http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... 948455.stm
Tuesday, 17 March 2009

Formula 1 has introduced a new points system which will result in the driver with most wins crowned 2009 champion.

The current points system will still operate to decide a tie if two drivers have the same wins and to define all other championship positions.

Under these new rules, Lewis Hamilton would have lost the 2008 title to Felipe Massa, who had one more win.

And from 2010, there will be an optional budget cap of £30m that could reduce some teams' spending by 90%.

The F1 teams association (Fota) expressed "disappointment and concern" with the financial changes.

Despite agreeing to a raft of cost-cutting measures for the 2009 season and beyond, Fota is against introducing a limited budget for each team.

Currently, the richest teams are spending as much as 10 times more than the £30m suggested under the budget cap.

In the light of the FIA's latest regulation changes, Fota chairman, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo, reiterated the teams' concerns.

"Fota would like to express its disappointment and concern at the fact that these have been taken in a unilateral manner," he said.

"The framework of the regulations as defined by the FIA, to be applicable from 2010, runs the risk of turning on its head the very essence of Formula 1 and the principles that make it one of the most popular and appealing sports."

The budget cap is an attempt to make F1 more accessible to new teams.

Teams choosing to operate within the budget cap will be allowed more technical freedom.

Those teams will be allowed: a more aerodynamically efficient (but standard) underbody; movable wings; an engine which is not subject to a rev limit or a development freeze.

Teams can choose to spend what they like, but operate within more restrictive technical rules - and therefore have a theoretically slower car.

The new rules were approved by the World Motor Sport Council of governing body the FIA at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday.

It rejected a proposal by the F1 Teams' Association to tweak the points system to 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 from first to eighth places.

Instead, the current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system will stay in place.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced his intention to shake-up the points system at the end of last season.

Ecclestone's idea was to award the top three drivers with gold, silver and bronze medals with the driver capturing the most golds crowned champion.

While the medals have been abandoned, the new system delivers on Ecclestone's wish of rewarding the driver with the most victories.

The F1 chief believes the new system will be a success and will also encourage overtaking.

"If you're in the lead and I'm second, I wouldn't want to risk falling off the circuit or doing something stupid to get two points," Ecclestone told BBC Radio Five Live.

"The decision was unanimously agreed by the World Council. But we will leave all points in all of the other championships as they are at the moment.

"If I need a gold medal to win the championship, I will overtake. It's just not on that someone can win the championship without winning a race."

However, the new system could see the season settled much earlier.

The points distribution was introduced in 2003, partly to try to ensure the world championship stayed open for longer at a time when Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were dominating the sport.

Former British F1 driver now commentator Martin Brundle says he will reserve judgement on the alterations.

"I don't really fully see the need to change it," he said. "What we may just have is some more exciting races where they're desperate to take the win rather than settling for second on a particular day, but whether it will generate a more worthy champion remains to be seen."

The FIA also announced plans to publish the weights of the cars after qualifying for each Grand Prix.

That could give a clue to which teams are using the optional kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

Kers, which allows drivers a boost of an extra 80bhp for 6.7 seconds each lap, weighs around 35kg and could tip some cars - complete with their drivers - over the minimum weight of 605kg.

To improve clarity, wet tyres have also been renamed "intermediates" and extreme weather tyres are now called "wet".

With in-season testing now banned, the FIA will only allow teams to carry out eight one-day aerodynamic tests on a straight piece of track.

Teams will also be allowed to carry out three one-day young driver training tests between the season-ending Grand Prix and the end of the calendar year.

Here's the Race Calender for 2009, courtesy of the BBC News website:-

2009 F1 calendar

Full details of all 17 Grands Prix in 2009.
Times shown are local, with UK times in brackets:-

Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne, 27-29 March 2009
Sunday 29
Race: 1700 (0700 BST)

Malaysian Grand Prix
Kuala Lumpur, 3-5 April 2009
Sunday 5
Race: 1700 (1000 BST)

Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai, 17-19 April 2009
Sunday 19
Race: 1500 (0800 BST)

Bahrain Grand Prix
Sakhir, 24-26 April 2009
Sunday 26
Race: 1500 (1300 BST)

Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona, 8-10 May 2009
Sunday 10
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo, 21-24 May 2009
Sunday 24
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul, 5-7 June 2009
Sunday 7
Race: 1500 (1300 BST)

British Grand Prix
Silverstone, 19-21 June 2009
Sunday 21 June
Race: 1300 BST

German Grand Prix
Nurburgring, 10-12 July 2009
Sunday 12
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, 24-26 July 2009
Sunday 26
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

European Grand Prix
Valencia, 21-23 August 2009
Sunday 23
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, 28-30 August 2009
Sunday 30
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Italian Grand Prix
Monza, 11-13 September 2009
Sunday 13
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Singapore Grand Prix
Singapore, 25-27 September 2009
Sunday 27
Race: 2000 (1300 BST)

Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka, 2-4 October 2009
Sunday 4
Race: 1400 (0600 BST)

Brazil Grand Prix
Sao Paulo, 16-18 October 2009
Sunday 18
Race: 1400 (1700 BST)

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi, 30 October - 1 November 2009
Sunday 1
Race: 1500 (1100 GMT)

I have not yet seen any race times for the F1 this week on home cable, some one know? and which channel number it will be on.
Malc

Malc, the first race is 29th March, so there won't be anything on this week.

