Lol I caught that too. It makes me wonder how McNish would have done in f1 had he gotten a ride in a car other than the toyota.
LOL I love preseason drama, Red Bull threatens Brawn GP protest
Red Bull threatens Brawn GP protest Red Bull Racing has said it will protest rival Brawn GP over the design of its diffuser if the team’s current design passes scrutineering at Melbourne on Thursday.
Questions over the design of the diffusers have surfaced since Williams and Toyota appeared to exploit the wording of the regulations to allow themselves a taller design than the rules originally intended.
But the debate has stepped up a gear after Brawn GP’s new car, which features a unique twin-deck concept, has dominated pre-season testing times.
With the matter still not settled, and talk of a possible protest having surfaced in recent days, Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko has now confirmed his team will object to the design if it is unchanged and given the all-clear by scrutineers.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the design of the Brawn diffuser, Marko said: “It’s illegal: we’ll make a protest on Thursday if the component isn’t modified to conform to the regulations, because that diffuser guarantees a five-tenths-advantage per lap. Seven teams are certain it’s illegal.”
FIA president Max Mosley revealed earlier this week that he expected the matter to reach a head in Australia, having received complaints from at least one team about the diffuser design.
“If there had been more time before the detailed objections to the system were sent in, I would probably have sent it to the FIA Court of Appeal before Australia,” Mosley told the Daily Telegraph.
“And actually I have given thought to that this week. But there isn’t time. It wouldn’t be fair. I think the thing will probably come to some sort of a head in Australia.”
As AUTOSPORT’s technical analysis of the BGP001 car revealed earlier this month, the diffuser is a unique double-decker design where the U-shaped centre section becomes the lower deck of the set-up, rather than the roof.
Brawn GP was unavailable for comment on Tuesday night in Melbourne, but Rubens Barrichello told Gazzetta dello Sport that he was unmoved by the controversy about the team’s diffuser.
“I wasn’t bothered by the fact that everyone took for granted that [Bruno] Senna was replacing me, so do you think I’m bothered by the fact that my car is different from the others?” he said.
“We’ve read the rule book differently, and the result of that can be seen by everyone.”
lifted from Auto Week
Formula One 2009: Your guide to the teams, drivers and the outlook for each
By ADAM COOPER
A picture of Kimi Raikkonen in the F60 has high hopes for this year.
Kimi Raikkonen in the F60 has high hopes for this year.
LAT PHOTOGRAPHICWith the former Honda Formula One team now operating independently under the leadership of Ross Brawn, 20 cars will be on the grid in Australia this weekend. That is two less than in any of the past three seasons, thanks to the demise of the Super Aguri team, but it could be a lot worse.
Somewhat remarkably, 19 of the 20 drivers who competed in 2008 return this season, with only the retired David Coulthard missing from the grid. Sebastian Vettel is the only driver to switch teams, but via a lateral move from Scuderia Toro Rosso to its sister team, Red Bull Racing. Sebastien Buemi is the only rookie, after Red Bull bosses promoted him to an STR race seat, replacing Vettel as Sebastien Bourdais’s teammate.
Among the teams, the only significant change is that Mercedes now supplies Force India (Ferrari in 2008) and Brawn GP (Honda in 2008) with engines.
Here’s how the grid looks as the series heads into the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, on March 29:
MCLAREN-MERCEDES
DRIVERS: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen
OUTLOOK: Last year was a great one for McLaren–it bounced back from the frustrations of 2007 to clinch its first drivers’ championship in nine years, although the much-prized constructors’ crown remained out of reach.
As for this year, to say that early testing with the MP4-24 has not lived up to expectations is an understatement–the team seems to be in pretty poor shape as it tries to solve some serious aerodynamic problems. However, it would be dangerous to underestimate the organization’s potential over the season.
It will be interesting to see whether Hamilton is even better now that he has a championship to his credit, while Kovalainen learned a lot last year and should push him harder. Meanwhile, there’s a big change in management, as Martin Whitmarsh formally takes on the role of team principal. Ron Dennis will take a step back after nearly three decades in charge, but he will still attend races and still plays a leading role.
