F.1 2009 discussion and SDC F.1 Pool

by **newsartist** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:47 pm

Cars start going fast and turning both ways tomorrow in Australia.

It is time for the Fourth Annual SDC F.1 Championship Pool!

The Rules are as in past years. Everybody gets to choose three drivers. That forms their 'team' for any given week. Every official point granted to those drivers, after the dust of protests has settled, counts toward your season championship.

You MAY CHANGE DRIVERS every race! For the first three races the change deadline is the drop of the race Green. After that it reverts to the roll out of the first car in qualifying.

I will keep score, and act as the Race Steward.

The prize is the same as the entry fee. Zilch. The pool is open to anyone who posts on Free Space. Pick three different drivers, and post them here before the deadline and you are in. No points for picking one driver three times in a given week.

No need to post every time if you keep the same drivers. If no post makes it by deadline, you are scored for your previous race drivers.

One new Rule for '09, to prevent folks from tying up the Steward's time if they hit and run. If you miss three consecutive races without posting in the thread, (discussion or Pool related,) you are a DNQ with no points until you reenter. Points gained before the absence are still on the books. But, you've got to show up once in a while!

An exception to that would be someone who tells us that they will be away for X-number of races, (vacation/work, etc.) That person may PRE POST race entries, the same or by specific race.

If, (and this has happened to us more than we like to remember,) there is a Board Crash and you are unable to meet deadline, you may contact me, or any of the previous regulars via any means of Email, or other websites, and we will sort it out.

New members can join at any time during the season, but like a new team joining the real Circus, their points start at that moment, with no 'pro-rating'.

This thread is also for discussion about the sport. You can post without participating in the Pool. (Although, why any true F.1 aficianado would do so is beyond my limited reasoning ability.)

THIS is the year that I knock that Kiwi off his perch!

by **star_sirius** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:32 am

Very intriguing words you put there, that would attract some speed wizzers out there to fall in.

Where the heck is SpaceKiwi? He would go

not to turn up soon!!

THIS is the year that I knock that Kiwi off his perch!

Bring it on! SK comes for the rescue or I'm running out of vocabulary soon.... :twisted:

by **star_sirius** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:49 am

2009 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (FRIDAY PRACTICE 1)
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:26.687 19
2 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:26.736 0.049 21
3 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:26.750 0.063 24
4 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:27.226 0.539 21
5 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.453 0.766 15
6 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:27.467 0.780 12
7 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:27.642 0.955 24
8 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:27.710 1.023 24
9 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:27.993 1.306 20
10 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:28.123 1.436 16
11 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:28.137 1.450 20
12 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:28.142 1.455 21
13 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:28.511 1.824 22
14 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:28.603 1.916 16
15 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:28.785 2.098 27
16 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:29.042 2.355 18
17 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:29.081 2.394 7
18 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:29.461 2.774 25
19 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:29.499 2.812 21
20 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:32.784 6.097 4

2008 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX(FRIDAY PRACTICE 1)
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:26.461 25
2 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.948 0.487 21
3 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:26.958 0.497 25
4 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.114 0.653 19
5 10 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:28.263 1.802 18
6 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:28.360 1.899 22
7 4 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:28.579 2.118 12
8 12 Timo Glock Toyota 1:28.913 2.452 16
9 15 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1:28.957 2.496 22
10 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:29.014 2.553 23
11 16 Jenson Button Honda 1:29.124 2.663 25
12 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:29.230 2.769 24
13 9 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:29.301 2.840 5
14 14 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:29.363 2.902 32
15 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:29.533 3.072 17
16 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:29.561 3.100 7
17 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:30.155 3.694 13
18 6 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:30.357 3.896 21
19 18 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:31.048 4.587 7
20 19 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:31.771 5.310 7
21 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:35.053 8.592 7
22 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota No time 3

Did anyone notice that coincidentally the two Williams-Toyota drivers have jumped from the bottom last year to the top this year. Is there anything significant to cause that to happen I wonder?

