Formula One 2009 preview

This coming weekend is the start of the new Formula One season and with new rules and regulations in place, this season’s world championship could be the most unpredictable in the six decades of the sport.

The major changes can be seen in the look of these single-seaters. In a bid to improve the spectacle of the sport – in terms of providing on-track entertainment, namely overtaking – the sport’s governing body (the FIA) have drafted in a set of new rules to cut the level of downforce therefore making it easier for cars to pass one another.

Gone are the winglets, chimneys, barge boards and ‘bull horns’ that made last year’s Formula One cars so aerodynamically sensitive to be replace with a cleaner and less aero sophisticated bodywork. Such a shame that the Overtaking Working Group (OWG) have made the new 2009-spec Formula One cars look way out of proportion with it’s large and wide front wing (with changeable flaps), slick tyres (to replace the grooves) and tall, narrow rear wing (less turbulence for the cars following behind).

Not to mention the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) is there to provide an extra ‘boost’ to aid overtaking. I am quite sceptical about this new system. Not only for the safety aspect, as last winter a BMW Sauber mechanic was injured after suffering an electric shock, but also how it could improve the on-track racing. KERS is essentially a way of storing loss energy in deceleration and converting it into extra brake horsepower. It can be stored in either as a mechanical energy (a flywheel) or an electrical energy (as in a battery or super capacitor). The benefit with KERS is to give the driver that additional speed in making a passing manoeuvre. But I am worried that it will make the art of overtaking into whom presses the button sooner… But if you want to entertain the fans, then so be it.

Testing has also been significantly reduced in a way of cutting cost. So after the pre-season test in Spain – both at the Circuit de Catalunya and Jerez – there are no more opportunities to shakedown the cars. The teams can only try out new parts during the first day of a racing weekend. Which is good news for race fans attending the circuit on a Friday – more on-track activities!

Slick tyres make a welcome return after 12 years running on grooves. With the increase in tyre contact with the surface, the cars are affectively going faster around the track, but thanks to the reduce aero grip with the new shape wings, the job of controlling 850 bhp without the aid of traction control that little bit more tricky despite the better tyre performance. I am looking forward to seeing the drivers balancing the car on the throttle as the tyre wear begins to fade away and we see the cars sliding from the rear (the oversteer effect). It will look spectacular!

In terms of the drivers and teams taking part this season, it’s great news that we have a full line-up on the grid. World champion Lewis Hamilton will have the unique opportunity to defend his drivers’ title by adoring number one on his McLaren. And just like last year, he will face some stiff opposition from his fellow rivals. Though this is not a main concern at the moment, it’s his car that might prove to be more of a challenge for Lewis…

The new Mercedes-powered MP4-24 seem to lack rear-end grip, which is a big worry for a team like McLaren. With the restriction in testing for 2009, the team need to fix the problem as soon as possible, or risk the chance of losing out to its rivals. It will be fascinating to see if McLaren can improve the car during the course of the season.

As for its main competitor, the constructors’ world champions Ferrari, the Italian team are determined to set the pace with the new F60. Losing out the drivers’ title in the final race in Brazil last year was a pain for Felipe Massa, but I believe the Brazilian will be in a more committed form to wrestle back the lost crown from Hamilton this year.

It’s funny that both Hamilton and Massa’s team-mates didn’t do a good job last season. The Finns – Heikki Kovalainen and Kimi Raikkonen respectively – need to step up their game to challenge their colleagues for race wins. Especially Raikkonen, who struggled with the handling in the F2008. The Iceman needs to regain his composure and get back to winning ways. After all, Kimi did win the world championship not so long ago. He need to showcase he still has the ability to fight. Another lacklustre performance could signal the end of him racing in Formula One…

At BMW Sauber, Robert Kubica will be demanding the world championship. He was furious when the team decided to stop the development of last year’s car to focus on the new 2009-spec machine. Hopefully BMW made the right choice, as Kubica was one of the main championship contenders last season following his debut win in Canada. The Pole will yet again be teamed up with Nick Heidfeld, who is still searching that elusive first victory. Can BMW win the title? Well, it’s the best team so far prepared for the up-and-coming season. They were the first to try out a hybrid car with the new aero kit last winter and the team are quietly confident that the new KERS system is ready to race.

Renault will also run the KERS unit in the opening race and after a shaky start with the new R29 in pre-season testing the team are optimistic for the new season. Double world champion Fernando Alonso will be again be partnered with Nelson Piquet Jr, who was offered a second lifeline this year. The young Brazilian really needs to improve, as 2008 was a stuff of nightmares. He spent more time crashing and if he wants to stay at the team, Nelson needs to deliver. As for Alonso, the Spaniard needs a competitive car so he can challenge for race victories.