FERRARI
DRIVERS: Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa
OUTLOOK: Many thought that Ferrari would struggle once the fabulously successful Michael Schumacher/Ross Brawn era ended. But Kimi Raikkonen took the title in 2007 and–after team boss Jean Todt also moved on–Felipe Massa almost won it last year. The constructors’ prize was a welcome bonus in 2008.
The team has done a great job during this transition period, and it has been fascinating to see Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo take a higher profile and play a key role in creating unity among the teams by leading the Formula One Teams Association. Ferrari has not been a great supporter of kinetic-energy recovery systems, but the new F60 car seems to boast a competitive package and must be a title favorite. However, reliability could be a weakness, and the team has suffered in testing recently.
As for the drivers, Massa has confounded skeptics with his upward career momentum, while Raikkonen should be a lot stronger than he was last year and should not be discounted.
BMW SAUBER
DRIVERS: Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld
OUTLOOK: Since taking over Peter Sauber’s team in 2006, BMW has gone from strength to strength. Major landmarks were achieved last year when Robert Kubica gave the team its first pole in Bahrain and a maiden win in Canada.
However, there was some tension in the camp as Kubica felt that the team put more attention on developing the F1.09 rather than any serious push for the ’08 title. In the end, he fell short of the championship, but early indications say that the strategy was a good one; the new car has been very competitive in preseason testing. Kubica is set to be one of the greats of the next decade, but it could be a last chance for the dependable Nick Heidfeld to do something special.
RENAULT
DRIVERS: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Jr.
OUTLOOK: It took a long time for the former Benetton team to match the achievements of the Michael Schumacher era, but Fernando Alonso’s successes in 2005 and 2006 were as spectacular as those of his predecessor.
The team’s fortunes took a dive after the Spaniard left, but last year he rejoined and the rebuilding process began. The team showed that it still had that winning habit when he triumphed in Singapore and Japan as misfortune struck others. He should thrive in this new era of driver “toys,” such as the kinetic-energy recovery system and adjustable front wings.
Meanwhile, Nelson Piquet Jr. has a second chance but no excuses if he does not perform. A horsepower break from the FIA for the French V8 will help the team on its quest to become a title contender once again, while Renault was also the first team to publicly commit to running a kinetic-energy recovery system in Australia
TOYOTA
DRIVERS: Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock
OUTLOOK: This is Toyota’s eighth season of Grand Prix racing, and there can be no more excuses as the Cologne, Germany-based team seeks an elusive first win.
There were positive signs last season after a spell in the doldrums, and the car was fast in qualifying in the last few races. Despite the massive rule changes for 2009, the team appears to have maintained its momentum, and the TF109 looked good from the start of testing.
Jarno Trulli is ultra-quick in qualifying and can be fast in races if the car is right, while former Champ Car driver Timo Glock had some good races last year and has potential. Toyota has become more adept over the years at capitalizing on opportunities when they arise, as it proved with its two podium finishes last year. But the next step is the biggest.
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO-FERRARI
DRIVERS: Sebastien Buemi, Sebastien Bourdais
OUTLOOK: Scuderia Toro Rosso was the surprise package of the 2008 season, and Sebastian Vettel’s win in the Italian Grand Prix was perhaps the most popular of the year by any driver.
Now in its fourth season since Red Bull took over, the former Minardi team will find it difficult to match last year’s amazing form, but it has a great starting point courtesy of car designer Red Bull Technology–which has star designer Adrian Newey in command.
Rookie Sebastien Buemi’s true talent level is hard to judge, but it won’t be an easy year for him. Teammate Sebastien Bourdais returns for a sophomore year, and like Piquet at Renault, has to get the job done.
There’s a big change behind the scenes as Gerhard Berger is no longer involved in STR management, leaving Franz Tost in sole charge as team principal.
