The 2009 Australian GP is in the books and the F1 world stands amazed at the efforts of Brawn GP. With Jenson taking the win and Rubens taking 2nd, the team has pulled out to an unexpected early lead in the constructors championship. And while some may contend that Australia isn’t the best test of their true pace, Jenson’s car was pulling away from the field at all stages of the race. Rubens had a bit more trouble though, “It was really tough for me at the start as the…
Read MoreCategory: Formula 1
Get updates on the FiA’s traveling circus!
Just When You Thought it Was Safe
Just when you thought it was safe to venture back onto the race track, Red Bull has announced David Coulthard is in special reserve in case one of the Red Bull drivers are unable to race in the early stages of the 09 campaign. Granted we have no reason to believe that young Vettel has much to worry about unless the RBR’s suspension fails completely as it did last year for the first few races. This reserve is probably more in tune with Mark Webber who suffered a nasty bike/car…
Read MoreSafety Paramount in Oz
The Australian Grand Prix venue has undergone changes to the layout in order to protect drivers in the case of an off track excursion. Last year Timo Glock took the Panasonic Toyota off road in a scary accident that slightly injured the German and had many people in arms over the safety of Melbourne after past accidents involving Alonso and Schumacher. Amongst the changes on course is is a flattening of the exit in turn 12. Similar changes include extending the curbing, and increasing the amount of artificial grass exiting…
Read MoreShould Brawn Have Kept Jenson??
Much controversy was made about Brawn GP and the driver lineup that was selected this off season. Granted we here at openpaddock.net were stunned to see Rubens Barichello survive, some are questioning Ross’s decision in keeping Jenson Button. One of the leading voices in this argument is none other than John Surtees. Usually we have former champions making weird comments all season and really playing Monday morning quarterback, it is sort of surprising however that after a stellar testing session for Jenson Button and Brawn GP that folks are questioning…
Read MoreFIA Resigns New Point Sytem to 2010
After the FIA announced the WMSC decisions taken on Monday, the F1 media, the teams, the drivers and even the past champions were in a bit of an uproar. The FIA unilaterally decided that the point system be changed so that the driver who had the most wins in the 2009 season and beyond would be the winner of the World Driver’s Championship, regardless of if he had more points than anyone else. This on top of new sweeping regulations for 2010 which would call for a voluntary team budget…
Read MoreWMSC Meeting & FOTA
The FIA World Motorsport Council (WMSC) met this morning and we are bracing for the backlash that is already starting. The FIA have decided that the F1 driver who has the most wins in the 2009 season will assume the drivers championship mantle. The 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points will still be paid as last year and will be applied to determining the constructors championship and will also be used to decide 2nd-22nd in the drivers standings. In the event there is a tie for most wins, then the driver points will break…
Read MoreFOTA Flexing Muscle
FOTA (Formula One Teams Association). The name itself seems almost intentionally picked by the teams to remind us of FOCA (Formula One Constructors Association) which was dominated by Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley Recall in the 80’s that FOCA was at odds with the sports governing body at the time, FISA. The resolution of this conflict left Mosley in charge of the FIA and Ecclestone in charge of Formula One Administration. Ecclestone and Mosley have continued to work together in what many would consider the most lucrative relationship in all…
Read MoreF1 – The Trials of Testing
A more accurate title could be “F1 Turned Upside Down”. There is no way that anyone can analyze the testing times from this week at Jerez without being shocked that Rubens broke the track record in a Brawn car, clearing the rest of the field by a half second. In the two weeks that Brawn has been on track, they have put up competitive times across the board. Where is this pace coming from? This car is fresh out of the box from a team that most didn’t even think…
Read MoreBrawn GP Buzz!!
Formula 1 testing began to wind down in Barcelona and the buzz was all about Brawn GP who actually led the session at one point.While I never doubted Ross Brawn’s technical genius, I would be lying if I said that I am not impressed with 4th quickest on the day.
Read More