2009 Testing - March (Jerez & Barcelona)

[ISLAMATRON]

Most likely to fill the engines pneumatic system (for the valves). Although the bottle seems awfully large.

Bingo!

[ISLAMATRON]

You can charge the KERS device whilst the engine is idling (~6-7000rpm) on the grid pre start.

You sure? I am pretty sure the rules stipulate that KERS can only be charged under braking and not while idling or in the pits.

[ISLAMATRON]

Sure, but my wifes car weighs more than an F1 car, and only has 95hp with radials, and that thing takes off pretty quick in first gear.

pretty quick huh? race any? ever? 95hp is nothing

[Shaddock]

You can charge the KERS device whilst the engine is idling (~6-7000rpm) on the grid pre start.

You sure? I am pretty sure the rules stipulate that KERS can only be charged under braking and not while idling or in the pits.

The rules state:- 5.2.4 The amount of stored energy in any KERS may not be increased whilst the car is stationary during a race pit stop.

Nothing prevents them recharging on the way into the pits or on the way put when the drivers presses the limiter button. Likewise when stationary on the grid, I think the rules are there to stop teams charging 'plugging in' the KERS whilst refuelling - high octane fumes and electrical sparks

[ISLAMATRON]

You can charge the KERS device whilst the engine is idling (~6-7000rpm) on the grid pre start.

You sure? I am pretty sure the rules stipulate that KERS can only be charged under braking and not while idling or in the pits.

The rules state:- 5.2.4 The amount of stored energy in any KERS may not be increased whilst the car is stationary during a race pit stop.

Nothing prevents them recharging on the way into the pits or on the way put when the drivers presses the limiter button. Likewise when stationary on the grid, I think the rules are there to stop teams charging 'plugging in' the KERS whilst refuelling - high octane fumes and electrical sparks

hmmm gotta love the vagueness of FIA rules

[Callum]

I wouldnt like to be a marshal at the first corner with 20 charged cars coming at me. Usually SOMEONE crashes.

[shir0]

What is the guy with the N Tank on his back doing with the car???

http://premium.f1-live.com/f1/photos-hi ... po_105.jpg

Is this something KERS Related???

Most likely to fill the engines pneumatic system (for the valves). Although the bottle seems awfully large.

Well if they follow standards (w/c most probably they do)... this should be some kind of inert gas (white cylinder neck ring). Nitrogen is "inert enough" that it can be labelled as such. Although, from the picture, you can't actually be sure that the cylinder only has the character "N" on it. It would seem that there is at least one other character (in black stencilled lettering) just before it.

[Moanlower]

Sure, but my wifes car weighs more than an F1 car, and only has 95hp with radials, and that thing takes off pretty quick in first gear.

pretty quick huh? race any? ever? 95hp is nothing

I think he's more like responding to what you said earlier ISLAMATRON.

Max accell comes with just a little bit of wheel spin, 80 hp is not enuff to spin those big rear slicks.

Just think about how much throttle they give it to spin them up when they are warming up in formation lap.

So, with a car double the weight it's easy to spin those tyres when accelerating in first gear. But i'm sure you raced mobiles with a multiple on bhp's.

But the 80 or 90 bhp from KERS won't be very effective to launch the car at the start compared to the engine power. Doesn't this rule say it's against the rules to use KERS as traction control?

9.3 Traction control :
No car may be equipped with a system or device which is capable of preventing the driven wheels from
spinning under power or of compensating for excessive throttle demand by the driver.
Any device or system which notifies the driver of the onset of wheel spin is not permitted.

Looks like the rules doesn't say at what point KERS isn't acting as traction control

[scarbs]

Well if they follow standards (w/c most probably they do)... this should be some kind of inert gas (white cylinder neck ring). Nitrogen is "inert enough" that it can be labelled as such. Although, from the picture, you can't actually be sure that the cylinder only has the character "N" on it. It would seem that there is at least one other character (in black stencilled lettering) just before it.

