Comments on: F1’s overtaking problem solved?

By: GKN

GKN — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:07:53 +0000

I wonder if there is any statistics on the overtaking matter. No of overtakes avarage /race 2008, compaired to
running avarge of 2009?

By: Alvin K

Alvin K — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:42:04 +0000

a hearty and mighty double handed slap on the face of FIA, Max and Bernie for screwing up our sport..plus a bumpy drive over their bodies forwards and backwards a couple of times..

By: sumedh

sumedh — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:24:35 +0000

Following cars has been easy; in case of cars with regular diffuser.

Those with double deckers are still hard to follow I feel.

KERS; in my opinion is not very useful. KERS cars seem much slower than those without KERS. (Alonso at Sepang; Ferraris at Australia – I know it was the tyres; but it is foolish to assume that the skewed up weight distribution did not play a role in eating up the tyres faster.

Once, all cars have KERS; you won’t be able to make out any difference.

By: m0tion

m0tion — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:25:17 +0000

Kers vs non kers has added more to overtaking then the aero rules. Non kers cars are attacking under brakes with the dices about mid corner car control and holding the defensive line on the limit.

Some of that will diminish as kers proliferates. All that sunk money will just see them change the rules to bias more kers power if this year’sformula doesn’t advantage it enough.

Lap times should be the measure of aero and the OTWG could be said to have failed except that it is great seeing engineering brilliance. The other factor is the great positive of the removal of some of the driver controls. I think the ECU should be pared back further. I also agree with the non mandatory option tyre but logistically it is too expensive (way more tyres transported per GP) so I don’t think it will get up and the only way would be back to 1 control tyre.

By: CJD

CJD — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:52:19 +0000

I wonder what they would call that new universal engine proposed for racing after FOTA goes off on their own,
How about the “Whippet” ?

By: Benalf

Benalf — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:58:12 +0000

I agree it’s too early to assess the improvement of overtaking. Teams are in different performance levels and different design estrategies. Moreover, most of the teams are working on fixing designs, glitches, etc. so it’s hard to tell if easier to overtake or not.

The good thing is that now there’s more variety among teams, something we did not see since the seventies. I would like to see this differences to survive the season dreaming about the teams R&D groups can come up with new ideas instead of copying Brawns, Toyota or RBR ones. I agree it is probably matter of time for the teams to look more or less the same and I am afraid the usefulness of KERS will be diminished.

If there’s something I would like FIA to change is the two-compound tire rule and the cap on KERS energy storage and management during the race. I they are willing to allow multiple tire brands back to the sport it wold be terrific. Right now, Bridgestone seems to follow a political agenda by bringing unacceptable dissimilar tire options, and changing compound on each race; for the teams this is a totally uncontrolable factor and gives nothing to the sport.

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:37:39 +0000

Slightly off topic, but the irony of the Stewards listening too much to Vettel’s radio comms and not enough to Lewis’ just struck me :/

By: C.D.

C.D. — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:54:11 +0000

Cars with unequal characteristics results in better racing? Brilliant! This could make for some great championshi…what’s that Max? World engine? hmmm…

By: Sulman

Sulman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:07:09 +0000

I think there’s a little more to it than more mechanical grip. They’ve now got those dirty great front wings; which are lower to the ground; they’re more efficient in turbulence. This is a huge improvement over the last 20 years, especially from ’01 onwards when FIA regulations deliberately targeted the front wing, creating more efficiency problems.

I suspect the cars are still very stiffly sprung, and reliant on aero. One year ago you simply would not have seen them nose to tail on a track like Sepang. Not in the dry. It’s a shame we won’t see Grande Courbe this year; that was always the ultimate frustrator in F1 aero.

By: ranilom

ranilom — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:49:43 +0000

either all driver with kers are magician or have telepathic power to on it-off it; I did not see flicking any switch to get the bust…Maybe TV graphics need to improve
Some cars looks like they have automated the system already.
If charged, it looks like McL & the red one get a bust exiting the last corner before the finishing line ..”no hands, no fingers..”.
Then after the first corner is charged again, the driver can use it one time on the current lap if needed…otherwise “no hands, no fingers..” after last corner.
Once every team has the same system, optimized in the same way, it will be down to pure luck to use it to overtake.