Spanish GP Quali Round up.... Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 11:41 PM

Its the Spanish GP weekend. And its also marks the start of European leg of the season, which in turn marks the start of the real 2010 season..4 fly-away races has gone, and not a single team can claim that they have all on the table by now....but yesterday's qualifying again saw the reign of the Bulls (the clinched 5 out of 5 quali this season)...Webber out-qualify his team mate Vettel by .09 of a second..but the headline of yesterday's quali was the gap between webber and all the other chasing pack leads by lewis hamilton that stands at almost a second!...that is how far the bull has running away from all the other teams..

behind lewis in p4 is the home hero and ferrari ace Fernando Alonso..2 times GP winner this season, Jenson Button is in p5 ahead of 7 times world champ Michael Schumacher..at last, the old man show some of his talent that takes him to the unprecedented 7 times world champion. the longer wheelbase and more turn-in setup does himself a favor..this is the first time michael out-qualify his rather modest team mate Nico Rosberg...

"Flying pole" Robert Kubica does pretty remarkable job by taking his lackluster Renault car to P7 ahead of Nico Rosberg MGP W01...Felipe Massa in Ferrari is only able to snatch P9...he's showing nothing this weekend..does that indicates that ferrari has a problem or is Fernando's so much faster than Massa's time?...P10 however is the suprise package whereas "banzai" Kobayashi finally made a name for himself..he got himself p10 with a great showing in Q2...however the mysterious team call on Q3 doesn't do the japanese justice as he's showing so much more potential yesterday.

as for the newbies small league again show the reign of Team Lotus whereby their improvement package is showing so much potential. their claim of having cut a second of frontrunner's pace seems believable too...by looking at today's performance, im not surprised to see Lotus snatch 1 or 2 odd point by the end of the year....

-Have a nice day-

=Cheers=-

Webber edges Hamilton Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 11:02 PM

Mark Webber tops the timesheet for the 3rd practice session here in Sepang. he snatches the P1 on a last minute assault on the time set before by Lewis Hamilton. Three drivers at the top of the timesheet (Webber, Hamilton and Vettel) are covered by just 0.017s.

Meanwhile Fernando Alonso's Ferrari car are also flying this session if it's not because of a traffic of Vitaly Petrov on the last sector. He completed the session on P4. Michael Schumacher is the fastest Merc driver on P5 leading his teammate Nico on P6. Massa's Ferrari is struggling with the soft tyre and his stint with prime tyre is a lot faster than his stint in option.

Click here for a full result:

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2010/826/6715/

Red Bull are looking strong for their third consecutive pole position here today. However hamilton's form are looking fairly strong too. With the heavy shower predicted for the qualifying session later this afternoon, anything still can happen and we are in for another treat.

Until Then,

Have a nice day
-=Cheers=-

Sepang technical infomation Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 1:33 PM

Car dynamic

Average turn angle : 139°

This angle indicates the average angle of a circuit's expressed in degree. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute corners in circuit's configuration and hence the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. In Sepang, it has one of the highest average angle in the F1's calendar and as a consequence of the circuit physical layout, an understeering car will have a punitive effect on lap time.

End of Straight (E.O.S) speed : 12th fastest

Sepang rank as the 12th fastest EOS across the championship. And this one indicator of the wing level typically selected to optimise the downforce/drag ratioed.


Pit Lane Strategy

The pitlane length and architechture (ie, corner in the pitlane entry) contribute to the optimum pit stop strategy. The pitlane loss is approximately 22 seconds, that makes it as the 5th most penalising pitlane in the championship. Meanwhile to complete a normal 5km around the Sepang circuit requires 2.38kg of fuel against an average of 2.42kg per 5km across all circuit in the championship, making Sepang circuit the 5th most demanding track of the year in term of fuel consumption.

Safety Car

Another key contributor to the determination of race strategy is the deployment of safety car, which are influenced by weather conditions. The availability of clear run-off areas that allow racing to continue while recovery takes place and the circuit profile, especially the character of the entry and exit into turn one at the start of the race. Since 2002, there has been only 2 times the safety car has been deployed, making in statistically unlikely that the circuit character, based on historic data, will induce safety car period.

