Tuesday Talking Points

2008 title fight put ‘big two’ behind – Ferrari

Ferrari troubles

It is no coincidence that the two title protagonists of 2008 are now struggling to set the pace in formula one, according to McLaren and Ferrari. They argue that, in fighting for the crown until the final corner of last season, they fell behind others in preparation for the sweeping rules changes of 2009.

McLaren has been open about its lack of race winning pace with the MP4-24, which is underdeveloped because the bulk of the team’s resources was allocated to securing the drivers’ title for Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of its predecessor. “I can have some regrets about resource allocation but we are proud to have number one on the car,” the reigning world champion said last weekend.

Meanwhile, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said on Tuesday that the Maranello marque is also “paying” for its efforts to win last year. In contrast, non-2008 contenders like Toyota, Red Bull and Williams were able to turn their attention early to getting the most out of the 2009 regulations.

The furthest ahead is Brawn, who abandoned developing the 2008 (Honda) car almost as soon as it was born. “Like McLaren we had to develop our (2008) machine right until the end, while others were already working on a completely different project many months prior,” Montezemolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “You should not forget that this year’s machines are not evolutions, which means that those who had extra time were really able to draw an advantage,” the Italian said.

White tyre markings better than green – Haug

Green tyres

Norbert Haug believes Bridgestone should consider altering its method for visibly distinguishing the two compounds of tyres on offer at grands prix in 2009. With grooves being replaced by slicks for this season, it was no longer possible to paint the inside of a middle groove of the softest tyres white.

A month before the 2009 season, following extensive winter testing, F1′s official tyre supplier said it would instead paint green circles around the inside and outside edges of the sidewalls. The colour green was selected to show Bridgestone’s support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green environmental campaign.

However, in Melbourne last weekend, television viewers – including teams figures in the garages and on the pitwall – at times expressed difficulty in identifying the green markings. The problem may have been worsened by the evening sun. To heighten the importance of the matter, the significance of the tyres being used this season has increased, given Bridgestone’s new policy of skipping a specification.

For example, in Melbourne the ‘medium’ tyre was the specification of choice in the race, because the much softer ‘super soft’ significantly lost performance even after a lap or two. “Perhaps the contrast of white on black is better than green on black,” Mercedes’ Haug admitted to motorsport-total.com. “It is something to think about,” he added.

Twilight racing too dangerous for F1 – Rosberg

Rosberg

‘Twilight’ races are too dangerous for formula one, according to Williams driver Nico Rosberg. The late afternoon format, designed to make a better television viewing time for the bulk European audience, made its debut in Australia last weekend. With the action completing as the sun fell low in the sky, the drivers gave the format mixed reviews, including complaints of glare and flickering shadows from trees.

This weekend it is Malaysia’s turn, but the concerns about the 5pm start have grown louder, given the additional likelihood of late afternoon monsoonal rain in the tropical climate.

23-year-old Rosberg, arguing that evening is not appropriate for high speed motor racing, said: “In Melbourne it was obvious that it just increases the danger so much. “The visibility is so difficult, you can’t even see the edges of the track in some corners. I was driving into the sun and that’s not what racing is about. So I really hope they reconsider that,” he added.

The ‘twilight’ concept was a compromise for the Melbourne and Sepang organisers, who baulked at the idea of having to install expensive floodlighting – as in the Singapore grand prix – for a fully night-time race. But Rosberg insists F1 should stage either daytime or properly floodlit events.

Nakajima fit to race despite sore hand

Nakajima

Kazuki Nakajima insists he is fully fit to tackle the Malaysian grand prix. Just four days before he was due to begin practicing at the Sepang circuit, the Japanese driver had a heavy crash into Albert Park’s concrete walls during the 2009 season opener.The 24-year-old admitted blame for the lap-17 shunt and headed to the circuit medical centre for a precautionary check. “Everything is fine and physically I am okay,” the Williams driver said last Sunday.

