| The Overtaking Working Group (OWG) made a | | | | turns the car becomes slower because of the |
| very detailed study about how to increase the | | | | reduced aerodynamics. As a result, it's expected |
| overtaking in Formula one and has came up with | | | | the teams will reach last year's lap times. In fact |
| some set of modifications to the regulations and | | | | they have already improved their fastest lap |
| FIA used these modifications as a base of their | | | | times at test circuits during the winter season. |
| 2009 rule changes. As you can imagine most of | | | | Another major problem is, the slick tires provide |
| the changes are in the aerodynamic area which | | | | better grip on the front and this causes a huge |
| enables cars can easily follow the car in the front | | | | rear tire wear. |
| and have a chance to make a move if it's faster | | | | KERS(Kinetic energy recovery system): This |
| than the one in the front. As a result many rule | | | | system is the most recent and most discussed |
| changes are applied for 2009 season and both the | | | | technology in Formula1 so far. KERS basically |
| appearance and the performance of the cars | | | | recovers the energy generated during braking and |
| have changed radically according to the F1 cars | | | | uses this energy as an additional horsepower to |
| before. | | | | the engine. The energy recovered from braking is |
| Fundamental differences are; wider and lower | | | | stored on the charge batteries which are mostly |
| front wings, higher and narrower rear wings, | | | | located under the fuel tank and transmits this |
| lower and simple diffusers, slick tires, and KERS. | | | | energy to the engine when the driver press the |
| Also the drivers are now allowed to change the | | | | KERS button on the steering wheel. This will |
| front wing setting from their steering wheels and | | | | provide an additional 80 horsepower for 6.5 |
| all the winglets on the cars are now banned. So | | | | seconds. Although the working principle is simple, |
| Let's look over the changes in detail if you want; | | | | the system is quite complex by itself and many |
| Front wings: The aim of changing the | | | | manufacturers had a very hard time during their |
| characteristic of front wing is to enable a car to | | | | development phase of this system. Almost every |
| follow the car in the front more easily. The car is | | | | manufacturer have exceeded their budget set for |
| now less effected by the air flow which is | | | | the production of KERS. |
| generated from the car in the front. Also the | | | | Some teams are already reported that they are |
| driver is now allowed to change the front wing | | | | not going use the system at the beginning of the |
| settings twice during a lap. This will help the driver | | | | season. Some of them are believed to use the |
| to be able to change the setting without waiting | | | | system in the middle of the season. Although |
| for a pit stop, if he feels the setting is wrong for | | | | Ferrari has some difficulties during the |
| the track conditions at that time. Also it will help | | | | development phase, they are now one of the |
| to reduce the drag effect when following a car if | | | | few teams that currently uses the system |
| he reduces the setting in the straights. But as a | | | | successfully. The biggest concern over the KERS |
| result of this change, the front wing is now too | | | | is definitely safety. Teams made big |
| wide and it's almost impossible for the driver to | | | | improvements in this area but it's still not clear |
| see all the front wing from the cockpit. This may | | | | whether the teams will face any safety problems |
| cause many front wings related crash's especially | | | | during the races. Toyota, Williams, Brawn GP, |
| in the opening stages of the season as some of | | | | Force India and Torro Rosso will not use the |
| the drivers have already mentioned it. | | | | system at the beginning of the season and BMW |
| Rear wing and Diffuser: The rear wing is now | | | | is still undecided about their debuts in the first |
| smaller and higher. This will cause a dramatic | | | | race. So Australia may probably unfold some of |
| decrease in the downforce that rear wing | | | | the early surprises. |
| produces. Also the diffusers are now lower and | | | | KERS is believed to provide a 0,2-0,5 seconds gain |
| simpler than its predecessors. Because of the | | | | per lap depending on the characteristic of the |
| changes in the rear of the car, the downforce | | | | track. Some of the drivers who already tested |
| level at the back of the car is very limited now | | | | the system are very impressed from the extra |
| and this leads the teams to find different | | | | power provided by the system and they are |
| solutions. Since most of the teams were able to | | | | very curious about how it will work in the races. |
| produce more downforce than they expected in | | | | The system has also some disadvantages. KERS |
| the front of the car, the stability at the rear has | | | | is affecting the weight distribution very badly. |
| became a big problem. It's believed that Ferrari | | | | Since this system will bring extra weight about 50 |
| and McLaren have moved their cockpits to the | | | | kg or more the amount of the ballast that teams |
| front in order to move the weight distribution | | | | are using to balance the car will be very limited |
| closer to the front. | | | | especially for the heavier drivers. As a result the |
| Unlike the other teams Toyota, Williams and | | | | heavy drivers will be in a very disadvantaged |
| Brawn GP produced very different diffusers with | | | | circumstance because there will be even less |
| evaluating the gray areas in the regulations. Since | | | | ballast to balance the car. Therefore, many |
| diffuser is the most important part in producing | | | | drivers tried to lost weight during the season |
| the downforce, a little difference in the diffuser | | | | break. Massa and Heidfeld are the lightest drivers, |
| may cause a bigger difference in the vehicle's | | | | whereas Kubica and Webber are the heaviest |
| performance. Therefore, teams like Ferrari and | | | | ones. BMW already stated that they will decide |
| Renault are likely to protest these teams in the | | | | using KERS on a driver by driver and circuit by |
| first race of the season. Although these teams | | | | circuit basis. The cars that will not use KERS will |
| are stated that their diffuser designs are | | | | be in an advantageous state in regard to the |
| completely legal, it's believed that the other teams | | | | ones, that uses KERS, because they will have |
| are most probably waiting FIA's decision to start | | | | more freedom to use the ballast in order to |
| copying. In addition, it's known that some teams | | | | balance the car. But they will be in a |
| cannot easily adapt these changes because of | | | | disadvantageous state especially in the long |
| their car's rear design concept. It's also believed | | | | straights with the other cars using their extra |
| that some teams have already made | | | | power which is brought by KERS. |
| modifications to their diffuser designs and waiting | | | | Another purpose of these new regulations is to |
| for FIA's final decision. | | | | give all the teams a chance for a fresh start to |
| The grooved tires were introduced by FIA in | | | | their designs since everyone has to start from a |
| 1998 to slow down the cars, but finally FIA | | | | white paper. And obviously it seems like it |
| changed it's mind and introduced the slick tires, | | | | worked, as we see from the last tests that |
| which is the favorite of almost every F1 driver. | | | | BRAWN GP was dominating the sessions. Until the |
| The only contact of the cars with the surface is | | | | last tests Ferrari, BMW and Toyota cars seem to |
| their tires and just because of this, the most | | | | be very competitive, but at the last test Brawn |
| important part in car's overall grip is its tires. It's | | | | GP showed a wonderful performance which other |
| believed 50% of the downforce is already lost | | | | teams are all set to review their performance |
| because of the new aerodynamic restrictions. But | | | | closely. Renault and Redbull teams are also seem |
| some of this performance loss can be recovered | | | | like they did a good job. But the biggest |
| through the slick tires. Slick tires offer 18% more | | | | disappointment is definitely the performance drop |
| surface contact than the grooved tires and this | | | | of the McLAren team. It's not expected that a |
| will improve the overall grip. Slick tires, especially in | | | | Ferrari-McLaren competition will happen this year, |
| a slow turn provides better grip and hold the car | | | | at least until the European season gets started. |
| to the surface better. But in the long and fast | | | | |