NOX, may be Nitrous Oxide... lol

[Metar]

I feel that the FIA will eventually make a ruling disabaling KERS for the first sector of a lap (or first 30 seconds of the race, whatever is shortest) to make shure that the grid is equalised off the grid if theres going to be a big enough advantage, making starts pretty much what they used to be, but making the fun start from lap 2 onwards.

But on the otherhand, there could be a advantage for the non KERS cars for example at Oz (into turn 2) or Bahrain (into turn 4) as the KERS systems will be spent and the non -KERS cars can slipstream down the inside whilst the KERS car infront cant engage the boost as its spent and is recharging.

It'll give non-KERS cars a massive advantage into the first corner then - they'll be the more agile ones, with better weight-distributions, while the KERS cars struggle not only with balance, but also with the charging-mechanism disturbing the car ever so slightly. Plus, if the Honda is as dominant as testing suggests, the FIA will do anything in order to give KERS some advantages, to prevent the whole field from switching to non-KERS versions (or to encourage Honda to add KERS - it'll be a big slap in the face if a non-KERS car wins a championship).

[Callum]

I feel that the FIA will eventually make a ruling disabaling KERS for the first sector of a lap (or first 30 seconds of the race, whatever is shortest) to make shure that the grid is equalised off the grid if theres going to be a big enough advantage, making starts pretty much what they used to be, but making the fun start from lap 2 onwards.

But on the otherhand, there could be a advantage for the non KERS cars for example at Oz (into turn 2) or Bahrain (into turn 4) as the KERS systems will be spent and the non -KERS cars can slipstream down the inside whilst the KERS car infront cant engage the boost as its spent and is recharging.

It'll give non-KERS cars a massive advantage into the first corner then - they'll be the more agile ones, with better weight-distributions, while the KERS cars struggle not only with balance, but also with the charging-mechanism disturbing the car ever so slightly. Plus, if the Honda is as dominant as testing suggests, the FIA will do anything in order to give KERS some advantages, to prevent the whole field from switching to non-KERS versions (or to encourage Honda to add KERS - it'll be a big slap in the face if a non-KERS car wins a championship).

Metar is right, I can imagine Brawn GP making lightning starts like the renaults a few years ago - it would be really unfair on KERS equipped cars - but then, it IS the FIA

[myurr]

It does make you wonder what the FIA are likely to do about Brawn - if anything. We all know that Max is a hugely vain character and having championed KERS you'd suspect him to want a KERS equiped car to win the championship.

I'm in the camp that believes that Max and Bernie have no qualms about manipulating the championship, and that they have exercised the power they have in the past in order to get the results that they want. Given that perceived history it'll be interesting to see what happens.

Could this lead to a banning of the diffusers from Brawn and by extension Williams and Toyota?

[donskar]

I'm in the camp that believes that Max and Bernie have no qualms about manipulating the championship, and that they have exercised the power they have in the past in order to get the results that they want. Given that perceived history it'll be interesting to see what happens.

That's a sad -- but perceptive -- comment on the state of affairs in F1. IF the Brawn is as fast in races as it has been in testing, then we could see the NASCAR-ization of F1: rules being constantly tweaked to ensure close racing.

I hope the con men who run F1 realize they have a golden opportunity here. Think of the plot line: underdog team led by old veteran passed over by the big teams (Brawn) with a once bright but now forgotten driver (Button) overcomes enormous odds to beat the dominating teams. Meanwhile, the evil robot team and their golden boy driver (McL / Hamilton) languish at the tail end of the field.

Someone more awake than me can complete this plot line, but I do suggest you work in some sex and Stepney.

[Roger the knife]

We all know that Max is a hugely vain

OH REALLY, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN

[xpensive]

As an individual who never thought those cars would see the light of day, I will try to be as modest as I can.
I honestly belive that "the evil twins'" biggest worry is to make up a grid for next year when, cost-cuts or not, chances of more manufacturers leaving F1 by the end of the year is rather obvious.
In that context, I think the resurrection of "Honda" is heaven sent to the powers that be, meaning they will have no problem seeing "David can beat Goliath".