February Test Thread

[axle]

Massa managed a 1.31.4 in free practice 2 last year. So to be a second away from that is indeed quite ominous! Unless heat is the factor...

[Scotracer]

On a track like Bahrain particularly - it has a few high speed corners and I didn't expect the 2009 cars to be particularly quick there. I have a sneaking suspicion they will be faster than 2008 cars around Melbourne.

[axle]

On a track like Bahrain particularly - it has a few high speed corners and I didn't expect the 2009 cars to be particularly quick there. I have a sneaking suspicion they will be faster than 2008 cars around Melbourne.

I'm guessing all the "slow" circuits are going to be faster due to mechanical grip increases. Monaco will be a blur!

[timbo]

Those times are getting seriously close to last year's qualifying times. Very encouraging.

They actually improved by half-a-second.

[Scotracer]

Monaco, Hungaroring, Magny-Cours and Singapore are going to be ridiculously fast. They may even need to adjust the run off zones!

They actually improved by half-a-second.

I'm going off Q1 and Q2 times as Q3 had a lot of fuel and I suspect those times we saw today were low-fuel runs.

[timbo]

I'm going off Q1 and Q2 times as Q3 had a lot of fuel and I suspect those times we saw today were low-fuel runs.

That's true, but remember that track surface is still not perfect (in any way there's only three cars to lay some rubber) and they always seem to be able to gain a second or more at the race weekend.

[Scotracer]

I think by the time we're at Bahrain we'll be going faster than 2008 as more aero updates will be around, better weight distribution and better tyre/KERS management.

[yzfr7]

I agree the teams are improving a lot over the rule changes. But still, Toro Rosso was constantly 2s faster than anybody else, same track, same day, same conditions, so 2009 spec cars are still a lot slower than 2008 spec. And I don't see the situation inverting so soon.

[timbo]

so 2009 spec cars are still a lot slower than 2008 spec. And I don't see the situation inverting so soon.

That's correct BUT they are not slower than 2008 cars, but rather 2008 cars on slicks.
So we are on "IF" scenario already which is a bit pointless.
(imagine 2004 cars on slicks...)

[ESPImperium]

One thing i was thinking about today is gearbox ratios of 19000rpm to 18000rpm.

Would it make sence to "detune" the gearbox, by lowering the ratios as this could make the car respond like a 19000rpm car would.

What would the best way for the drive train to work to the 2009 regs relating this???

[ISLAMATRON]

One thing i was thinking about today is gearbox ratios of 19000rpm to 18000rpm.

Would it make sence to "detune" the gearbox, by lowering the ratios as this could make the car respond like a 19000rpm car would.

What would the best way for the drive train to work to the 2009 regs relating this???

The max RPM change down to 18K is not the only thing that will change how the gearing is selected. They must also consider the new drag/downforce ratio which will probably affect the top speed of the cars on the straights. The slicks will probably give them more mechanical grip in the slowest corner raising the lowest speed. Also the KERS giving a 80 hp boost on the longest straight will help bump up the top speed.

So what they will do for the most part is take the lowest and highest speeds for any given track and spread the 7 forward gears evenly over those speeds to keep the engine in its sweetspot for the most time.

Also dont forget they can change the final drive ratio, which lso changes the gription charateristics.

[Scotracer]

Since torque characteristics are pretty much identical and only a drop in RPM the ratios will be varied according to the new top speeds and minimum speeds (next year I suspect min speed will be higher and so will top-speed).

After my own calculations I suspect top speeds will be 4-5km/h lower (IF drag is the same) due to the rev drop and the KERS possibly will give that back, and then a little more on the fastest straights (if it's used there).

[Miguel]

Monaco, Hungaroring, Magny-Cours and Singapore are going to be ridiculously fast. They may even need to adjust the run off zones!

Magny-Cours will certainly be slower. I don't know if Turn1 is full throttle now, but Estoril certainly isn't. These cars will be considerably slower in Estoril and pay for it in the long straight that follows. The cars will also be slower in the fast chicanes (Imola and Nurburgring), but that won't affect laptime that much. Overall I expect these cars to only be faster in the hairpin and in the final corners (complexe du lycee). Maybe also in Chateaux d'eau.

[Scotracer]

Monaco, Hungaroring, Magny-Cours and Singapore are going to be ridiculously fast. They may even need to adjust the run off zones!

Magny-Cours will certainly be slower. I don't know if Turn1 is full throttle now, but Estoril certainly isn't. These cars will be considerably slower in Estoril and pay for it in the long straight that follows. The cars will also be slower in the fast chicanes (Imola and Nurburgring), but that won't affect laptime that much. Overall I expect these cars to only be faster in the hairpin and in the final corners (complexe du lycee). Maybe also in Chateaux d'eau.

I expect them to be faster in:

-Adelaide
-180
-Châteaux d'Eau (mainly difference in traction)
-Complex du Lycée

Slower in:

-Estoril
-Imola
-Nurburgring

Turn 1 is easy-flat in the V8 F1 cars so I expect it to remain so in 2009. But, the French GP no longer runs so it's all conjecture

[modbaraban]

Magny-Cours

http://www.formula1.com/races/calendar.html