Okay guys we are less than two weeks to go until the first race of the season! Lets talk about it. Who do you think will be doing well who's in who's out...ect.

I am hoping that Kimi, Rosberg, and my man DC do well. I also would like to see vettel do well i would think it should be an easy transistion for him.

 

F1..... Ftw

 

Michael S just got done testing for Ferrari, Rosberg's father signed his car as the champion livery is fulfilled and DRIVERS AIDS are to be removed! and yet no one is excited hmm.

 

Tyre compounds for the first nine Grands Prix of 2008:
Australia - soft, medium
Malaysia - medium, hard
Bahrain - soft, medium
Spain - medium, hard
Turkey - medium, hard
Monaco - super-soft, soft
Canada - super-soft, soft
France - soft, medium
Britain - medium, hard

 

Have the driver/manufacturer list been finalized? Any major updates to the rules (Cliff notes please) eg: mechanical LSDs ...

 

2008 season changesA number of changes to both the Sporting and Technical Regulations have been made by the FIA for the 2008 Formula One season.

Traction and launch control
Traction control - systems which prevent the rear wheels spinning if a driver applies too much power - are no longer permitted. This will place more emphasis on driver skill and should lead to more overtaking, as drivers are more likely to make mistakes. Similarly, systems that help the driver hold the clutch at a specific point to ensure an optimal getaway at the race start, have been outlawed.

Electronic Control Units (ECUs)
From 2008, all teams must use a standardised, FIA-approved ECU to control their cars' electronics. AS well as providing a more level playing field in this area of development, the new ECU - which must run FIA-approved software - will allow the FIA to monitor the cars' performance more closely.

Engine changes
As in 2007, drivers must use the same engine for two consecutive events. If that engine fails in final practice or qualifying and has to be changed ahead of the race, the driver will be given a grid penalty - 10 places if the change was made before qualifying, or the back of the grid if it was made following qualifying.

However, in an amendment for 2008, each driver is allowed one ‘free’ change per season, unless that change takes place at the final round. In other words, he will not incur a penalty for his first engine failure of the year, as long it is not at the last event.

Gearboxes
In a bid to further improve reliability and cut costs, gearboxes must now last for four consecutive Grand Prix meetings. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the relevant driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. If a driver fails to finish a race, he may start the next meeting with a new gearbox without incurring a penalty.

Qualifying
In a very slight tweak to the familiar knockout qualifying format, the duration of Q1 has been increased from 15 to 20 minutes, while that of Q3 has been cut from 15 to 10. Q2 remains 15-minutes long. Furthermore, cars participating in Q3 will no longer get back the fuel used in that session - they must now start the race with whatever fuel was left in the car at the end of qualifying, thus eliminating the need for the infamous 'fuel-burning' phase at the start of Q3.

Cockpit safety
One of the slightly more visible differences to the cars this season will be an increase in the height of the cockpit padding - and hence the cockpit sides - on either side of the driver’s helmet, a change that has been implemented to further increase head protection in the event of an impact.

Biofuel
As part of moves to make Formula One racing ever more environmentally friendly, the FIA has introduced a new rule governing fuel. From 2008, at least 5.75 percent of all fuel must contain biomatter and, as a result, all cars must be designed to be biofuel compliant.

 

Cool, I actually like the new rules they are implementing. This should help equalize things a little and make this more of a drivers race and less of a manufacturer's race. Now we'll get to see who has better skills a driver. (Wonders if Louis Hamilton was a fluke)

 

Im pulling for kimi as usual.

fastest driver + fastest car in pre season testing + a dominating melbourne performance in 07 = pretty damn good chances :-D

 

I can't wait...
Kimi is going to crush the field in Melbourne just like last year.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone in there new race seats and how the field will be set. Who's got the pace and who doesn't have there new car figurd out yet (BMW).
It will also be interesting to see if Super Aguri even show up on the grid. As of right now they still haven't even confirmed Davidson or done a single test with the new car.

 

ahh a man with a master plan indeed!

 

Hopefully with the new regs Aguri should have a better chance.

Without that traction control they customer cars should have a better chance. I am hoping for a lot of dice'ing all season.

 

I wonder how he will fair up with everyone else this year as well. I hear what you are saying but you have to admit that last year with everyone on the equal playing field (somewhat... well regarding traction control) it still showed driver skill.

This year should be really dependent on driver skill and esp. without McLaren sneaking around. lol

 

They have to be there to have a chance... Things aren't looking so good.

 

A quote from "Taming the beast" from F1
despite all the changes, the speed of the cars remains almost unaffected. The loss of the driver aids represents a loss of between three and four tenths per lap, a difference that is unnoticeable to the naked eye. More important, perhaps, is what the fans now know they are watching: 22 of the world’s best drivers, in total control of the most demanding racing cars on the planet

For Aguri yes I agree seeing as how they are going to jump into Australia with just 3 days of testing the SA08

 

I forgot to take one thing into account: kimi is the unluckiest driver in the history of f1