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[Griff]

got to remember slicks and grooves are totally different in how they react to tyre degradation.

That is potentially going to be a huge factor next weekend. The ex GP2 guys might really have an advantage this year compared with last year

I dont think so tbh, I think everyone will benefit from slicks.

If anything it will be KERS that will be the major factor

[Rivelution]

If anything it will be KERS that will be the major factor

I wonder if if Australia will be a hectic race like last years.

[Denthúl]

If anything it will be KERS that will be the major factor

I wonder if if Australia will be a hectic race like last years.

Probably. If it's warm, we could see some big KERS failures. Similarly, there's the possibility of the movable wings getting stuck in an uncomfortable position.

[Blue Shadow]

I would wonder if McLaren has any chance at Melbourne.
The tests were miserable and they admit that they have many problems with the car.
Norbert Haug,the chairman of Mercedes, expected McLaren actually in the last third.

I hope that they´ll fix up their problems and that they´ll be a dignified concurrent for the teams on top like Ferrari,Renault & BMW.
I really can´t imagine that Brawn GP is in front of the others.
The last two years were too bad for an advance like this.

[darwin dali]

I would wonder if McLaren has any chance at Melbourne.
The tests were miserable and they admit that they have many problems with the car.
Norbert Haug,the chairman of Mercedes, expected McLaren actually in the last third.

I hope that they´ll fix up their problems and that they´ll be a dignified concurrent for the teams on top like Ferrari,Renault & BMW.
I really can´t imagine that Brawn GP is in front of the others.
The last two years were too bad for an advance like this.

Don't forget the rules changed a lot plus Ross is a genius - I wouldn't put it past them to surprise everybody with a very strong season opening and some more races early on. Well, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, would it?

[Gilles 27]

Does anyone else really hate KERS?

[Blue Shadow]

I would wonder if McLaren has any chance at Melbourne.
The tests were miserable and they admit that they have many problems with the car.
Norbert Haug,the chairman of Mercedes, expected McLaren actually in the last third.

I hope that they´ll fix up their problems and that they´ll be a dignified concurrent for the teams on top like Ferrari,Renault & BMW.
I really can´t imagine that Brawn GP is in front of the others.
The last two years were too bad for an advance like this.

Don't forget the rules changed a lot plus Ross is a genius - I wouldn't put it past them to surprise everybody with a very strong season opening and some more races early on. Well, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, would it?

You might be right.
Ross Brawn has ever been very intelligent.
He hadn´t has bought Honda if he wouldn´t be sure that the car is good enough for running the team.

[Rivelution]

Does anyone else really hate KERS?

I do!

If anything it will be KERS that will be the major factor

I wonder if if Australia will be a hectic race like last years.

Probably. If it's warm, we could see some big KERS failures. Similarly, there's the possibility of the movable wings getting stuck in an uncomfortable position.

Bud said it probably wont be as warm as last year, but I just hope it will be an awesome race... and season.

[Gilles 27]

I can't see how the FIA can prevent the teams from using traction control and other electronic aids if they all have their own KERS. The KERS output stage basically allows the teams to control how the power is applied. I am worried that KERS will lead to electronic aids being impossible to police once more so they will have to be legalised again. The only way this could be avoided in the new season is if a new standard ECU has been developed for the teams to use to accommodate KERS systems but I have heard nothing...

[Griff]

I would wonder if McLaren has any chance at Melbourne.
The tests were miserable and they admit that they have many problems with the car.
Norbert Haug,the chairman of Mercedes, expected McLaren actually in the last third.

I hope that they´ll fix up their problems and that they´ll be a dignified concurrent for the teams on top like Ferrari,Renault & BMW.
I really can´t imagine that Brawn GP is in front of the others.
The last two years were too bad for an advance like this.

Depends what u mean by having a chance. If you mean race win i don't think so but if you are talking points in my opinion everyone has a chance. That first corner will be hectic and I'm predictinga choatic season opener.

Does anyone else really hate KERS?

No I think its gr8

[Jensonb]

I can't see how the FIA can prevent the teams from using traction control and other electronic aids if they all have their own KERS. The KERS output stage basically allows the teams to control how the power is applied. I am worried that KERS will lead to electronic aids being impossible to police once more so they will have to be legalised again. The only way this could be avoided in the new season is if a new standard ECU has been developed for the teams to use to accommodate KERS systems but I have heard nothing...

Quite impossible, the standard ECU will see to that.

[Gilles 27]

Quite impossible, the standard ECU will see to that.

My logic is that the standard ECU was introduced before the teams had developed KERS. There has been no news of an updated ECU to accommodate the KERS so the teams must have their own systems for controlling the way in which the KERS transfers the extra power. i don't see how this can be done without compromising the role of the ECU. This issue was raised in Autosport over a year ago and I am yet to hear a satisfactory explanation of why this will not happen.

[darwin dali]

Quite impossible, the standard ECU will see to that.

My logic is that the standard ECU was introduced before the teams had developed KERS. There has been no news of an updated ECU to accommodate the KERS so the teams must have their own systems for controlling the way in which the KERS transfers the extra power. i don't see how this can be done without compromising the role of the ECU. This issue was raised in Autosport over a year ago and I am yet to hear a satisfactory explanation of why this will not happen.

Renault chose to go with the electrical solution, as did most other teams. The system consists of three important parts:

# An electric motor (MGU: Motor Generator Unit) situated between the fuel tank and the engine, linked directly to the crankshaft of the V8 to deliver additional power.
# Some latest generation ion-lithium batteries (HVB: High Voltage Battery Pack) capable of storing and delivering energy rapidly.
# A control box (KCU: KERS Control Unit), which manages the behaviour of the MGU when charging and releasing energy. It is linked to the car’s standard electronic control unit.

[f1ea]

Renault chose to go with the electrical solution, as did most other teams. The system consists of three important parts:

# An electric motor (MGU: Motor Generator Unit) situated between the fuel tank and the engine, linked directly to the crankshaft of the V8 to deliver additional power.
# Some latest generation ion-lithium batteries (HVB: High Voltage Battery Pack) capable of storing and delivering energy rapidly.
# A control box (KCU: KERS Control Unit), which manages the behaviour of the MGU when charging and releasing energy. It is linked to the car’s standard electronic control unit.

And Williams went with the fly-wheel solution, which i assume substitutes #2 (ion-li battery) with a flywheel.

The electronic method probably gives you the advantage of placing the battery where the engineers need to (Renault placed it under the fuel tank)... so it could work as some kind of ballast... also, i think its easier to balance the car as this is already a heavy area.

The fly-wheel works more like... 80's toy cars and watches which is probably more straightforward mechanics, we'll see if its more reliable.

[Gilles 27]

# A control box (KCU: KERS Control Unit), which manages the behaviour of the MGU when charging and releasing energy. It is linked to the car’s standard electronic control unit.

So the KCU is linked to the ECU but the teams have full control over the software content of the KCU. This surely allows the teams an opportunity to pursue some sort of launch control type system by means of using the KCU to control the way in which the power is applied. The standard ECU cannot possibly have a system which legislates for whatever KCU software the teams have developed if the ECU is the same one as they were running last year.