However, Nakajima has now revealed that he knocked his hand in the impact at turn four. “It was quite a big impact,” he said, “but I’m fine except for a sore knuckle on my left hand. I’ll be fine to race in Malaysia.”

Malaysia to show if Renault car is ‘good’ – Alonso

Alonso

Renault’s pace in Malaysia this weekend will reveal whether the French team is set for a “difficult year”, according to Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard qualified his R29 twelfth in Melbourne before racing to sixth, but he believes his speed at Albert Park may not reflect Renault’s true form for the rest of the 2009 season. “The (Australian) circuit is very unique making it hard to draw conclusions,” he said in an interview with Spain’s Diario Sport newspaper. “We have to have a bit more patience. In Malaysia if we don’t go into the Q3 (qualifying phase) it will mean that we are probably not fast enough and we are going to have a difficult year,” the 27-year-old added.”I believe that we are going to be more competitive (at Sepang) but anyway it will give us a better idea of where we are,” said Alonso. He said his goal for Malaysia is to qualify in the top five. Alonso explained: “It is a very demanding circuit for cars, the same with Shanghai, where we will really see who is fast and if we have a good car.”

New full-time driver for F1 medical carThe official formula one medical car has a new full-time driver. Late last year, Alex Wurz and Sebastien Buemi stepped in to drive the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate, reportedly because its regular driver, Dr Jacques Tropenat, had fallen ill.

It is not known why Tropenat, a former Le Mans driver, has not returned to the role in 2009, but last year he was promoted to become the FIA’s deputy director of medical affairs.

At Albert Park last weekend, 29-year-old South African race driver Alan van der Merwe made his debut as medical car driver, and he will remain in the role for the whole 2009 season. The former BAR/Honda test driver landed the job due to his links with FIA official David Lowe, who was formerly van der Merwe’s team manager at the Carlin British F3 team in 2003.

Van der Merwe has also raced in F3000 and A1GP, and in 2006 was Honda’s driver for its Bonneville land-speed record attempts.

FOTA rift plays into Ecclestone’s hands

Ecclestone

Two of the most prominent figures of the FOTA team alliance are at loggerheads over the ‘rear diffuser’ saga. Despite other chiefs of the Formula One Teams Association insisting that on-track issues are separate to FOTA’s totally unified efforts, Renault boss Flavio Briatore could not hide his anger at Ross Brawn last weekend.Briatore chairs FOTA’s commercial aspect, while Brawn is in charge of technical matters. Toyota is also tangled up in the diffuser saga, as one of the teams being protested against, and its president John Howett is the FOTA vice-chairman.

“I don’t like the behaviour of the FOTA technical delegate (Brawn), who should have reported this thing immediately,” Briatore told the Italian media. “Brawn should have been fair. Three months ago he should have come to us to tell us there are two interpretations over the diffusers. When I go to the FIA or to Ecclestone, I go in the name of the FOTA, not Renault’s. “I don’t like the fact that a FOTA representative didn’t relate things transparently,” he added.

Brawn dismissed Briatore’s comments as overly emotional, but it is clear the row is playing into the hands of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA, who see FOTA’s unity as a threat to their power. “Can I put something in your mind?” Bernie told the Times newspaper prior to the season opener last week. “Ross Brawn is the guy that runs the teams’ technical committee and probably knows what’s going to happen before other people, or is in a position to guide things. There’s a massive conflict of interest,” the Briton said.

Abu Dhabi denies 2009 F1 debut facing delay

Organisers of the inaugural Abu Dhabi grand prix have rubbished reports the Yas Marina circuit will not be ready to host the 2009 season finale. Rumours last weekend, and subsequent reports in the Canadian press, suggested the defunct Montreal race could be revived in order to substitute for Abu Dhabi, whose project may be delayed by the global financial crisis.Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) said tickets for the November 1 race went on sale on Monday. “Progress on the construction of Yas Marina Circuit … is on track and there are no concerns regarding delivery deadlines,” a statement issued by ADMM read.