each other's race as was Rosberg, Buemi and a few others. Great win from Button. Shame about Trulli and Vettel's penalties. Undeserved in my opinion.

Damn right! Hamilton once again gets good fortune!

Pile up in the first corner

Sile wrote:

Pile up in the first corner

You're evil!

Can someone explain the creation of Brawn? Is that what was Honda last year?

Ferrari???

No thanks!!

I am a big fan of Renault f1

Cash wrote:

Can someone explain the creation of Brawn? Is that what was Honda last year?

Yup your right,
The team of honda face economic crisis and decide to sold and get out of it's F1 team. Some multi millionaire Brown buys them and form this team. The engine is I think Meclaren Mercedes.

Very impressive since I thought that Baricelo is wasted potential.

Jofo wrote:

Cash wrote:

Can someone explain the creation of Brawn? Is that what was Honda last year?

Yup your right,
The team of honda face economic crisis and decide to sold and get out of it's F1 team. Some multi millionaire Brown buys them and form this team. The engine is I think Meclaren Mercedes.

Very impressive since I thought that Baricelo is wasted potential.

It's Ross Brawn, the former Ferrari technical director. After leaving Ferrari for a break he joined Honda and as Jofo said decided to take over them after Honda decided to quit F1.

Giolazio wrote:

Jofo wrote:

Cash wrote:

Can someone explain the creation of Brawn? Is that what was Honda last year?

Yup your right,
The team of honda face economic crisis and decide to sold and get out of it's F1 team. Some multi millionaire Brown buys them and form this team. The engine is I think Meclaren Mercedes.

Very impressive since I thought that Baricelo is wasted potential.

It's Ross Brawn, the former Ferrari technical director. After leaving Ferrari for a break he joined Honda and as Jofo said decided to take over them after Honda decided to quit F1.

Honda had a bad season last year and decided to concentrate all their efforts into this season's car but they decided to pull out due to the credit crunch. Brawn realised he could have a winning car on his hands and took a gamble and bought out the team. Don't know all the details but I'm guessing Brawn needed a big win like this to survive and now Richard Branson, Virgin owner and multi millionaire is on board sponsoring the team. THis team needs to keep winning to stay afloat I reckon.

Hamilton excluded from Australian GP

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02042009/58/hamilton-excluded-australian-gp.html

Honestly, I have never like McLaren but I always respected them but after the 'spying' on Ferrari and all the Hamilton escapades and now this I am losing all respect for them.

Thanks for the explanation on Brawn. Just one more thing: Honda pulled out, meaning Ross Brawn left them and formed his own team. Now, what car do they use? Mercedes? I guess it is not a Honda, and not a Ferrari...and I doubt Brawn is using McLaren´s...is it a "new" cooperation involving Mercedes? I heard somewhere Brawn and Mercedes got something started...

Great treat..

Love formula 1!

Cash wrote:

Thanks for the explanation on Brawn. Just one more thing: Honda pulled out, meaning Ross Brawn left them and formed his own team. Now, what car do they use? Mercedes? I guess it is not a Honda, and not a Ferrari...and I doubt Brawn is using McLaren´s...is it a "new" cooperation involving Mercedes? I heard somewhere Brawn and Mercedes got something started...

What happened was when Honda decided to pull out, Brawn knew that the car they were developing was good so decided to take over. The car is same and the team is the same that Honda left (to my understanding) but obviously Honda took their engines out so Brawn struck a deal with Mercedes.

There is no McLaren aspect to the team, it is Brawn Mercedes GP. The only similarity is that McLaren and Brawn now have the same engine made by Mercedes.

Giolazio wrote:

Cash wrote:

Thanks for the explanation on Brawn. Just one more thing: Honda pulled out, meaning Ross Brawn left them and formed his own team. Now, what car do they use? Mercedes? I guess it is not a Honda, and not a Ferrari...and I doubt Brawn is using McLaren´s...is it a "new" cooperation involving Mercedes? I heard somewhere Brawn and Mercedes got something started...

What happened was when Honda decided to pull out, Brawn knew that the car they were developing was good so decided to take over. The car is same and the team is the same that Honda left (to my understanding) but obviously Honda took their engines out so Brawn struck a deal with Mercedes.

There is no McLaren aspect to the team, it is Brawn Mercedes GP. The only similarity is that McLaren and Brawn now have the same engine made by Mercedes.

Now its crystal clear! Thanks!

Honda would have paid for the whole development of the team. This leaves Brawn himself with little to pay. All he has to do is pay his staff, get everyone to the races and pay for car parts. Sponsorship should cover that but whether this team will last more than a season is debatable. Success is key to their surivival.

I'm not so keen on seeing a new team fly straight the top, I actually don't think it does the sport any good if they stay there. They need character and they don't really have it, once the "new" effect wears off it will all change.

However, Button ad Barrichello deserve success. Barrichello has drove more races in F1 than anyone else, he's a winner and he's likeable and fair if not World Champion quality. Button is highly talented, I would rate his ability and in the right car, he would dominate like Schumacher. He's also an honest guy, he bought his way out of a contract to change teams because he wanted glory rather than cash (In football, that would be criminal but in F11, that's respectable). He stuck by that team because he had faith in them and finally it has paid off. I would love nothing moew than Button or Massa to win this year. Both guys deserve to be remembered as champions.

Totaly Caxi. Brawn will need to keep winning to keep their sponsors, espescially Virgin. There is usualy an agreement in place that the team has to have so many wins, or so many podiums etc for the sponsor to renew, they want their logos on the podium.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/03042009/58/mclaren-suspend-sporting-director.html

McLaren have suspended Dave Ryan following the stuff at the weekend, seems he has been made the scapegoat. Hamilton was fined 1200 Euros for speeding in the pits during the practice at Malaysia.

Ferrari are 1st and 2nd following the 2nd practice.

Hamilton says Dave Ryan told him to lie

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/03042009/13/hamilton-says-dave-ryan-told-lie.html

After releasing a statement saying that he never lied, he then releases this!

Unbelievable. One race into the new season and McLaren and Hamilton are already up to their tricks.