Is desastor bound for spa?

[Alianora La Canta]

The BBC TV commentary said that McLaren's upgrades in Germany were the final batch for 2009. I think they've given up on this car.

[Jericoke]

The BBC TV commentary said that McLaren's upgrades in Germany were the final batch for 2009. I think they've given up on this car.

Um... so what is McLaren doing?

Not developing this car, but without a set of rules for next year, what are they working on?

[Alianora La Canta]

Jericoke, I guess McLaren are going to guess. When it comes to figuring out the point of their guessing, your guess is as good as mine.

[John S]

The BBC TV commentary said that McLaren's upgrades in Germany were the final batch for 2009. I think they've given up on this car.

Um... so what is McLaren doing?

Not developing this car, but without a set of rules for next year, what are they working on?

If Formula one stays intact it will be 2009 rules for 2010 surely, isn't that what FOTA has proposed and been fighting for?

The only difference may be no refuelling, so a bigger tank may be needed.

[Alianora La Canta]

The trouble is that Max's behaviour means that McLaren can't depend on those rules being in place for 2010 and if the breakaway occurs, there's no guarantee that the 2009 rules will be used.

[SennaMan]

The BBC TV commentary said that McLaren's upgrades in Germany were the final batch for 2009. I think they've given up on this car.

Um... so what is McLaren doing?

Not developing this car, but without a set of rules for next year, what are they working on?

If Formula one stays intact it will be 2009 rules for 2010 surely, isn't that what FOTA has proposed and been fighting for?

The only difference may be no refuelling, so a bigger tank may be needed.

yeah John - and better drivers i.e. those who can alter their style during the race to manage the increased tyre wear

who do ya think will have difficulty doing that?

[John S]

I think all the hard chargers will find it difficult to adjust, so I guess Lewis, Kubica, Massa, Kimi and even Vettel may struggle to hold back.

I also think this no re-fuelling rule will give some of the cars a hard time, currently Ferrari, BMW and Toyota would be my choice for problems.

[lkjohnson1950]

There will still be plenty of pitstops for tire changes. Tire management will be important, but no more so than now I think.

Lonny

[John S]

With no refueling does anyone know what will happen in final qualifying next year, will they have to run on full tanks or will we be back to the absolute fastest car on low fuel takes pole? 

[Alianora La Canta]

I think the plan is for final qualifying to be on empty tanks, but nothing is set in stone.

[Jericoke]

I think the plan is for final qualifying to be on empty tanks, but nothing is set in stone.

As a question of safety... the lighter cars are easier to control, but gasoline fumes are more dangerous than liquid gasoline, i.e., a full gas tank is actually safer than one that is near empty.

The cars will continue to use fuel strategies... different weather, track conditions and tire allotments will lead to different projections on gasoline used.  Teams will put in the very least fuel possible.  If they make cars qualify on racing fuel loads, it will change the strategy that much more:  a car at the front without anyone to pass will use less gas!  Thus a gamble to run a light car in qualifying can pay off on race day.

[Andy B]

With no refueling does anyone know what will happen in final qualifying next year, will they have to run on full tanks or will we be back to the absolute fastest car on low fuel takes pole? 

Oh! I hope so!!!

[Scott]

As a question of safety... the lighter cars are easier to control, but gasoline fumes are more dangerous than liquid gasoline, i.e., a full gas tank is actually safer than one that is near empty.

With the fuel tank technology they use these days, fires in accidents are extremely rare, full tank or empty.  The only fires I can remember in recent years were during refuelling.

The cars will continue to use fuel strategies... different weather, track conditions and tire allotments will lead to different projections on gasoline used.  Teams will put in the very least fuel possible.  If they make cars qualify on racing fuel loads, it will change the strategy that much more:  a car at the front without anyone to pass will use less gas!  Thus a gamble to run a light car in qualifying can pay off on race day.

I can't see much in fuel strategy taking place, unless teams are banking on a certain number of safety car laps per race, and if they cut it that close, they will risk running out of fuel before the end of the race if it is a clean race.  Plus being at the front could actually mean you use more fuel since the driver is going all out at full rpm's while someone stuck behind a slower car could actually use less.  But again, I think you might be talking about a lap difference at the most.

[Jericoke]

There will still be plenty of pitstops for tire changes. Tire management will be important, but no more so than now I think.

Lonny

The weight of the car will affect tire wear.  If Bridgestone sticks to the current 2 compound rule, there will be far less variety in tire strategy:  everyone will start on the hard compound.

I'm going to wager that some designers might try to create a car that can run an entire race on the harder compound, or at the very least keep the car competitive until the last 20 laps, and sprint on the softs.