Capital Summertime Ball 2024

[E*F*4L]

don't see the point in these new rules

[SCOTTS NO1 FAN EVA]

:shock: didn't know there were F1 fans on here

Im a big fan

[Nik B.]

The new wins rule is epic fail. Spose they dn't give a damn anymore about consistancy and just want to see some dog fights for 1st. Might liven it up a bit, but I can see it all ending in tears when they get over-competitive and well... crash quite frankly.

I hope I'm wrong, but I reckon theres gonna be absolute carnage this season.

[Bumble_85]

I really wish Schumi was back with this rule so everyone could get up in arms when he pushed someone slightly wide

[cxx666]

don't see the point in these new rules

They say the rules are to make the driver who wins the most races win the championship.

Now call me cynical, but I dont see it as any coincidence that the Friends of Italian Automobiles (FIA) change to these rules the year after McLaren (a team they don't like) beat Ferrari to the driver's title.

[Bumble_85]

Just hearing The Chain makes me stupidly excited about Australia.

[craigh]

Coverage times

MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA All times GMT

Friday 27 March

Practice (Times TBC): 0125-0305, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

0525-0705, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Saturday 28th March

Practice: 0255-0405, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Qualifying: 0500-0715, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Re-run: 1300-1415, BBC One

Sunday 29th March All times BST

Race: 0600-0900, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 0900-1000, BBC Red Button/online

Race re-run: 1300-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

The title is now decided by the amount of wins :/

newsbeat are saying it is postponed (the new system that is!)

[Sam]

newsbeat are saying it is postponed (the new system that is!)

The Formula One Teams' Association says the FIA's decision to change the scoring system for 2009 is invalid and cannot be enforced.

FOTA - which proposed an alternative points system but saw it rejected by the FIA World Motor Sport Council - claims that Formula 1 regulations do not allow such a change so close to the season unless all the teams are in agreement.

"Following the decision of the World Motorsport Council of the 17 March 2009 to change the way the drivers’ championship is awarded, the Teams gathered and unanimously agreed to question the validity of this decision," said a FOTA statement.

"The amendment to the sporting regulations proposed by the World Motorsport Council was not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship."

[craigh]

i take it that a certan multi-millionare is rather irrate now

[craigh]

He he 5 live formula one has a certian theme:D

Triple post

both free practise sessons from last night are on the bbc f1 website

[Sam]

Not looking good for mclaren, lets hope they can catch the group at fast.

I'll be supporting Jenson this weekend

The FIA has revealed the fuel loads with which all 20 cars will start the Australian Grand Prix. James Allen analyses the data here.

The fuel weights have been published by the FIA for the first time, under the new rules for this season.

There are some very interesting things here.

For a start the Brawn cars are, as we expected, massively quick, given that Jenson Button’s car has 22 laps worth of fuel in it (59 kilos).

Rubens Barrichello will go one lap longer, to 23. This is a long first stint for a two-stop strategy.

Knowing this we can say that Jenson did a stunning job today in the final part of qualifying as the smaller amount of fuel he’s carrying will have given him less than a tenth of a second of lap time compared to Rubens and yet he is three-tenths faster.

Rubens liked the car more on low fuel in the early part of qualifying, Jenson liked it more in heavy fuel mode. He will be on his own tomorrow in the race.

Sebastian Vettel, who qualified third, will go to lap 20, the same as Nico Rosberg.

This means that the Red Bull is a couple of tenths faster than the Williams.

Meanwhile the Ferraris are in trouble: Felipe Massa has only 18 laps of fuel in his car and yet he was 0.8s off Button, who has 0.3s of a weight disadvantage.

That puts the Ferrari more than a second slower in qualifying trim today.

Kimi Raikkonen has a similar amount as his team-mate and was a tenth slower.

Robert Kubica’s lap looks less stellar when you realise that he is running light – he will be stopping on lap 17.

Button should control the race; reliability is his only competitor tomorrow.

Barrichello has more than enough speed to stay ahead of Vettel and Rosberg who will be fighting for a podium.

Massa moves forward to sixth on the grid after Timo Glock’s exclusion and he has a shot at a podium from there to get his championship campaign off to a strong start.

The Ferrari should prove a faster race car than it was a qualifier here.

[Bumble_85]

I can safely say that watching the qualifying earlier without James Allen wittering on incessantly was soooo nice. I got a bit disillusioned last year what with everyone telling me I should like Hamilton, the appalling coverage on ITV and just... eurgh.

This year I might still get a billion and one people telling me I should like Hamilton but at least they've made some decent coverage on the Beeb. I live in hope!

If Jense and Mark Webber can keep it up then I shall be most excitable.