RED BULL RACING-RENAULT
DRIVERS: Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel
OUTLOOK: This is the fifth season for the team that we used to know as Jaguar Racing, and before that, Stewart Grand Prix. Last year, Red Bull Racing began the season well, only to fade away in the second half, just as the sister Toro Rosso outfit began to come good. Renault horsepower played a role, and this year, Red Bull Racing benefits from an upgrade to the Renault V8.
The big question is whether Adrian Newey has done a better job than his rivals of adapting to the rules changes. But the ace up the sleeve is the arrival of Sebastian Vettel as replacement for David Coulthard, for the youngster is undoubtedly a great talent and a good motivator in the Schumacher mold. It’s going to be tough for Mark Webber, who nevertheless remains a superb qualifier.
WILLIAMS-TOYOTA
DRIVERS: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima
OUTLOOK: Twelve years have passed since Jacques Villeneuve won the 1997 drivers’ championship for Williams, and the team’s last win came courtesy of Juan Pablo Montoya in 2004.
Indeed, Williams has been through some tough times since it split with BMW, but this year’s package seems to be stronger than of late, and the moves to cut costs certainly works in favor of a team that does not have manufacturer support.
Williams has been one of the biggest supporters of the kinetic-energy recovery system, and if the team has its numbers right, that could play a role as the season goes on. Nico Rosberg has to step up and get results this year, while Kazuki Nakajima has the luxury of Toyota support, but needs to show more speed in his second season.
BRAWN GP
DRIVERS: Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello
OULOOK: The F1 world was shocked when Honda announced its withdrawal in December. But after months of speculation, the company finally confirmed that it had sold the team to a management group led by tech boss Ross Brawn.
Behind the scenes, engineers were quietly modifying the Honda RA109 to accept a Mercedes-Benz V8. From its first test at the start of March, the BGP001 has been extremely fast, and under its new identity, the team has turned the form book upside down. Life will probably get tougher as the year goes on, and the lack of a kinetic-energy recovery system may ultimately prove expensive.
Still, Button can’t believe that his luck has turned around in the last few weeks, and he has a chance to salvage his career this year. Veteran Rubens Barrichello will have to forget that the management that has just re-employed him is the same guys who had all but written him off at the end of last season.
FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES
DRIVERS: Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella
OUTLOOK: The team previously known as Jordan, MF1 Racing and Spyker launched a new identity last year thanks to Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, and that was further strengthened by the adoption of national colors for the season.
Getting off the back row on a regular basis is a tough proposition, but Mallya has made the bold gamble of switching from Ferrari to Mercedes power to guarantee the supply of a customer McLaren gearbox and, eventually, a kinetic-energy recovery system. Having those key elements in place allows the team to focus on areas such as aerodynamics, and thus the overall package should be more competitive.
Adrian Sutil is fast but incident prone, while veteran Giancarlo Fisichella—the most experienced guy in the field other than Barrichello–seemed to lose interest last year and needs a good car to motivate him.
To read more visit the AutoWeek F1 racing coverage section.
This article was last updated on: 03/24/09, 10:15 et
Despite the recent management buyout-out and the 2009 car’s sterling test pace, the future of Brawn GP reportedly remains under a very dark cloud.
In the decisions of the World Council meeting earlier this month, it was noted that despite the Brackley-based team simply requesting a name-change, Brawn would in fact be considered a ‘new entry’ for this season.
“The contract the team had with the FIA was to run as ‘Honda’, which they are no longer in a position to do,” the FIA said.
Outwardly, the technicality has resulted in Brawn shifting to the very bottom of the pitlane, and being assigned the lowest race numbers for 2009.
But we noted last week that new teams usually must wait to receive full revenue entitlements according to F1’s commercial agreements.
It is on this point that the Swiss specialist publication Motorsport Aktuell expresses concerns about the survival of the Mercedes-powered team. It claims that Brawn could not simply change its name to Brawn, therefore keeping Honda’s financial status, because while the teams unanimously agreed, Bernie Ecclestone exercised his veto.
Brawn is therefore missing about 22 million (euro) of its projected 2009 budget, in a state of affairs that could date back to a news item in February.
