The cream of the crop in open-wheel racing, Formula 1 presents the fastest, biggest machines on the road. F1 holds races in top destinations around the world such as Monaco and Monza, and the elite manufacturers, including BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari, often incorporate their F1 racing designs into their retail car lines. F1 is the most-watched sport in the world, and teams have the biggest budgets in the world of racing: over $200 million annually for a team is not unusual.
| Series: | Formula 1  |
| Category: | Open Wheel |
| Course Type: | Road |
| Approximate Race Length: | 200 miles |
| Top Speed: | ~225 mph |
| Fuel: | Unleaded racing gasoline with at least 5.75 percent biomatter |
| 0-60 mph: | Know the answer? Let us know! |
| 0-100 mph: | < 3 secs |
| Horsepower: | ~830 |
| Traction Control: | No |
| Engine: | Normally-aspirated, 2.4 litre V8; turbochargers & superchargers are forbidden |
| Gearbox: | Sequential, typically with 6 or 7 forward gears. At least one reverse gear. |
| Tires: | Grooved racing slicks. Front: 13.98" max width Rear: 14.97" max width |
| Wheelbase: | 120" to 130" |
| Chassis: | Carbon fiber monocoque |
| Brakes: | 6-piston carbon |
| Suspension: | Pushrod with double wishbones |
| Min. Weights: | 1322.77 lbs. with driver |
| Max Height: | 37.43" |
| Max Width: | 70.87" |
| Geographic Scope: | International |
| Driver Change: | No |
| Annual Cost Per Car: | $57 million - $418.5 million (depending on the team) |
| Vehicle Manufacturers: | Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW, Renault, Toyota, Honda |
| Date | Series | Event | Venue | Location | Get Tickets! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-Mar-09 | ING Australian Grand Prix | ||||
| 5-Apr-09 | Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix | ||||
| 19-Apr-09 | Chinese Grand Prix | ||||
| 26-Apr-09 | Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix | ||||
| 10-May-09 | Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica 2009 | Tickets | |||
| 24-May-09 | Grand Prix de Monaco 2009 | ||||
| 7-Jun-09 | Turkish Grand Prix | ||||
| 21-Jun-09 | Santander British Grand Prix | Tickets | |||
| 12-Jul-09 | Grosser Preis Santander Von Deutschland 2009 | ||||
| 26-Jul-09 | ING Magyar Nagydij 2009 | ||||
| 23-Aug-09 | Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe | ||||
| 30-Aug-09 | ING Belgian Grand Prix | ||||
| 13-Sep-09 | Gran Premio Santander D'Italia 2009 | ||||
| 27-Sep-09 | Singapore Grand Prix | ||||
| 4-Oct-09 | Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||||
| 18-Oct-09 | Grande Premio do Brasil 2009 | ||||
| 1-Nov-09 | Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
Photo Credit: alex_ko
When BMW jumped in to F1 a few short years ago I for one was excited as hell (being a big beemer fan and driver). The makes of the ‘ultimate driving machine’ were going to show off their stuff in self-proclaimed pinnacle of motorsport. Cool. Teaming with a name like Williams made the move even more interesting. They bought into history. It didn’t take long for the Williams deal to unravel. Maybe I should have taken a closer look back then, maybe I would have seen today coming. When BMW bailed on Williams and bought a major share in Peter Sauber’s team it all made sense. They were, frankly, a cheap and well-run team that had little success. The only way was up. It was a classy move to keep the Sauber name too.
Three weeks to go until the first F1 race of the year, the ING Australian Grand Prix. There has been a tonne of changes in teams, car configurations, technical updates, etc. Time to brush up on those changes. I’ve posted a number of links and one video to help communicate what some of the changes have been.
Technical Changes
Changes mainly are attached to engines, aerodynamics, Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) and tires. To help you understand some of the changes, here are a many links including a video from Red Bull Racing to demonstrate the new requirements.
We are at the last race of the year of the 2008 F1 season and the driver’s championship has come down to this race. Heading into the Brazilian Grand Prix the top three drivers (by points) is Hamilton with 94, Massa with 87 and Kubica in third with 75. In order for the Massa to take the championship he will need to finish 1st or 2nd with Hamilton no higher than 6th or 8th respectively. It will be a great race in front of Massa’s home-crowd and on a track that he traditionally does well on.
Credit: undersun
The 15 corner, anti-clockwise Brazilian Grand Prix includes 71 laps over a 4.309 km (2.678 mile) circuit for a total race distance of 305.909 km (190.083 miles). The fast lap record holder is Juan Montoya in 2004 with a time of 1:11.473.
The weekend weather for Sao Paulo is not looking very positive with showers all three days, including 100% POP on Sunday.
Past top three finishes at the Brazilian Grand Prix include: Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso (2007); Massa, Alonso, Button (2006); Montoya, Raikkonen, Alonso (2005); Montoya, Raikkonen, Barichello (2004); Fisichella, Raikkonen, Alonso (2003).
Checkout Sidepodcast’s preview below:
Round 16, the Japan Grand Prix, is at Fuji Speedway again after its 2007 move from Suzuka International Racing Course. The Suzuka circuit will close for one year to perform much needed renovations and make it F1-compliant again. The 2009 Japan Grand Prix will move back to Suzaka circuit once the renovations are complete.
Credit: varlen
The Japan Grand Prix includes 67 laps over a 4.563 km (2.835 mile) circuit for a total race distance of 305.416 km (189.975 miles). The fast lap record holder is Lewis Hamilton in 2007 with a time of 1:28.193. Weather is always a concern at this event because the systems that Mt. Fuji produces. Last year’s race had 20 laps of caution as the rain poured over the area.
Past top three finishes at the Japan Grand Grand Prix include: Hamilton, Kovalainen, Raikkonen (2007); Alonso, Massa, Fisichella (2006); Raikkonen, Fisichella, Alonso (2005); M. Schumacher, R. Schumacher, Button (2004); Barichello, Raikkonen, Coulthard (2003).
This is a race of firsts. Not only is it the inaugural Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, but it is also the first ever night race for F1.
The shot below shows how the track looks lit up. This photo was during one of the lighting tests in preparation for the big event.
Photo Credit: zerou AP Photo/Wong Maye-E
The drivers competition is tight with one point separating positions one and two (Lewis Hamilton with 78 and Felipe Massa with 77). Running in third is Kubica with 64 points.
Hamilton and McLaren tried to increase their lead this week by appealing the 25 second penalty levied against Hamilton for cutting a chicane in at the Belgium Grand Prix while racing with Raikkonen. The FIA was quick to throw the request out stating that the appeal was inadmissible.
The Singapore race is a counter-clockwise race with 23 corners over 5.067 km (3.149 miles). The 61 laps bring the total race distance to 309.087 km (192.066 miles). If the streets stay dry it will be a very interesting race, it should provide some great photography and it will add another hot circuit to the schedule.
Checkout Sidepodcast’s preview below:
