The new F1 season

I know their is an F1 thread that has been resurrected recently, but here I'm going to put information on the changes from the end of last season and anyone can ask me questions on what i put down here.

The biggest (and only relevant change for the punter) change in the technical regs is that the engines have been reduced in size from 3 litre V10's to 2.4 litre V8's. That's a drop from 950 to 750hp. Tyre changes during the race have been allowed back in this year at the behest of Bridgestone. And once again there is a new qualifying system. There is also a new team.

The new qualifying system is set into three sections. In the first 10 minutes everyone will run on low fuel and new tyres (if they want) to set a fast time. At the end of the first 10 minutes the slowest 6 cars will be eliminated and their grid positions set. The second session will also be 10 minutes and the same rules apply, after the time the slowest 6 are eliminated leaving the fastest 10. These 10 get a 20 minute session but they are only allowed to fuel up at the start of the session and the same amount of fuel will be used to start the race (not the fuel left in the tank like last year). They will proceed to drive around burning of the fuel and setting times,they are also allowed to change tyres so for the final lap could bolt on a new set and get a time with low fuel and new tyres.

The Teams:

Renault

1. Fernando Alonso
2. Gencarlo Fisichella
3. Tester and Reserve- Heikki Kovaleinen

McLaren-Mercedes

1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Juan Pablo Montoya
3. Pedro De La Rosa
4. Garry Paffett

Ferrari

1. Micheal Schumacher
2. Felipe Massa
3. Luca Badoer
4. Marc Gene

Toyota

1. Ralf Schumacher
2. Jarno Trulli
3. Ricardo Zonta
4. Olivier Panis

Williams-Cosworth

1. Mark Webber
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Alexander Wurz
4. Narain Karthikeyan

Honda (was BAR)

1. Jenson Button
2. Reubans Barrichello
3. Anthony Davidson

Red Bull

1. David Coulthard
2. Christian Klien
3. Robert Doornbos

BMW Sauber

1. Nick Heidfeld
2. Jacques Viellneuve
3. Robert Kubica

Midland Toyota (was Jordan)

1. Christian Albers
2. Tiago Monteiro
3. Georgio Mondini, Markus Winklehock, Adrian Sutil, Roman Rusinov (all test drivers)

Scudoria Torro Rosso (was Minardi)

1. Vitantonio Liuzzi
2. Scott Speed
3. Neel Jani

Super Aguri-Honda (New team)

1. Takuma Sato
2. Yuji Ide
3. TBC

Calender

1. Bahrain
2. Malaysia
3. Australia
4. San Marino
5. Europe
6. Spain
7. Monaco
8. Britain
9. Canada
10. USA
11. France
12. Germany
13. Hungary
14. Turkey
15. Italy

16. China 

17. Japan

18. Brazil

I know this was long winded but any questions?

I'll add a season preview in a few weeks before the start of the season, by then I might know who's looking good and who isnt.

Ferrari, Toyota, Williams, Midland and Suoer Aguri are all on Bridgestone. The rest are on Michelin, Goodyear hasnt competed in F1 since '98

As for last year, yes the Bridgestones were bad but the rest of the car wasnt a match for the Renault and McLaren either.

krusty wrote: sleeper wrote: Ferrari, Toyota, Williams, Midland and Suoer Aguri are all on Bridgestone. The rest are on Michelin, Goodyear hasnt competed in F1 since '98 ooops  I meant Michelin!. I just the impression that alot of Ferrari problems were down to tyres. All the Bridgestone teams seemed to off the pace at most of the circuits and do better when circuit and weather suited them.

Ferraris car had a few aerodynamic and ballast distrobution problems last year but this years car looks to have got rid of them in testing so far.

A quick update for the fans here:

There will be no Belgium Grand Prix this year. After last years event the promotor Didier Defourney (spelling?) anounced bancruptcy. This meant that there was no money for the upgrades that the FIA had demanded that the track have done to meet safety regulations. It was thought that the regiouns government was in descusion for Bernie Ecclstone to take over the runing of the event. As it became apparent that the revisions would not be possible to complete on time for the septembre 17th event, it was decided to cancel this years race and push to have it re-introduced to the calender next year. There will now only be 18 races this year. 

Atkingani wrote: I'm surprised that Brazil will be the last GP of 2006... our GP should be together with USA and Canada to avoid costs. Perhaps the definition may happen here again. Sleeper, do you know the date of GP Brazil? Also surprised with the presence of USA after the shameful events of 2005.

Penciled in for October 22nd, but apparently it is still to be confirmed due to ongoing contract negotiations. I shouldnt worry, Brazil is the only South American GP and the FIA arnt too keen for it to go, plus even the local courts couldnt stop the race a couple of years ago so it will almost certanly go ahead.

As for the US, Michelin payed up a fair bit in refunds, its next years race that is in danger if Tony George (Indy owner) isnt happy.

I've made some changes to the driver line-ups, Super guri has now confirmed there second driver and Midland has confirmed there testers.

BTW Atkingani, Berni would only have moved the date for some massive sporting event (like the World Cup)

aapatsos wrote: wow, you are a real fan...where's that racing avatar of yours? anyway, I hope this year's competition to be higher for no.1 I expect many things from Massa pitty that Spa is out, one of the best circuits

I'm a walking encyclopedia on motorsport in genral (but not NASCAR) about a week before the start of the new season I'll do a preview but at the moment the top 5 teams look very close in testing.

As for my avy, I'll probably put another race car in some time soon

Dr Know wrote: Do you know the date of the first Grand Prix in Bahrain?

March 12, next sunday.