Nick Heidfeld Robert Kubica
Romain Grosjean test driver
|
Kazuki Nakajima
Nico Rosberg
Giancarlo Fisichella
Adrian Sutil
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Sebastien Buemi
Sebastien Bourdais
Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner, Team Principal
Toyota Racing
BMW Sauber
Ferrari
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Renault
AT&T Williams
Force India
Team Principal Stefano Domenicali
2009 Formula One Rule Changes
With slick tires, significantly reduced downforce and energy
recovery systems giving them temporary boosts of extra power,
Formula 1 cars are going to be very different animals this year.
There are significant changes in the size of the cars with the
maximum width increasing from 1800mm to 2000mm and the
minimum width being no less than 1980mm, which more or less
standardises the cars. Wheels will increase from a maximum of
355mm at the front to 365mm and at the rear from 380mm to
460mm, putting more rubber on the road.
There are changes to the bodywork rules with an increase in the
allowed width between the wheels. It is significant that the
maximum bodywork behind the rear wheels is being increased to
2000mm up from the current 1000mm. This will mean that there
is more scope for creating downforce and ground effect. There
are complicated new rules about the way in which rear wings can
operate with new measuring techniques and insistence on rigid
supports. The ’09 aero regs include a front wing with a
standardised middle section that will be much less
aerodynamically effective than current wings, as well as
restrictions to upper body downforce-generating barge boards
and winglets, all slightly offset by a more powerful underbody
diffuser.
The weight remains much the same, moving from 600kg to 605kg.
The new Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) devices are
the only place where enregy can be stored and these must never
have more than 60kW and energy released must not exceed
400kJ in the course of one lap.
There will be FIA-designated electronic control units and these
may only use software that is FIA-approved. In addition to that
competitors must have a means of removing all fuel from the
car. Voic eradio communication must be open and accessible to
both the FIA and, where appropriate, broadcasters. The
cockpits will be fitted with red, blue and yellow lights to give
drivers information concerning track signals or conditions.
There will also be a warning light that will be linked to the FIA
accident data recorder which will indicate the severity of an
accident so that rescue crews will be immediately aware if the
impact was a dangerous one.
Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina
Team Principal Frank Williams
Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh
Team Principal Flavio Briatore
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen
Formula 1 teams agree to emergency cost-reduction measures
For the 2009 season:
* A ban on all in-season testing, except during race-weekend practice sessions.
* The same engine must be used for three, rather than two, consecutive events. Each
driver is allowed a maximum of eight engines per season (four additional for
race-weekend test sessions). Maximum rpm is limited to 18,000.
* All F1 team factories must shut down completely for six weeks per year.
* The number of team personnel traveling to race events will be reduced.
* Wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics aerodynamic research will be reduced.
* One team, Renault has been allowed to make performance modifications for 2009, to
help equalize power output. It is believed these changes will amount to a cost savings
of roughly 30% for automobile manufacturer teams and perhaps as much as 50% for
the privateer teams compared with the 2008 season.
Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal
Team Principal: Franz Tost
|
Brawn GP
Ross Brawn, Team Principal
Rubens Barrichello
Jenson Button