I would wait until nearer then and I'm sure someone will tell you which Cable Channel it's on.

Hamilton hits out at rule changes:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... 954755.stm

For Older racing fans you would enjoy a rewatch of the film Grand Prix (1966) I down loaded it last week and for its time its a brilliant film, technically anyway.
Its geat to see these old cars and some drivers in action even if most of them in the film were actually Formula 3 cars.

interesting reading from the B B C there , it said that if the new rules had applyed last year , then massa would of won the title as he had more wins ?????? do they mean massa would of won because he was given a brilliant hamilton win by the stewards ??? the new system that the poison dwarf proposed is somewhat flawed . as i see it teams now have to make an engine last 3 races , so im racing in second place , 45 seconds behind the leader with no chance whatsoever of catching or overtaking him , am i going to keep plodding round wearing my engine , or am i going to retire and save it for the next race ??? thank god that the teams mounted a united front and had this silly proposal stopped . the dwarf really needs to get out more and find out what the fans want , which is of course racing , hard fair and exciting . and if mossely had any balls at all , he would of resigned last year , instead of making the F I A a laughing stock , by resent events the poison dwarf is quite capable of doing that on his own . im not a betting man , but im pretty sure after last years fiasco , that it will be a ferrari driver to take the title , irrespective of whoever crosses the line in first place the most .yippee 560 marinellos all round at the FIA

Saint you're not trying to suggest that Mosley is trying to stop the Brits winning the war by teaming up with another "poisoned dwarf" are you? ....... It must be in the Family Blood.

GERMANY CALLING ...........GERMANY CALLING

Forget the scoring changes - FIA have changed their mind - say will be introduced in 2010 now....what a shambles..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... 955790.stm

Yet another example of the chaos the F1 administration are in. They should all do the honourable thing and resign & allow people who actually have an interest in keeping the sport alive take over...

F1 set to cut super-licence fee

Max Mosley
Mosley has agreed the FIA will reduce fees in 2010

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has agreed to reduce the cost of drivers' mandatory super-licences from the start of the 2010 season.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which represents the majority of F1 drivers, had expressed its discontent at a hike in fees in 2008.

FIA president Max Mosley met with representatives from GPDA on Monday.

"A reduced fee would reflect the major cost reductions that will be brought into the sport," the FIA stated.

The super-licence is a qualification, issued by the FIA on request, that allows the licence holder to take part in Formula 1 Grands Prix as a driver.

The cost of a super-licence rose by an average £8,700 last year.

An extra charge of 2,100 euros per point earned in 2008, up from 447 euros per point in 2007, means Lewis Hamilton will pay £242,000 for his licence for this season.

The FIA confirmed that it will cut fees but stopped short of revealing what the new cost structure will be.

The decision to reduce the licence cost is a big turnaround for Mosley who, in February, wrote to Formula 1 drivers to suggest they race elsewhere if they were unable to pay for their super-licences.

"Following a very positive meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and representatives of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), a proposal will be made to the World Motor Sport Council to revise super-licence fees for drivers in the 2010 championship," read the FIA statement.

"A number of other issues were discussed and the FIA has agreed to meet representatives of the GPDA on a regular basis to maintain what promises to be a constructive dialogue."

From the BBC sports web page...

is there any news on wether its on home cable??? It will be murder if not!!! only watching the timing on the internet is not good at all....

Home cable had a one hour program Friday at 2100 Channel 54. I look on this sight, gives local timings.
http://www.formula1.com/

I'm new to Udon ,Does anyone know if the grand prix will be on cable TV ?'
i tried looking for the qualifying but was not on
thanks

as murrey walker used to say , its go go go . australia the first race of the season , usualy throws up a few surprises . after qualifying , this year is no differant . the new brawn , powered by mercedes flexed its muscles and got the front row of the grid. button just ahead of barricelo , with vettel in the red bull 3rd . lewis fans will be dissapointed he qualified in 15th spot and never came out for the second session , drive problems . the race coverage starts at 12.00 noon tomorrow on true visions , hopefully the signal will be constant for the entire race , unlike today where it kept searching for the signal , but in fareness to T V i did notice a cloud in the sky .

Thanks for the update saint, I almost forgot. In fact, I missed qualifying on UBC.

Here's a BBC report on final qualifying-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... 969464.stm

Jenson Button claimed pole for the Australian Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello as Brawn GP put in a stunning show on their debut.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica will make up the second row at Melbourne's Albert Park.

McLaren's world champion Lewis Hamilton will start 15th after suffering problems with his rear drive train.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa split the Toyota drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli in seventh in a very competitive session.

Former Honda team Brawn GP - whose survival was secured by owner Ross Brawn in early March after the British-based Japanese team pulled out of F1 because of the global financial crisis - backed up their impressive performances in testing and practice in some style.
This is the first time any team has been on pole position with the first car they have built since Scotland's Jackie Stewart for Tyrrell at the Canadian GP in 1970.

Should make for a more interesting race, with no foregone concusions!

A full list of starting positions can be found here:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... 919662.stm