2009 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (FRIDAY PRACTICE 2)
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:26.053 36
2 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.157 0.104 38
3 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:26.350 0.297 42
4 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:26.370 0.317 30
5 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.374 0.321 38
6 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:26.443 0.390 42
7 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:26.560 0.507 33
8 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:26.740 0.687 19
9 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:27.040 0.987 29
10 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:27.064 1.011 35
11 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.204 1.151 32
12 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:27.232 1.179 28
13 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:27.282 1.229 32
14 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:27.317 1.264 34
15 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:27.398 1.345 36
16 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:27.479 1.426 36
17 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.802 1.749 35
18 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.813 1.760 31
19 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:27.828 1.775 35
20 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:28.076 2.023 33

by **Smersh** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:23 am

The BBC has a new all singing and all dancing circuit guide thingy for this season, with a 3d diagram that can be turned around and clicked on to zoom in or get get any view you like it seems, as well as all sorts of information. To see a driver's view of a lap, click on "Driver's Lap." (Commentary by Mark Webber.)

Here's the guide for all the circuits in order, with Melbourne at the top of the list.

by **SpeedFreek** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:26 pm

star_sirius wrote:
Did anyone notice that coincidentally the two Williams-Toyota drivers have jumped from the bottom last year to the top this year. Is there anything significant to cause that to happen I wonder?

This is the start of a major controversy in the sport. This years rules were designed such that they essentially limited the use of rear diffusers, which are a major contributer to the downforce of the car. But BrawnGP, Toyota and Williams have spotted a loop-hole in the rules and have come up with something that acts like a diffuser, using the rear crash structure. They submitted their designs to the FIA technical delegate, Charlie Whiting, who approved them.

None of the other teams thought of doing it, and it seems as if the "loop hole" design is a major advantage to those three teams. Of course, the other teams are complaining about it, but the cars have been deemed legal to race for the first races, with a review coming after Malaysia.

FIA aware of rear diffuser issue
Technical analysis: Diffuser debacle
Melbourne stewards reject diffuser protest
Diffusers dominate build-up to first practice

by **Smersh** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:18 pm

SpeedFreek wrote:
star_sirius wrote:
Did anyone notice that coincidentally the two Williams-Toyota drivers have jumped from the bottom last year to the top this year. Is there anything significant to cause that to happen I wonder?

This is the start of a major controversy in the sport. This years rules were designed such that they essentially limited the use of rear diffusers, which are a major contributer to the downforce of the car. But BrawnGP, Toyota and Williams have spotted a loop-hole in the rules and have come up with something that acts like a diffuser, using the rear crash structure. They submitted their designs to the FIA technical delegate, Charlie Whiting, who approved them.

None of the other teams thought of doing it, and it seems as if the "loop hole" design is a major advantage to those three teams. Of course, the other teams are complaining about it, but the cars have been deemed legal to race for the first races, with a review coming after Malaysia.

FIA aware of rear diffuser issue
Technical analysis: Diffuser debacle
Melbourne stewards reject diffuser protest
Diffusers dominate build-up to first practice

That does indeed seem to be the explanation then why teams like Williams have dominated the practice sessions so far. I would imagine that if they don't change the rules after Malaysia, the other teams will be quick to follow suit and modify their own rear crash structures, won't they?

Btw News, for the first few races this season, as in previous pools, is the deadline for getting our picks in still before the start of the race itself, or is it before the qualis for all the grand prixs?

(Edit) ...

newsartist wrote: ...
You MAY CHANGE DRIVERS every race! For the first three races the change deadline is the drop of the race Green. After that it reverts to the roll out of the first car in qualifying ...

Ok I missed that bit for some reason first time I read the rules, cheers! :oops:

by **newsartist** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:26 pm

Smersh wrote:
SpeedFreek wrote:
star_sirius wrote:Ok I missed that bit for some reason first time I read the rules, cheers!

