Let's kick off the 2010 F1 Season!!

yeehau86

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2010 season changes
Though not as dramatic as the rule changes introduced for the 2009 season, the revisions for 2010 could still have a significant impact on the teams’ relative performance…

Refuelling
The biggest change for the 2010 season is the banning of refuelling during races for the first time since 1993. Pit stops will not become a thing of the past, however, as drivers still have to use both dry-weather tyre compounds during a Grand Prix. Of course, those stops will now be much quicker, quite possibly under four seconds.

The change requires cars to possess a much larger fuel tank - up from around 80 litres to something nearer 250 - and has a major effect on race strategy, with drivers having to pay more attention to tyre and brake conservation. To accommodate the bigger tank, the cars are likely to feature wider rear bodywork and a longer wheelbase. As a result, the weight distribution will be quite different to that of a 2009 car.

Points system
In place of the previous structure, which saw the top eight drivers scoring 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively, from 2010 the top ten finishers in a Grand Prix score points. The change has been introduced as a result of the expanded grid of 13 teams. Under the new system, the race winner takes 25 points, with 18 and 15 being awarded for second and third places respectively. The next seven finishers will score 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point respectively.

Weight
The minimum weight of the car has been raised from 605kg to 620kg. The initial thinking behind this was to offset the disadvantage faced by taller, heavier drivers in KERS-equipped cars (the additional weight of the KERS system meant they were left with less flexibility in terms of weight distribution than their lighter rivals). By mutual agreement, however, teams are now not expected to run KERS in 2010.

Narrower front tyres
When slick tyres returned to Formula One racing in 2009, the tyre size remained unchanged. In terms of contact area, this meant that the fronts gained proportionally more grip than the rears. This has been addressed for 2010, with front tyre width reduced from 270mm to 245mm, thus helping to bring back a better grip balance. Also, the ban on refuelling means cars will be around 100kg heavier at the start of a race than in 2009, so Bridgestone will use slightly harder tyre compounds to compensate.

The number of dry tyres available to each driver has been decreased from 14 to 11 sets per weekend and any driver who participates in Q3 must start the race on the same tyres he used to set his grid time.

No wheel fairings
Teams are no longer allowed to use the wheel rim covers that became so commonplace in 2009. Their removal means one less thing to go wrong when pit crews are trying to change of set of tyres in less than four seconds, and could also aid overtaking by making the airflow immediately behind cars less turbulent.

More teams
Twelve teams - 24 cars - will feature on the grid in 2010. This means a slight alteration to the knockout qualifying session, which will now see seven drivers (as opposed to five) eliminated in Q1 and Q2, leaving ten to fight it out for pole in Q3. The ban on refuelling means that cars will qualify on low fuel in all three phases of the session.

Testing
If a team declares that one of their current race drivers is to be substituted by a driver who has not participated in an F1 race in the two previous calendar years, one day of track testing will now be permitted, on an approved circuit not being used for a Grand Prix in the current season. This is to avoid scenarios such as that seen in 2009 when Jaime Alguersuari made his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso having only previously driven an F1 car in straight-line testing.

In another minor change, teams will be allowed six rather than eight days of straight-line aero testing per season. They will also have the option of substituting any of these days for four hours of wind tunnel testing with a full-scale (rather than the normal 60 percent-scale) model.
 

khoo198

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yeahyyy.....Ferrari 1 2......good job Alonso and Massa:party:
 

yeehau86

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but it is kinda boring race, not much overtaking due to heavy fuel load and concern to look after the tyres. I guess it will be the same for Malaysia too, overtaking is hard here except turn 1 and the final turn after the main straights.
 

khoo198

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yup,agree.....the race is kind of boring actually......:mad::mad:
 

yeehau86

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With the difference between the soft and option tyre not much, we can expect teams to do one mandatory pitstop for the whole race. Expect to be lap 20+ since in Sepang the race will be 56 laps if I remembered correctly.

Basically it is impossible to overtake with the current rules, so one driver will be staring at the gearbox of the car infront for most of the race. Overtaking is only possible during pitstops but chances will be very slim since teams have been practicing to do tyre changes for less than 3 seconds in my opinion. Unless someone try to outbrake himself, overtaking will be rare in Sepang this year.
 

yeehau86

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the race is this weekend :driver:

who you think will win this weekend?
 

khoo198

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Lotus F1Malaysia team gua:idea:...:hmmmm::hmmmm:
 
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yeehau86

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Hope won't rain like last year :banghead:
 

yeehau86

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that was qualifying? race day there's no rain during the rain, which maybe I think make the race a bit less action. But nevertheless, Vettel won.
 

TitanRev

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I had some pictures, will post them up....it was a nice race on Sunday...a lot of unexpected things happens....a few cars broke down...might be the heat....

Sat, was more unpredictable. Rain started out small..so some using intermediate tires...then half way to qualifying, rain becomes heavy when some of them still on the track...a few spin out and some change to wet tires. 3rd session was stop temporary as rain was too heavy and strong wind...it was really nice...
 

yeehau86

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Webber did a good gamble, on the intermediates in Q3, that gives him P1 on the grid. Pity Pedro de la Rosa, didn't manage to make it to the grid due to engine problem.
 

TitanRev

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On Race Day....1 picture 1st...others lazy to PS today..very tired....
 

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