F1 - 2009 cars vs 2008 cars lap times

[130R]

Does anyone know how the 2009 cars will compare to last years cars with regard to lap times? On the BBC website it says Hamilton in the 2009 MP4-24 was fastest in pre-season testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:20.737 seconds. Wikipedia says the lap record is 1:23.135 by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in a Williams, but that was back in 1997.

[FourWheelDrift]

Jerez times from yesterday.

1. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:18.493
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:20.737
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:20.738
4. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:20.898
5. Alonso Renault (B) 1:21.307

Bourdais is driving a 2008 car.

[130R]

FourWheelDrift said:

Bourdais is driving a 2008 car.

Was he on slicks though?

[kevin ritson]

Looking at the photo gallery on Autosport, Toro Rosso appears to be running on slicks. Would make sense for data-gathering, not to mention Bridgestone unlikely to be manufacturing grooved rubber.

So the question remains...

Edited by kevin ritson on Friday 13th February 13:24

[Jungles]

Yep, slicks they were. Slicks and low down-force testing. From what I've read, the 08 cars with low down-force still have more down-force than the 09 cars.

[Gillet]

doesn't the 09 cars being slightly slower mean there should be closer racing? and people willing to take more risks to overtake because if the reduced overall speed?

does seem like a step in the wrong direction though, so the racing better be as close as they claim its gonna be.

[Jungles]

Gillet said:

doesn't the 09 cars being slightly slower mean there should be closer racing? and people willing to take more risks to overtake because if the reduced overall speed?

does seem like a step in the wrong direction though, so the racing better be as close as they claim its gonna be.

It wasn't the speed the FIA were concerned about, but the turbulent air that destablised cars and reduced their grip when they got too close to each other. The new regulations are designed to make the cars somewhat less sensitive to "dirty air" and reduce the zone of turbulent air behind the cars so that the following car can get closer for overtakes.

Obviously that means reducing the amount of down-force available, so the cars lap slower. They tried to make up for it by reintroducing slicks for better mechanical grip, but nothing quite beats aero grip at high speeds.

[bordseye]

nice to see Vettel stuffing Alonso.

[williamp]

bordseye said:

nice to see Vettel stuffing Alonso.

And a williams beating Alonso's Renault


(yes, I know its only testing and doesnt actually mean anything unless you know exactly what their aims and objectives were BUT as a Williams supporter, its nice to see!)

[anonymous-user]

130R said:

Does anyone know how the 2009 cars will compare to last years cars with regard to lap times? On the BBC website it says Hamilton in the 2009 MP4-24 was fastest in pre-season testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:20.737 seconds. Wikipedia says the lap record is 1:23.135 by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in a Williams, but that was back in 1997.

Laptimes will be roughly the same. The slicks are worth about the same as the loss in downforce i.e approx 2 secs/lap. The 2009 cars might even be slightly faster when they start upgrading their aero packages during the season.

Edit: The engines have lost a few tenths with the 18K limit this year.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 14th February 17:32

[mchammer89]

PW said:

130R said:

On the BBC website it says Hamilton in the 2009 MP4-24 was fastest in pre-season testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:20.737 seconds.

The BBC forgot to report that Hamilton was using a 2008 rear wing.

I don't think they "forgot"

[AlexS]

mchammer89 said:

PW said:

130R said:

On the BBC website it says Hamilton in the 2009 MP4-24 was fastest in pre-season testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:20.737 seconds.

The BBC forgot to report that Hamilton was using a 2008 rear wing.

I don't think they "forgot"

It's a modified 2008 wing to give 2009 levels of downforce and drag.

[RJB_666]

AlexS said:

mchammer89 said:

PW said:

130R said:

On the BBC website it says Hamilton in the 2009 MP4-24 was fastest in pre-season testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:20.737 seconds.

The BBC forgot to report that Hamilton was using a 2008 rear wing.

I don't think they "forgot"

It's a modified 2008 wing to give 2009 levels of downforce and drag.

They apparently used this because Mclaren are waiting for a new front wing with more downforce. Also the first day Hamilton used a complete 2009 regulation car, it was only the second day that he used the wider 2008 rear wing.

[anonymous-user]

I suspect the 2008 wing was run because it was a 2008 gearbox (probably a KERS test mule)

[Allyc85]

Just thinking if thetop cars are 2 seconds down Gp2 cars are going to be pretty close to F1 pace aren't they?

[Scuffers]

Allyc85 said:

Just thinking if thetop cars are 2 seconds down Gp2 cars are going to be pretty close to F1 pace aren't they?

sort of explains why Spankie want's to kill off GP2...

[RJB_666]

Scuffers said:

Allyc85 said:

Just thinking if thetop cars are 2 seconds down Gp2 cars are going to be pretty close to F1 pace aren't they?

sort of explains why Spankie want's to kill off GP2...

GP2 cars were around 7- 10 seconds off the pace of an F1 car. So catching up. Think its daft to have so many performance regulations on the F1 cars. Bring back the bigger engines.

[anonymous-user]

Allyc85 said:

Just thinking if thetop cars are 2 seconds down Gp2 cars are going to be pretty close to F1 pace aren't they?

They won't be 2 seconds slower, they'll be similar pace to 2008. The slicks pretty much cancel out the loss of downforce. And as mentioned GP2 cars are a lot more than 2 sec slower than F1. More like 10 secs.

[10 Pence Short]

In Barcelona last year the GP2 cars were about 7 seconds slower than the F1 ones in qualifying.