Australian GP 2009 ( finally! )

[myurr]

Its still interesting that they put so little fuel into Lewis' car though...

This might be due to tire wear issues - I don't think Lewis will want to do a 1 stop strategy. About 19-20 laps is 'normal' for a 2 stop strategy so Hamilton is slightly lighter than that.

Last year Lewis ran to lap 18 and then 43. So it's in keeping with that strategy.

[Paul]

And also I think minus at least one lap worth of fuel for reconnaissance & formation laps.

[machin]

I guess McLaren are just covering all the bases by putting Kovalainon on a much longer first stint than Lewis....

[Tech_Racer]

The fuel usage figure that I saw was 2.42kg per 5km on average, with Melbourne being slightly higher at 2.48kg per 5km.

These numbers look more accurate. I've done some research and the burn rate per lap seems to be between 2.61 and 2.71 per lap so my 2.8 number was a bit high.

It will be interesting to cross-reference these numbers during the race.

[ben_watkins]

With this fuel data being available this season, i think it will be intersting to see how teams use it to switch their strategies by stopping early, or fueling longer at first pit stops to get longer middle stints in etc...

[ISLAMATRON]

What we dont know is if McLaren declared Lou's fuel load before or after they knew they'd be put back for the gearbox change... we also dont kno if they can change said fuel load becaiuse of the penalty.

Regardless they kinda took some of the intrigue out of the start of the race by telling us what everyone is holding.

[ISLAMATRON]

The fuel usage figure that I saw was 2.42kg per 5km on average, with Melbourne being slightly higher at 2.48kg per 5km.

These numbers look more accurate. I've done some research and the burn rate per lap seems to be between 2.61 and 2.71 per lap so my 2.8 number was a bit high.

It will be interesting to cross-reference these numbers during the race.

Are you guys using last years numbers even though RPM's have dropped 1K and drag has been reduced quite a bit?

[ISLAMATRON]

Its still interesting that they put so little fuel into Lewis' car though...

This might be due to tire wear issues - I don't think Lewis will want to do a 1 stop strategy. About 19-20 laps is 'normal' for a 2 stop strategy so Hamilton is slightly lighter than that.

How bout a 3 stopper? pit speed was raised this year, and its a pretty short pit lane.

[Tech_Racer]

How bout a 3 stopper?

I can see a few 3 stoppers - 2 fuel stops + 1 stop after the first lap to replace the huge front wing which the drivers can't even see!

[Tech_Racer]

Are you guys using last years numbers even though RPM's have dropped 1K and drag has been reduced quite a bit?

The numbers I came up with are from 'paddock gossip' so not reliable.

I don't think the 1k RPM drop would make much difference. It would be a very small amount of time the engine spent above 19k RPM last year and at 18k RPM this year. Even then it would only be about 5% difference.

Reduced drag is countered by decreased downforce which means decreased corner speed. So less time at the rev limit and lower fuel burn rate I think but not sure by how much.

[ESPImperium]

The fuel usage figure that I saw was 2.42kg per 5km on average, with Melbourne being slightly higher at 2.48kg per 5km.

These numbers look more accurate. I've done some research and the burn rate per lap seems to be between 2.61 and 2.71 per lap so my 2.8 number was a bit high.

It will be interesting to cross-reference these numbers during the race.

Id say that 2.61 and 2.71 is more accurate. Especially the 2.71kg per lap one.

That puts the Ferarri drivers one lap appart and makes the data more accurate overall.

However on my numbers, there are still some anomolies, Kubica being one, with him being 5kg lighter than Hamilton, but coming in one lap earlier than Hamilton, id say that Kubica will be in one lap before the data i have.

Hovever, looking at my data in a little more depth, some drivers will probably be coming in in fumes, as 3 drivers will have between 0.00 and 0.03 kilogrammes of fuel in their cars. That is to 2 decimal places.

However, i think the data i have is arround 98% accurate to about a lap or two.

I suspect that Heidfeld, Sutil, Nakajima and Piquet are all 1 stopping, and the rest are all two stopping, with Kubica and Hamilton posibly risking it with a 3 stopper.

[ISLAMATRON]

While I do think fuel consumption is down I'm sure it is by a small percentage, certainly less than 10%

By the way, fastest q2 time is 4 tenths faster this year than last, and with less power from the motor means increased corner speed(from the slicks) so probably more time spent near the rev limit, which is lower by 1k rpm.

[ISLAMATRON]

Id say that 2.61 and 2.71 is more accurate. Especially the 2.71kg per lap one.

That puts the Ferarri drivers one lap appart and makes the data more accurate overall.

How can they be 1 lap apart if they only have a 1.5 kg difference?

[Conceptual]

Didn't Adam Parr say that most teams had these diffusors for the last 2 years?

What would stop the teams from using 2008 gearbox/suspension on the '09 cars?

[ESPImperium]

Id say that 2.61 and 2.71 is more accurate. Especially the 2.71kg per lap one.

That puts the Ferarri drivers one lap appart and makes the data more accurate overall.

How can they be 1 lap apart if they only have a 1.5 kg difference?

Massa will pit on lap 17 and Kimi on lap 18.