Temperature, pressure and humidity

Sepang is 40m above sea level and has an average pressure (1004.41 mbar) when compared to other venues. As a consequence, the circuit ambient characteristics will be average for engine performance across all tracks in the calendar.

Circuit snapshot

Sepang 5..543km purpose-built circuit provides a blend of medium and high speed corners interspersed with several slow speed sections and blisteringly fast straights. Such a dynamics circuit poses a particular challenge for the drivers and their engineers as a quick lap depends on a car with a well balanced set-up for the complex mix of corners, plenty of power for the straights and sufficient cooling capabilities to counterbalance the extreme of temperature and powerful humidity.

With temperature reaching 40°C in Sepang, climatic conditions can play a significant role in the outcome of Malaysian GP. Coupled with the high humidity level and constant threat of heavy downpours, the drivers and their cars will be push to their thermal limit. As temperatures soar, so will the heat of the cockpit, and the drivers physical and mental fitness level will be severely tested as they lose over a litre of fluid per hour in the race.

Sepang is not regarded as the power circuit, with the time spent on full throttle is relatively low, but containing the oil temperatures in the extreme heat, while not compromising aerodynamics efficiency, will be imperative for their reliability.

Until Then,

Have a nice day
-=Cheers=-

Hamilton 2 out of 2 Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 1:25 AM

Today's Malaysian GP first and second practice saw the reign of Mclaren and Lewis Hamilton as the 2008 reigning world champion tops out first and second practice. Meanwhile four other drivers, Seb Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Lewis's teammate Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher are all within 5 tenth of a second behind Lewis's P1 time. Alonso only able to clock P7 as the fastest ferrari behind the Australian GP runner-up Robert Kubica. Felipe Massa meanwhile are only clocked a lowly P15.

click here for a full result:

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2010/826/6714/

Today's session is somehow escapes the downpour that were expected before the practice. But rain do come down in between the practice sessions. For tomorrow's Qualifying however, heavy rain are expected and by looking at today's timesheet, Mclaren and Mercedes GP are a team to watch. However Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel are looking fairly strong too.

In the small league of newcomers again saw the might of Lotus Racing team as they clocked P18 and P19. Heikki Kovalainen is in the driving seat in this session as he was sitting in the pit lane throughout practice 1 due to the driving duty has been pass to Fairuz Fauzy.

After a disastrous Australian GP, Hamilton are again proving himself worthy of a champion. With the Malaysian weather proved last year that it's really unpredictable, we are in for another treat. And the best part of all is, i will be there tomorrow for a live experience of Malaysian GP qualifying.

Until then,

Have a nice day
-=Cheers=-

greatest spectacle so far... Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 7:09 AM

Australian GP provides fan with a great spectacle...a lot of overtaking and actions everywhere around the track. The spectacle is so great that people are forgiven to forget about how awful Bahrain GP was. The main reason why Australian GP is so great to watch is because of the rain that comes down before the start of the race.

Click for the full result of today's Australian GP.

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2010/825/6711/

The highlight of the race are:-

1. Lucas Di Grassi races and overtake Michael Schumacher. Eventhough Michael are able to get pass Di Grassi right after that, It shows that Virgin Racing Cars are not there just to make up numbers. Really bold move by Di Grassi.

2. First turn tussle.
Fernando Alonso get banged up by Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher at the first turn.

3. Heavy crash between Kamui Kobayashi, Jaime Alguersuari and Nico Hulkenberg at lap six.
Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber car lost grips and hit the wall before hitting Nico Hulkenberg's car at turn six forcing the safety car to come out.

4. Great strategy and bad call
Jenson Button's bold move to change to slick where the track is still wet got him the first win under Mclaren's name. Eventhough he did involved in some drama at turn 4 right after the tyre change, he eventually caught other drivers napping. Martin Whitmarsh revealed that the tyre change is Button's own call and not his team's. Bold move by a rather conservative driver. But at the same time, Hamilton's race is wrecked by his team's call for a second pit stop right after he's tailgating Rubert Kubica. The furious Hamilton revealed that he will find out who makes that call.


