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from here: Tyres F1 returns to slicks in 2009. With no grooves, grip will increase by around 20%, bringing a significant performance gain. However, that gain will be offset by the reduced downforce levels of the new aerodynamic rules (see below). The overall effect should be reduced performance through high-speed corners. Teams will still have the choice of two dry tyre compounds and will still have to use both compounds during a race. KERS Teams have the option of using the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS), which recovers kinetic energy generated by the car's braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a "boost button" on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just under seven seconds per lap. Engines Drivers must now use the same engine for three, rather than two, consecutive events. There are also plans for measures to equalise engine performance between teams. These plans are yet to be agreed. Aerodynamics Cars will look cleaner (although not necessarily more stylish), thanks to new dimensional rules that outlaw extraneous items such as barge boards, winglets and turning vanes. As well as reducing overall aero performance, the revisions are also designed to increase overtaking by making the car less susceptible to turbulence when closely following another driver. The most obvious changes are to the front and rear wings. Testing This year's testing allowance of 30,000km is expected to be slashed to 20,000 in a bid to reduce development costs.

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Original post by ukdeveloper I'm not terribly taken with F1, it got boring, predictable and uncompetitive in the Schumacher days when he just won race after race after race seemingly by default, not to mention the farce where Rubens Barrichello was ordered to let Schumacher overtake and win. Big crashes were rare (and if they did happen ITV was away on adverts [flame]) and the grid was pretty static from the start. (Mind you, I think football has gone the same way - it's just Man Utd winning absolutely everything; no competition, no excitement, it's just so boring although I do hope and believe that Ferguson's retirement will change that as nobody will be able to match his managerial qualities and the team will suffer as a result). Cue rate down and flaming, but I am also sick to death of Lewis Hamilton and hearing about him. By many accounts the man is a total arsehole and he's been given all this money for just moving a computer-controlled go-kart round a track. The all-time greats like Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart were real drivers. Another hyped racing great, Damon Hill, dropped off the radar after he left Williams and the rest of his career was a joke. Was he an actual good driver or was he an average driver with a good car? I wonder the same about Lewis Hamilton. I say bring back the old days except with modern safety equipment (IIRC they didn't even wear crash helmets in the 50s).

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Original post by d000hg F1?

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Original post by ukdeveloper Cue rate down and flaming, but I am also sick to death of Lewis Hamilton and hearing about him. By many accounts the man is a total arsehole and he's been given all this money for just moving a computer-controlled go-kart round a track. The all-time greats like Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart were real drivers. Another hyped racing great, Damon Hill, dropped off the radar after he left Williams and the rest of his career was a joke. Was he an actual good driver or was he an average driver with a good car? I wonder the same about Lewis Hamilton. I say bring back the old days except with modern safety equipment (IIRC they didn't even wear crash helmets in the 50s).

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[i] KERS Teams have the option of using the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS), which recovers kinetic energy generated by the car's braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a "boost button" on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just under seven seconds per lap.

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Teams have the option of using the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS), which recovers kinetic energy generated by the car's braking process

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Original post by Steadtler Screw Ecclestone, really.

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What that means is that constructors can hardly use F1 racing as a way of promoting their cars in the huge NA market anymore,

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Original post by zedz Quote: What that means is that constructors can hardly use F1 racing as a way of promoting their cars in the huge NA market anymore, why do they even bother? seriously Im talking toyota, honda etc that where the only things they promote is they always lose

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Original post by Promethium As for F1 cars being computerized go-carts, try watching Richard Hammond from Top Gear take one for a spin: clicky For the impatient I can reveal that it takes him a couple of tries to get out of the pit and onto the track(!) and a couple of further tries to complete two laps. And he's not exatly a motering beginner.