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Featured Sport News

Excitement mounts as F1 returns

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 25/03/2009

This weekend sees the return of Formula One to BBC television but the disappearance of those annoying ITV adverts will not be the only change viewers will notice.

The 2009 season sees the introduction of the most radical set of new rules in the sport for a generation and the results are likely to be apparent from the very first qualifying session at the Australian Grand Prix.

The main change which Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone tried to usher in last week, which would have resulted in the driver who won the most races being crowned world champion, will now not be implemented this season.

The body representing the F1 teams successfully argued the proposal came too late in the day so Ecclestone will have to wait until 2010 to see his idea come to fruition.

However, on the track there will be a series of wide-ranging rule changes with the headline ones concerning the shape of the cars and the make-up of the tyres.

Under new rules, front wings may now be wider, rear wings narrower and taller and a number of winglets which have crept in to designs in recent seasons have been outlawed.

The result will be cars which aesthetically appear much changed, but perhaps more significantly they will produce reduced downforce and therefore slower lap times.

Some commentators have suggested lap times could be up to three seconds slower than recent years, but this will be offset by the banning of grooved tyres.

This season sees the return of 'slick' tyres after ten seasons in the wilderness as part of a move to increase the emphasis on mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip.

With no grooves, grip will increase by around 20 per cent with the main effect of the two rule changes combined likely to be reduced performance through high-speed corners.

The other major technical change is the introduction of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to boost their car's performance.

The system is not compulsory but the art of recovering the normally wasted kinetic energy generated by the car's braking process is the advantage the KERS-friendly Brawn GP car had at pre-season testing.

The reincarnation of the Honda team managed to lap significantly faster than the likes of Ferrari and McLaren in Barcelona as they appear to have stolen a march on their rival constructors at this early stage, and could be worth a punt at current online betting prices.

Elsewhere, engine output has been reduced from 19,000rpm to 18,000rpm to further slow the pace, while drivers can only use eight engines during the 17-race season with strict punishments in place for those who exceed the limit.

Formula One powerbrokers hope the new rules will result in more competitive racing between each of the ten teams which will begin the season in Melbourne.

Reaction from drivers and fans has been mixed, but as ever the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

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