5. Webber hits Hamilton
Both driver have the advantage of fresher tyre than Fernando Alonso's Ferrari that had a single pit stop. But Hamilton's inability to move past Alonso quickly is costing him the podium finish. Hot air that caused by the turbulence from the back of Alonso's car wrecked his tyre faster than he expected. Then the inevitable happen when the over-eager Webber finally hits his car at turn 4 and he finish at lowly 6th place.

no change.... Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 8:21 PM

Bernie Ecclestone said yesterday that there will be no change to the existing rule for this season's formula one. he contradicts his former statement that they will be looking for a possible alteration to the rule after 4 fly-away races (which the latest will be 3 weeks of break before Spanish Grand Prix). Are the existing rule is what Formula One needs?.

Looking back at Bahrain Grand Prix, we can see that the new rule doesn't make Formula One any more entertaining than it was before. The lack of action for the fans is the core problem to the sport. Even with the big promise of this year's Formula One season will be the greatest (the ingredients is all there, 4 former world champions is on the grid) still, the rule is not in any way promotes better spectacle.

As a Formula One fans, the statement made by Bernie is really dissapointing. After years of boring races, Formula One fans deserved some more track actions. The last season when Formula One is great to watch is 1993 (which is the last year before refueling is mandatory, ironic), but 1994 onwards, what we see is only a professional, modern racing whereby it's all about the cars and not the drivers anymore. The cars is far too reliable, the tyres don't wear out too easily with a much more grips offered, the track is soulless and not interesting to watch etc.

With the possibility of any rule change is now gone, what we as Formula One fans can really hope for is an outside interference such as rain. The weather in Australia is quiet unpredictable so the possibilty of rain is bigger. With the rain pours down, the teams can't just rely on single pit stop and tyre strategy, but the driver's skills will be tested and thus provide fans with a more actions(can't help to use the same phrase all the time). Malaysia however is a tropical country with more unpredictable weather. Last year saw the race ended in just over a half of the race distance and the drivers are only being rewarded half point each. With a more suitable race time (1530 rather than 1630 as of last year, local time), we will be entertain with a more action if the rain pours down.

So im urging for all Formula One fans around the world to pray and hope for a wet races for this coming fly-away races (Australia, Malaysia and China). And may God bless us with a heavy rain and good races.

Until then,

-have a nice day-
-=cheers=-

what change do formula one needs? Posted by M1K4 H4KK1N3N on 7:32 PM

after a boring race in bahrain, every fans in the world keep talking about the same thing every now and then, the change must be done to formula one. but what is the right solution to it?. does the new rule (or Max Mosley in particular) is the one to blame?. there are so many suggestion to make formula one a must watch event again. but what is right formula?..

the problem that we are facing is the technical problem (or the lack of it). formula one cars are now as reliable as a tank, formula one driver are too good to make any mistake anymore, the rule maker (read FIA) has been constantly changing the rule (not for the sake of improving it, but more for the sake of just changing the rule). so what are the thing that should be done to rectify this problem?.

for me, its fairly easy. let the thing that are done now as they are because let face it, formula one is in the brink of very deep economics crisis. so any major rule changes (more ground effect, one engine per race, no rev limiter etc) would cost too much to the teams and to the sport itself. the change im proposing is to let whatever happen now to be as it is.

its fairly easy. if we see the like of the new teams such as Lotus, Virgin and HRT, they build their cars from scratch in a matter of just 5-6 months. with the limited resources and no data to be taken from previous years, its fantastics. and im wondering, do all the established teams can do the same as the new teams?. bear in mind that they have 3 times more resources than all the new teams, they have a lot of data to refer to, so it's fairly easy job for them i think.

and for the FIA, if they really want to tweak the rule every now and then, let them be. because no matter how much we ask them not to, they are doing just that. so my suggestion is this:

1) FIA introduced a new set of rule every year (significant change of course)
2) Teams can't prepare for the next season's car until the season is over.
3) Upgrade can only be made to the existing car and not for the next season.

its fairly easy right?. so what are the advantages of my suggestion?. let take a lot of what are the good thing that this suggestion will bring to formula one:

1) FIA can do whatever the want to the rule every year (That must be a good thing)
2) Team can always play on the same level playing field every year (since its the new rule)
3) Fans can be entertained right from the start of a pre-season test, because we will never know what's the team is doing.

this is only my 5 cent thought though. what i and every formula fans in the world wanted to see is more on-track and overtaking moves made by the drivers. Formula one is the pinnacle of motorsport, so it cant be a snorefest everytime the race is on.