At Toyota, this is a make-or-break season for the Japanese manufacturer. The team have been competing for eight years and the amount of money thrown into the sport is beyond ridiculous, especially in this difficult financial climate. Toyota needs – no scratch that – demands a good result to justify its enormous resources in pouring millions of dollars to win races. Will it happen? Well, the new TF109 is the most radical car so far, featuring that high, pointy nose, but will it translate to results? That’s down to the driving talents of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. For Trulli, the Italian is rebuilding his Formula One career after falling out with Flavio Briatore following his sole Grand Prix victory in Monaco back in 2004. As for Glock, the German wants to cast aside those conspiracy theories that he helped Lewis Hamilton to world championship glory in Brazil, so scoring points on a regular basis will be ideal.

For Toro Rosso, read ‘Team Seb’, as newcomer Sebastien Buemi joins four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais at the Red Bull-backed team. For Buemi, this is a unique opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the watching world. His debut in Australia will be major milestone as he is the first Swiss driver since Jean-Denis Deletraz to take part in Formula One (Deletraz raced during the 1994 and ’95 season). As for Bourdais, this is second chance in Formula One and he will be aiming to become the first Frenchman to win since Olivier Panis at Monaco in 1996.

Meanwhile at the main Red Bull team, an exciting line up featuring a no-nonsense Aussie (Mark Webber) and an engaging and chatty young German (Sebastian Vettel) leads the energy drink sponsored squad. These two genuinely excite me as both are pure racers and it will be fascinating who will have the upper hand in terms of out-right speed in qualifying and in the race. Webber is still seeking for that dream victory while Vettel has already experienced that winning feeling in Monza last year. Both are highly competitive and by working together, Red Bull Racing could actually score some solid points on a consistent basis.

At Williams, the same driver line-up remains with the versatile Nico Rosberg and the reliable Kazuki Nakajima. It has been four years and 72 races since Williams last scored a race victory (Juan Pablo Montoya, Brazil, 2004) but thanks to the raft of regulations changes, the British-based squad have the best chance to claw back its on-track losses. The new FW31 looks quite neat and I believe it could even spring a surprise with a top eight finishes. I rate Rosberg quite highly and if the car delivers in terms of outright speed, then Nico is your man to get the results. As for his team-mate, nice to see the popular Japanese driver has the chance to shine in a fast car.

Speaking of a fast car, the new Brawn GP team looks set to shock the Formula One establishment this season. After Honda announcing its decision to quit the sport late last year due to a lack of results (and blaming the economy in the process), the team have been working hard behind the scenes to make the new car reliable and quick. When team boss Ross Brawn brought out the shares from Honda to form the new team only last month, the team had a race on its hands to get ready. But man, the Mercedes-powered BGP-001 sure is fast! As soon as the car hit the track, it was immediately quick, setting consistent lap times. That stunning speed even surprised its rivals. And I can bet that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello – who were both out of the job as racing drivers thanks to Honda withdrawing – were left feeling pretty pleased! If that remarkable pace continues, then don’t be surprise to see the plain-looking white car taking the winner’s spoils in the first couple of races this year. And that would be a fantastic achievement if it happens.

And to round up the Formula One teams racing this year, it’s Force India. Team boss Vijay Mallya is now fully behind the running of the squad and new for this year, the car will be running the Mercedes Benz engine (compared to Ferrari last season). The driver line-up remains unchanged with the experience Giancarlo Fisichella and the quick Adrian Sutil, but despite the driving talent I am not so sure if the team can deliver in terms of decent results. The VJM02 might have a new paint job but it doesn’t seem to be any quicker compared to the previous car… So starting on the back row it is then.

For the next nine months, the Formula One circus will be travelling around the world with the opening round of the championship taking place in Melbourne on March 29. With Canada off the schedule, there will be no North America races, which is a big mistake in my opinion, as the US is a major marketplace for sponsors and manufacturers alike. Still at least the Honda-owned Suzuka circuit makes its popular return to the 17-race calendar after two years at Fuji. Silverstone will be hosting its final British Grand Prix in mid-June, while a new venue in the Middle East – Yas Island – will play host to the final round of the world championship in Abu Dhabi.

But the best news of all for this year’s Formula One is the media coverage for British motor racing fans. After 12 years on ITV, in which I had to tolerate those annoying ad breaks and James Allen’s biased commentary, the sport returns to the Beeb. This season the BBC are broadcasting all the sessions live via the Internet and on interactive television via the ‘red button’. In addition, the increase in coverage means you can follow the sport via the web, radio and digital TV with more emphasis on bring Formula One closer to its fans. This is fantastic and I haven’t even mention the classic Fleetwood Mac song ‘The Chain’ is making a reappearance!

So a whole new set of rules and a brand new television deal for UK viewers. I cannot wait for the season to start, so roll on this coming Sunday for the first race of the new-look Formula One.