Then, we reported that managers Ross Brawn and Nick Fry turned down the F1 Chief Executive’s offer to help complete the buyout.
“They should have taken what I offered,” Ecclestone was quoted as saying.
“It was a very good offer for everybody concerned. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own. Now all we can do is hope and pray,” Ecclestone added.
What a fucking douche. I really hate Max and Bernie and cannot wait till they are in the grave.
Practice starts soon.
Yea nascar
Stewards in Melbourne rejected protests by Red Bull BMW Ferrari and Renault. Teams will probably have to copy the Brawn, Toyota , Williams diffuser solution. If pre-season testing times stand up, this is a huge advantage for the first “away” races part of the season.
GOOOD!
A dispute regarding unpaid revenues currently exists between the F1 teams’ FOTA alliance and the commercial rights holder’s representative, Bernie Ecclestone. Talks are ongoing in relation to the signing of a new Concord agreement and the payment of outstanding sums - including money from past seasons - which would accompany the amended deal.
It was recently reported that Flavio Briatore and Ron Dennis, respectively of the Renault and McLaren teams, threatened Ecclestone with a boycott of the Australian Grand Prix if certain important issues were not resolved.
“Flavio started it, aided and abetted by Ron Dennis,” Ecclestone told the British newspaper The Times a few days ago. “They were saying all the FOTA-schmota are not going - nobody’s going to go.”
“If they come in here with a gun and hold it to my head, they had better be sure they can fucking pull the trigger,” Ecclestone bluntly said. “And they should make sure it’s got bullets in it because, if they miss, they better look out.”
Ecclestone threatened on the spot to cancel the chartered planes standing by to fly cars and equipment to Melbourne, and the FOTA representatives backed down.
:picard:
Free Practice 1:
Lewis had 3 offs 
I’ll put MONEY on him NEVER winning another WDC.
Ugh… I’m not liking the outcome of this practice session 
and LOL at the F1 betting lines… I bet the bookies are CRYING!! 80-1 for any guy in the top 6 in the practice sessions LOL!!
Racing can be great when all the better drivers start from behind. This will be a good test of the car redesign and we might see if they can pass easer now.
i’ll second that. the practice session went terrible, these guys can’t stay on the track…
Seriously Vettel was having some serious issues in on that one turn… touchin the grass every time… then finally enough to spin him and end the day
what i don’t understand is that they have slick tyres now and even with the reduction in downforce peter windsor said they have increased downforce 17% over last year, yet they still keep going off the track…
Soooooo brawn gp… I didn’t see that coming before the week started
Good race for ferrari and bmw lol :tup:
ha ha ha very funny (i agree but don’t tell anyone)
Brawn GP recorded a one-two victory in Melbourne, but it seems the former Honda team could have destroyed rather than simply beaten its competition.
BMW-Sauber figures expressed huge disappointment about Robert Kubica’s late crash with Sebastian Vettel last Sunday, insisting the Pole could have raced up to eventual winner Jenson Button and passed him.
“That’s interesting,” Briton Button, 29, grinned as he reflected on his win in St. Kilda - a beach suburb near Melbourne - before having to jet off to Malaysia.
“I don’t think Kubica has any idea about whether I was driving as fast as I could have,” he added coyly.
Red Bull’s Vettel, seemingly matching his Mercedes-powered rival as he ran second to Button for most of the 58-lap race, suspects the Brawn driver’s hint is indeed true.
“I have the feeling they (Brawn) were playing with us,” the German told Auto Motor und Sport.
An unnamed Brawn team figure is quoted by Britain’s Guardian newspaper as also suggesting the Brackley camp did not display its full pace throughout the 2009 season opening race weekend.
“It is just foolish to just annihilate people all the time,” he said. “I think we have a little bit in the bag. We’ve got good stuff coming and I think we have reason to be confident,” he said.
AWESOME!
I’m pumped for this season! Finally things aren’t the Ferrrari-McLaren show!
Haha that is ballsy! I’m excited for brawn. But still a bmw sauber fan and that crash with vettel was heart breaking