FORUMula1.com

[Rivelution]

Bernie's medal idea is complete poo

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Ferrari boosted by progress with KERS

By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble Thursday, January 22nd 2009, 14:37 GMT

Ferrari's hopes of racing with their KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) at the start of the season have been boosted, with the team's senior engineer suggesting progress with the device is going 'in the best possible way.'

The Maranello-based team openly admitted at the end of last year that they felt they were behind with the progress of their system compared to their rivals - especially BMW Sauber, who are believed to be most advanced with the new technology.

But following some encouraging progress with the device during testing at Mugello in Italy this week, the indications are that the team could be further down the road with it than originally thought.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the progress of the new F60, Ferrari's chief engineer Chris Dyer said that the biggest concern at the moment was their lack of running on slick tyres rather than anything on the car – especially KERS.

"At the moment it's difficult to say how it will be," said Dyer, who has moved into his new role after two years as Kimi Raikkonen's race engineer.

"As you know, the main new things are essentially three things: aerodynamics, KERS, and slick tyres.

"Regarding the first two everything is going in the best possible way, but unfortunately the latter we haven't been able to verify yet. Surely we can't wait to fit the slick tyres on, because only with them we'll know how quick we can be."

Talking more specifically about how the work on KERS was going, Dyer said: "I'm not saying every lap, as the drivers maybe want, but we make use of it fairly often to study its safety. It's an interesting thing, a challenge from a technical point of view."

When asked whether he felt the development of the F60 was progressing well, Dyer said: "Yes, without a doubt. In this third day we've just done more than 500 kilometres and everything went positively. There really has been nothing to worry about."

[headless]

Bernies idea is poo, and I reckon the usual order of teams will be the same.

[AKR]

#1

It is ugly. Not that the Ferrari is any better looking, but at least the Ferrari is divine. In all seriousness now, the Williams is the most attractive out of the new 2009 F1 cars and the Renault and BMW-Sauber the ugliest. Toyota, McLaren and Ferrari around the same in looks but still ugly cars compared to 2008 spec cars.

[Denthúl]

#1

It is ugly. Not that the Ferrari is any better looking, but at least the Ferrari is divine. In all seriousness now, the Williams is the most attractive out of the new 2009 F1 cars and the Renault and BMW-Sauber the ugliest. Toyota, McLaren and Ferrari around the same in looks but still ugly cars compared to 2008 spec cars.

I really don't see peoples' problems with the majority of the 2009 cars

Alright, I can understand why they might not like the Renault and maybe the Toyota, but the rest are alright. The BMW Sauber F1.09 especially

[EwanM]

Sutil feels stronger than ever
Aiming for the mid-grid in 2009 with Force India
25/01/09 06:31


Sutil hoping to be chasing points this season
with Force India

German driver Adrian Sutil believes that the partnership between his Force India team and McLaren Mercedes could help him regularly reach the top ten starting this season.

Force India will be using Mercedes V8 engines this year, in addition to the benefits of technical assistance from McLaren. Both teams will also share the same suppliers for several components.

"I think it will be a great help and a big step," said Sutil. "Maybe we can really go into the top ten and finish a few races in the points. That would be a good step for next year (ie 2009 season). I'm confident."

Sutil, who will beginning his third Formula One season this year, feels he has progressed as a driver: "I'm more experienced now, and I had a very good teammate in Giancarlo (Fisichella), and I could learn quite a lot from him, with all the data. This was good, and also mentally I'm much better now. After two years of F1 you feel better, your self-confidence is higher.

"

With the new regulations many changes have been brought to the cars, in addition to the introduction of the energy-recovery KERS systems which can be used on a voluntary basis this year before becoming mandatory in 2010.

"I think with the new regulations I had to adapt my driving style," Sutil admits. "The KERS system will be very interesting. For sure it's heavy and driving will be a little bit different, but I think it's a good idea. We can also adjust the front wing while driving, which is also another challenge, and slick tyres is going back to the roots."

Looking forward to the opportunities 2009 will offer, Sutil is optimistic about it all: "I think it will be good. There will be even more work to do while driving, which makes everything more interesting."

D.B. © CAPSIS International
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[McLaren Fan]

Well, let's hope what Sutil says is true. If not, he'll be on his way to DTM or A1 Grand Prix before too long.

[scotty]

I do hate those McLaren wheel covers, i hope they don't continue to grow and become more unsightly... on the other hand, the way the exhausts have been incorporated into the bodywork on the car is quite beautiful! (have just been looking at this month's F1 Racing...)

[headless]

By the end of the season, even possibly half way through, we wont be mentioning anything about the looks of the cars.
I am getting used to them more, so will everyone and we will probably all come round.

[McLaren Fan]

I do hate those McLaren wheel covers, i hope they don't continue to grow and become more unsightly... on the other hand, the way the exhausts have been incorporated into the bodywork on the car is quite beautiful! (have just been looking at this month's F1 Racing...)

Yeah, they don't look great. At least Ferrari try and disguise theirs somewhat by painting/sticking the image of spokes etc. on them.

[EwanM]

Looking good matters not.
Finishing first does.

[Lib]

I do hate those McLaren wheel covers, i hope they don't continue to grow and become more unsightly... on the other hand, the way the exhausts have been incorporated into the bodywork on the car is quite beautiful! (have just been looking at this month's F1 Racing...)

Yeah, they don't look great. At least Ferrari try and disguise theirs somewhat by painting/sticking the image of spokes etc. on them.

McLaren might do something with them come race time? Seems silly to leave them blank when they could whack a sponsors name on there...

[EwanM]

They should put a pic of Nicole on Lewis's ones.

[Lib]

They should put a pic of Nicole on Lewis's ones.

Might help distract the competition, but I dunno if she'd like it if the other cars kept crashing into the photo of her!

[EwanM]

They should put a pic of Nicole on Lewis's ones.

Might help distract the competition, but I dunno if she'd like it if the other cars kept crashing into the photo of her!

They'd be crashing into her on purpose