'Scuse the longish post...
BMW won't run double diffuser in Spain
Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, Bahrain GPBMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen has admitted that the team's version of the controversial double-decker diffuser will not be ready in time for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
The team has been working flat-out on the design, but has opted not to introduce it as part of its new aerodynamic package because it would not have been able to exploit its performance benefit.
Theissen insisted that no date has been set for the diffuser to be introduced, although it is understood that the Monaco Grand Prix is a possibility.
Despite this, the team will have an interim diffuser modification in Spain that is expected to improve its rear-end grip as part of its raft of modifications.
"The Barcelona-spec aero package has long been in development," said Theissen. "Therefore a double diffuser introduced at short notice wouldn't have brought us any benefit.
"There is no time limit set for when we will introduce the double diffuser in our car."
"We will have an substantial update in Barcelona, from the front to the rear wing, affecting also the sidepods, there will be improvements in every detail."
Theissen added that the team has had to re-evaluate its performance targets after claiming only one points finish in the opening four races of 2009.
This season, BMW's fourth as a full-blown constructor in F1, it had been expecting to fight for the championship.
"We moved our season targets that we set in winter aside," he said. "We cannot win races at the moment, therefore we shifted our targets.
"But we won't accept the current situation. We will speed up, we will have a look at where we will end up, but we certainly will not give up on this season."
Barcelona will be the first time that the team has introduced development parts this season, something that Theissen admitted may have been a mistake.
"The main reason we turned down the chance of updates during the first races was the testing restriction," said Theissen. "The other reason was the interference with the aero package on the car.
"This approach looks to be wrong at the moment, but let's wait and see after a couple more races.
"Our performance in Melbourne was fine and it even worked in Sepang, but then the other teams passed us. That was based on a strategy: we always planned not to bring updates in the fly-away races.
"Our first target for an update was always Barcelona and this will happen."
BMW are esentially introducing a new chassis then... good to see they're not just gonna sack off the car to focus on next season's too.
Force India puts KERS debut on hold
Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, Bahrain GPThe Force India team has ruled out introducing its KERS system at the Spanish Grand Prix, as the Silverstone-based squad has decided to focus its development elsewhere.
The Mercedes-powered team had originally planned to introduce the Kinetic Energy Recovery System for the start of the European season, but team boss Vijay Mallya admitted the plan has been scrapped.
Force India has instead decided to focus on the development of aerodynamic components, as the team believes KERS would not be an advantage.
Mallya said, however, that the team still plans to run the system later this year.
"At the beginning of the year, it was our provisional plan to introduce the system for the start of the European season, but we have decided to put the emphasis on aero development where we feel the greater gains can be found," said Mallya.
"As we've seen many other teams are not running KERS so we do not feel we are at a disadvantage. We still plan to use it later in the season, but this will be reviewed after each race in line with the other work we have going on in the background"
Force India run several new updates at the Bahrain Grand Prix last month, and Mallya admitted he was pleased with the step forward they allowed his team to take.
"I was very pleased to see the clear improvement we demonstrated in Bahrain as a result of the new diffuser and aero upgrades," he said.
"To get both cars fitted with the modified floor in such a short time was a major undertaking, particularly from a team with such a limited workforce and budget as Force India.
"This of course was only the first stage in development and for Barcelona we'll have yet more upgrades coming through based on the information we gained in Bahrain.
"We'll be running a driver-adjustable front wing flap and a further modification for the front wing. This is just part of our ongoing development cycle and there will be further upgrades at most of the forthcoming races."
Didn't know they'd run a new diffuser in Bahrain, can't say that it made a noticable impact either.
...and finally, this is fairly relevant to this thread so i'll stick it here:
Raikkonen eager to end win drought
Kimi RaikkonenKimi Raikkonen is eager to return to winning ways in Formula 1, over a year after scoring his last grand prix victory.
The Ferrari driver dominated last year's Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, but has since then endured a drought, not having stepped on the top of the podium in 18 races.
"It's a bit more than a year ago that I won my last Formula 1 race," said Raikkonen. "At Barcelona in 2008 I had my best weekend with Ferrari: pole position, victory and fastest race lap.
"Since then I came very close several times - I'm thinking of Magny-Cours, Montreal and Spa – but for one reason or the other I could never make it. Having said that, a driver never loses the lust for winning and I want to have that feeling again as soon as possible."
The Maranello squad has had a torrid start to the 2009 season, having scored just three points in four races.
Ferrari, however, is introducing major upgrades for this weekend's race in Spain, hoping to take a significant step forward.
Test driver Marc Gene tested the evolution of the F60 car at Vairano last weekend, and the tem was left encouraged by the results.
The car included a double-decker diffuser and a lighter chassis among other changes.
"I really liked hearing from the team that the new aerodynamic package's first signs are positive," Raikkonen added. "It will be really interesting taking the car out during Friday's free practice sessions.
"We drove on this track back in March this year, but it's always really difficult to understand from the tests, who's really strong in the field. Furthermore many cars have changed quite a lot since then.
"With the new aerodynamic package we'll have more downforce compared to the first four races, but also almost all of the others will show up with some updates. We'll see who has done better work."
So much for him not caring anymore.
I see the writer said they're running the double diffuser too, either he is mistaken or Ferrari's diffuser isn't as 'obvious' as the others... it really doesn't look like it has the extra section though!
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- By darwin dali