[E*F*4L]

1. Jenson Button

2. Rubens Barrichello

3. Sebastien Vettel

4. Robert Kubica

5. Nico Rosberg

6. Felipe Massa

7. Kimi Raikkonen

8. Mark Webber

9. Nick Heidfeld

10. Fernando Alonso

11. Kazuki Nakajima

12. Heikki Kovalainen

13. Sebastien Buemi

14. Nelson Piquet

15. Giancarlo Fisichella

16. Adrian Sutil

17. Sebastien Bourdais

18. Lewis Hamilton

19. Jarno Trulli*

20. Timo Glock*

*Sent to the back of the grid due to a technical infringement.

the new intro is nice also

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[cxx666]

I got a bit disillusioned last year what with everyone telling me I should like Hamilton, the appalling coverage on ITV and just... eurgh.

I'll admit I was 1 of those people last year but to be honest I dont care as long as those stupid red cars dont win anything this time rounf

[Sam]

I'll admit I was 1 of those people last year but to be honest I dont care as long as those stupid red cars dont win anything this time rounf

I doubt you will be seeing the red cars winning for a little while looking at the amount of fuel and their times today.

Of course when they develop their car over the season you can expect them to be back up the top :/

[E*F*4L]

:shock:

button wins

[craigh]

GET IN 1-2 for Brawn GP

[Sam]

suprised lewis managed 4th.

very well done Button

anyone know why Lewis went from 3rd to 4th?

edit: Trulli was later given a 25-second penalty, meaning Lewis Hamilton was awarded third place.

yay

[Bumble_85]

The coverage on the Beeb was so so much better than ITV. We had actual interesting talks with people who knew what they were talking about, there was talk about the track and the new teams and the diffusers and it was just so better executed it was unbelievable.

There was no James Allen wittering on with his head up Hamilton's arse. There was no shouting that we wanted to hear from him/see him. We didn't have to endure an interview with his father. Just... \o/

The only bad bit, that made me cringe so much, was the interviews they did with Richard Branson. There are no words. Please don't let us have to watch that every week because... ewww. Talk to someone who knows things.

Even Martin's grid walk was better than it had been because he actually talked to some of the drivers and race engineers instead of a ton of celebrities who wouldn't know a formula one car if it hit them in the face.

Epic.

I am a happy little F1 fan today.

Jeeeeeense \o/

[craigh]

Trulli was given a 25 second penaulty for overtaking behind the safteycar

so hamilton is promoted to third

[Sam]

I wasn't too sure what Jake would be like but I quite like him ^^

[EllieForPresident]

I settled down to watch it while on my laptop (I'd recorded it), then AOL told me who'd won.

-_____________________-

[AlistairRobb]

The coverage on the Beeb was so so much better than ITV. We had actual interesting talks with people who knew what they were talking about, there was talk about the track and the new teams and the diffusers and it was just so better executed it was unbelievable.

There was no James Allen wittering on with his head up Hamilton's arse. There was no shouting that we wanted to hear from him/see him. We didn't have to endure an interview with his father. Just... \o/

The only bad bit, that made me cringe so much, was the interviews they did with Richard Branson. There are no words. Please don't let us have to watch that every week because... ewww. Talk to someone who knows things.

Even Martin's grid walk was better than it had been because he actually talked to some of the drivers and race engineers instead of a ton of celebrities who wouldn't know a formula one car if it hit them in the face.

Epic.

I am a happy little F1 fan today.

Jeeeeeense \o/

And, of course, not having to miss any action with annoying ad breaks.

Enjoyed it this weekend.

[E*F*4L]

oh yeah, F1 is much better on the Beeb, everything's crap on itv!

[The Stig]

Well, what a weekend! Firstly, qualifying was a sign if things to come. I can't remember ever watching one so exciting and so open, with none of the usual suspects present! As for the race, it was amazing. A brilliant drive from Button, I'm so pleased for him. Last year, what with the Hammilton effect, it must have been so difficult for him, but he at all times remained cool and dignified, and most importantly kept faith with Honda, when some including me thought he sould have got out of there. This season he could prove us Honda doubters wrong in spectacular fashion. It just proves what an effect one man can have on a team, all hail Ross Brawn.

Also a good weekend for another driver close to my heart, Rubens. Such a nice guy, popular with all the paddock, he'll push Jenson all the way this year and I look forward to seeing him do so, even if he made some mistakes today.

As for the BBC, they were fantastic. But let's not forget ITV revolutionized F1 coverage and if it weren't for them winning the rights in 1997 F1 coverage on TV wouldn't be a patch on what is today. Jake Humphrey is better than I expected, I like him and his style more than Steve Rider, and he worked so well with Eddie and DC. The 3 looked so at ease with each other, like they'd been doing it for years, an inspired choice in hiring that trio by the BBC. Jonathan Legard was clearly nervous on Saturday, but considering it was their first race together he and Martin Brundle did well, they will grow as a partnership. Ted Kravitz was excellent as normal and Lee McKenzie seemed solid, she'll be as good as Louise Goodman I'm sure. And as for the interactive options, icing on the cake.