Honda’s 2009 car looks quick, will be driven for Jenson by small Asian man
Jenson Button believes Honda will be much more competitive in 2009, so much so that he could even win a couple of grands prix (no laughing at the back). Speaking at the Japanese manufacturer’s traditional end-of-season ‘Honda Racing Thanks Day’ at Motegi earlier this week, Button reassured the 25,000 fans that Honda is a team on the up:
“The last two years have been very difficult for all of us, but I think we have a very strong team and we have a real passion for racing, so things will come good for us.
“I’ve already seen what is happening with the car for next year, and it looks very positive. It feels more like 2006, when I got three podiums and I won my first race.
“So it’s all very positive, and I’m hoping to get some more wins next year.”
Lewis Hamilton received a Special Prize from the jury at the annual Bambi awards (Germany’s equivalent of the Oscars). Lewis was hounoured for his “charisma and his youthful charm which made him the new superstar of Formula 1.”
The world champion was handed his shiny Bambi by Dutch football WAG Sylvie van der Vaart, the not-unpretty wife of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. And yes, Van der Vaart is a mildly amusing surname.
“I think this is my first award I’m collecting since after the last Grand Prix,” Hamilton said on the red carpet after the event. The first of many this awards season, we don’t doubt.
Crasher bonus! More photos after the jump, plus a video of Britney Spears (yes, pop fans, she’s back) performing at the ceremony:
World champ creates superlap from favourite corners
Lewis Hamilton has designed his dream F1 circuit. The imaginary track features ten of his favourite corners.
“I wanted to create a circuit that would be challenging, exhilarating and enjoyable,” Lewis said, “but most of all somewhere you would love to have the chance to drive and provide the definitive test for any driver, in any car.”
The anti-clockwise layout includes Spa’s Eau Rouge (the best corner in F1, still), Copse from Silverstone and Tabac from Monaco (where he picked up a puncture this season). With only ten corners, it wouldn’t last long, but it would be one hell of a ride.
Everything you need to know - but couldn’t be bothered to find out - about next season’s raft of rule changes
Tyres
F1 returns to slicks in 2009. With no grooves, grip will increase by around 20%, bringing a significant performance gain. However, that gain will be offset by the reduced downforce levels of the new aerodynamic rules (see below). The overall effect should be reduced performance through high-speed corners. Teams will still have the choice of two dry tyre compounds and will still have to use both compounds during a race.
KERS
Teams have the option of using the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS), which recovers kinetic energy generated by the car’s braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a “boost button” on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just under seven seconds per lap.
Robert Kubica is up to his old tricks. In an interview with Formule 1 Race Report, the Polish driver again took a pop at his own team:
“In the last two or three months, I had the feeling that the team and I were no longer pursuing the same goal.”
He’s a real team player, huh.
To be fair to Kubica, he has a point - he wanted to go for the drivers’ title, whereas BMW wanted to focus on 2009. Still, although there’s nothing wrong with showing ambition, he needs to learn to stop criticising his employers, or they’ll lose patience with him.
We’re not sure exactly how tilt-shift photography works - something to do with tilting the lens to give a shallow depth of field, or so Wiki tells us - but it sure does make stuff look real pretty and toy-like.
You’d swear you’re looking at a minature, but no, it’s the real thing! Amazing.
Bernie Ecclestone is determined to scrap the points system. Is he mad?
Wee Bernie is hell-bent on introducing his barmy medals system in 2009, despite the fact that most sane people thinks it’s nonsense.
Maybe the news that his giant wife wants a divorce has addled The Meddler’s brain? Whatever, the current points system works just fine, whereas a new medal system would give all but the fastest teams no chance of glory - the likes of Toro Rosso, Force India and Williams thrive on the hope of scoring a few points at each grand prix. Without that incentive, why should they race?
As for ensuring a more exciting championship, the medals system could see the drivers’ title decided with less than half of the season gone - what’s exciting about that?
We agree wholeheartedly that there needs to be more incentive for drivers to attempt risky overtaking moves - that is the raison d’etre of Bernie’s medal system - but there is a much better way to do it: use a variation on the old points system, when the race winner would get 10 points and the runner-up would only get six (1991-2002).
