They used to have full slicks. They went to grooved tires to reduce cornering speeds for safety's sake. Unfortunately, this resulted in a higher focus on aerodynamic rather than mechanical grip which made overtaking more difficult. Going back to slicks (and, presumably reducing aerofoil size to compensate) should result in similar adhesion but with more potential for overtaking.

The absurd one set rule has been abolished. I think it was deemed unsafe as a result of Kimi's suspension collapse and subsequent crash, caused by vibration from a flat spotted tire.

 

This is very interesting, but I think you misunderstood your reference. There can't be a "sonic boom" as you suggest. My specialty is more external than internal flows, but basically at sufficiently high flowrate, the flow in the intake manifold piping can choke (i.e. it goes sonic at the throat, or any narrowing area, or it's massively unstable and jumps around). When the suction force is removed, the flow unstarts, and the shock propagates upstream.

I guess there's sonic flow, and something goes boom, but there's no "sonic boom".

 

I'm trying to get into champ cars, but those circuits need to change. The surface they race on are terrible with the cars jumping all over the place.

Take last years san jose GP, christ the cars were jumping off the track and landing again as they went over the train tracks...the surfaces of the venues suck, F1 drivers would refuse to race on them.

I'm surprised that Bourdais isn't being scouted by Renault to plug the gap left when Alonso moves to Mclaren next year. French Driver, French team....the guy clearly has a lot of talent, they should stick him in a few tests to see how he does.

Next year when we move to a single tyre supplier we will see the speeds reduced dramatically, it will be simple for the FIA to say to Bridgestone "too fast, make a harder compound"

 

I know what you mean about Bourdais, he seems like a really good driver.

San Jose GP, what a joke, makes Monaco look like a pleasure to drive on.

 

Did anyone watch the British F1 last weekend? They said that the highest cornering force recorded was 5.5G through Copse!!

 

Alonso is making Fisichella look very ordinary indeed...signing for Mclaren next season may have been a big mistake, although it'll be great to see Alonso and Kimi in equal cars.

 

Sato was blowing motors because those motors sucked. The "sonic boom" thing may have come up because if you go to an F1 race (at least the last time I was at one) one will hear a "boom" in between gear changes especially on acceleration. This is caused by air rushing into the air intake above the drivers head and when the transmission switches to a higher gear the revs drop and all that air rushing in collides into the pileup of air before the intake thus causing that booming sound. Under the intake body work is a complex system of air management which trys to help out this situation by allowing this air to bleed of a little in places where it could do the most good(around the exhaust pipes etc.) But one can't have to much of this bleeding effect or too much of the ram air effect before the throttle bodies will be lost reducing power etc. Maybe if someone buys me a ticket and airfare to the next F1 race I could go and report back any changes to how loud this booming effect is while observing said race and report my findings here at my earliest convenience.

 

Let's make this the official F1 discussion thread. Sticky?

 

Good plan.

It's gonna be fascinating to see which driver ends up where when silly season begins...Alonso to Mclaren, Kimi to Ferrari (maybe), Lewis Hamilton to Mclaren (maybe), Montoya without a drive (maybe), Renault looking for a top notch replacement for Alonso.

It's gonna be interesting to see where everybody ends up.

 

Kimi and M Schu on the same team would be . . . interesting to say the least.

As to the Sato thing, it was partly the motor, IIRC it was their first or second season in F1, but his teammate wasn't blowing nearly as many. I'm kind of disappointed in him, he hasn't really been doing much, he was supposed to be good. I'm watching Button and Webber, they seem to be up-and-coming, but have tremendously bad luck.

 

I see they are talking about dropping the third driver from fridays for the lesser teams, thet seems a pity. The smaller teams need a leg up and stars like Anthony Davidson, Robert Kubica, Wurz etc.. get to shine and show what they can do.

 

I always laugh when the friday drivers are faster than the regular race drivers.

 

So it's been confirmed today that Montoya will be a NASCAR driver next season, racing for Chip Gnassi....

Can't help thinking it's a step down from F1.

it's a pity cos he was a really exciting driver a few season's back, but definately lost in the Montoya/Kimi battle.

 

^^^^ Are you serious? Why?

He better be getting paid like 10 times as much than from F1.

 

MB/McL informed him that his services "would not be needed next season." They're picking up 2005 World Champ Fernando Alonso (stupid move on his part if I do say so myself).