...like before I edited it?

Speaking of times. Has anybody noticed if the timestamp on this new board changes if a person edits a post?

Newsartist is going with:

Hamilton, Heidfeld, Alonso

Everybody watch the time/date on this race!

by **Smersh** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:02 pm

newsartist wrote:
Smersh wrote:Ok I missed that bit for some reason first time I read the rules, cheers!

...like before I edited it?

Ah ok, I didn't notice that either! I shall officially retract the :oops:

smiley now you've let me off the hook. :lol:

newsartist wrote:Speaking of times. Has anybody noticed if the timestamp on this new board changes if a person edits a post?

I haven't noticed if the times next to the username at the top of the post change, but I do know that a post only shows as an edit with a time stamp at the bottom if the edit is made after another post has been made. As long as a post is still the latest post in a thread, it can be edited an unlimted number of times without it showing at the bottom as an edit with a time stamp.

newsartist wrote: Newsartist is going with:

Hamilton, Heidfeld, Alonso

Everybody watch the time/date on this race!

Ok copied that.

by **star_sirius** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:35 pm

SpeedFreek wrote:
star_sirius wrote:
Did anyone notice that coincidentally the two Williams-Toyota drivers have jumped from the bottom last year to the top this year. Is there anything significant to cause that to happen I wonder?

This is the start of a major controversy in the sport. This years rules were designed such that they essentially limited the use of rear diffusers, which are a major contributer to the downforce of the car. But BrawnGP, Toyota and Williams have spotted a loop-hole in the rules and have come up with something that acts like a diffuser, using the rear crash structure. They submitted their designs to the FIA technical delegate, Charlie Whiting, who approved them.

None of the other teams thought of doing it, and it seems as if the "loop hole" design is a major advantage to those three teams. Of course, the other teams are complaining about it, but the cars have been deemed legal to race for the first races, with a review coming after Malaysia.

FIA aware of rear diffuser issue
Technical analysis: Diffuser debacle
Melbourne stewards reject diffuser protest
Diffusers dominate build-up to first practice

Thanks, good findings. Have somethings to read before picking.

Hey, it's less than 2 hours to the qualifying, so I don't need to pick before quali for the first three races?
Heya, Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) again finished strong for the SATURDAY PRACTICE, does anyone of you consider picking him?

Newsartist is going with:

Hamilton, Heidfeld, Alonso

Everybody watch the time/date on this race!

For some reasons I wouldn't pick Alonso yet, dunno why?

The Kimmi and Mclarens seem to struggle a bit? Massa not too bad. Sheesh! Doesn't anyone know where to get a nice streaming for quali? Even the choppy ones will do,

my old streaming channels are gone gone gone!!!

by **Smersh** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:12 am

star_sirius wrote: ... Doesn't anyone know where to get a nice streaming for quali? Even the choppy ones will do, my old streaming channels are gone gone gone!!!

Hi SS. I use Justin TV sometimes to watch football and there's various channels to choose from, but the quality varies. There are several F1 channels atm I just noticed, including a feed from the Beeb here:

http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports

Good luck!

by **Smersh** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:15 am

I'm not very impressed with the appearance of the new cars I have to say - they all look like dinky toys to me.

Maybe it's intentional to make them look more "low budget" in the current climate.

Still, hopefully the racing will improve as they say it will.

Here's my picks anyway:

Jenson Button
Sebastian Vettel
Robert Kubica

by **SpeedFreek** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:16 am

Late Breaking news!

Toyota duo excluded from qualifying

by **Smersh** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:21 am

SpeedFreek wrote:Late Breaking news!

Toyota duo excluded from qualifying

Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli have been stripped of their grid positions for the Australian Grand Prix for a flexible wing infringement

Hmmm ... interesting. I'll keep the same picks though.

by **SpeedFreek** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:27 am

My picks:

Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello
Robert Kubica

by **SpaceKiwi** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:27 pm

I've felt duty-bound to include Vettel due to Brendan Hartley's imminent rise to F1 superstardom with Red Bull/Toro Rosso, so my picks look like this ...

Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello
Sebastian Vettel

It's roll the dice time really so might as well go with Qualy until we see some form on the track this season. Will be very interesting to see how Brawn get on with their "controversial" diffuser. One suspects it's only controversial to those teams who didn't interpret the rules as cleverly.

SK

by **Smersh** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:49 pm

Ah welcome back SK and just in time for your picks. :mrgreen:

Depending on the result of the race, I guess some teams will be whinging about the new rules for some while yet. Not sure how they're going to diffuse the situation.

by **star_sirius** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:29 pm

Smersh wrote:
star_sirius wrote: ... Doesn't anyone know where to get a nice streaming for quali? Even the choppy ones will do, my old streaming channels are gone gone gone!!!

Hi SS. I use Justin TV sometimes to watch football and there's various channels to choose from, but the quality varies. There are several F1 channels atm I just noticed, including a feed from the Beeb here:

http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports

Good luck!

Thanks for that, Smersh. I didn't realize this and I ended up watching "Australia".

This diffusing thing is rather confusing eh?

Honda must be kicking themselves spending double time developing the engine while Brawn GP gets the glory.

My picks for today: (No ferrari, no McLaren, it's a "flip a coin" race, go with the flow, I still think Kubi is the most experienced driver at the top )

Jenson Button
Robert Kubica
Rubens Barrichello

Hey SK, good to see ya, chat later......lunch time!!! :idea:

by **newsartist** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:38 pm

Guys, this is getting confusing!

Can you PLEASE clear off non-essential quotes from your posts. I am in serious danger in not seeing an entry because I thought I had read that part several times already!

Posting picks in bold is good too!

So far, with two hours and a bit to go, I have:

newsartist: Hamilton, Heidfeld, Alonso
Smersh: Button, Vettel, Kubica
SpeedFreek: Button, Barrichello, Kubica
SpaceKiwi: Button, Barrichello, Vettel
StarSirius: Button, Kubica, Barrichello

Where is everybody? Five teams on the grid is not up to our standard.

Let's see if the RAAF beats up the prerace this year with their Hornets. It was entertaining last year to see the noise-hardened mechanics, (wearing Mickey Mouse's,) flinch as they went by with the Loud Levers full forward.

by **star_sirius** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:02 pm

newsartist wrote:Guys, this is getting confusing!

Can you PLEASE clear off non-essential quotes from your posts. I am in serious danger in not seeing an entry because I thought I had read that part several times already!

Posting picks in bold is good too!

So far, with two hours and a bit to go, I have:

newsartist: Hamilton, Heidfeld, Alonso
Smersh: Button, Vettel, Kubica
SpeedFreek: Button, Barrichello, Kubica
SpaceKiwi: Button, Barrichello, Vettel
StarSirius: Button, Kubica, Barrichello

Where is everybody? Five teams on the grid is not up to our standard.

Let's see if the RAAF beats up the prerace this year with their Hornets. It was entertaining last year to see the noise-hardened mechanics, (wearing Mickey Mouse's,) flinch as they went by with the Loud Levers full forward.

Wow! That makes 4's SSSS and 1 N. Did you inform hicup? This is not an affiliated marketing for the newbies but where are you dudes and dudettes out there????? I wonder where are Flynn, qzzq?

by **Smersh** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:03 am

Hi News, I agree with you about the quotes (although I've made a few myself so I'm as guilty as anyone,) and a couple of weeks ago I started a thread in Talkback suggesting that imo the quote backround colour should be a bit darker than the light blue it is now, so they stand out better and are easier to distinguish from currently posted text. Nobody else so far has posted in that thread though.

Personally, I've been finding the quotes a problem in all the threads because they make the threads so confusing, because of the colour.

Btw, you've got the picks correct in your post there I reckon.

Warm-up lap just starting as I write, at 0700 BST.

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