I’d be surprised if they haven’t already put a lot of effort in to their own diffusers in expectation of this ruling. Come race 5 or 6 I wouldn’t be surprised if Brawn GP start to fall off the map.
I would. They’ve got a full factory car which had a whole year’s development put into it (to the exclusion of developing last year’s car). It’s built by arguably the best designer in F1, and is powered by a top line engine that is apparently working a lot better than the Honda it replaced. They’re comfortably outpacing both of the other teams with disputed diffusers, and of course, their car is designed around their interpretation; while other teams can certainly adapt their cars, compromises are almost inevitable. And while they’re playing catch-up, Brawn can concentrate on refining their car.
The field will close up, sure, but expect Brawn to be at the top for the duration.
You’re right, I’ve read a few more articles since I posted that and I’ve changed my mind. Their car seems a lot better than I gave it credit for. While I think Button was a little fortunate in the first two races, circumstances made things more comfortable than they should have been, Brawn have a massive head start. With no testing allowed, any changes the ‘bigger’ teams make will be a little experimental.
I don’t think Brawn will have the fastest car come the end of the season but even if they do I think the difference in driver ability will start to show. I imagine they’ll be too far ahead for it to make a difference though. I hope I’m wrong and we have another exciting finish.
It sounds like Red Bull will have the hardest time changing their diffusers, though I’m not entirely sure why.
It’s to do with the interaction of their suspension design and the floor layout, if I’ve understood correctly. They’re unique in running a pull-rod suspension this season (in fact they’re the first to do it in F1 for 20 years), in order to get as many components towards the bottom of the car as possible (diag here). Unfortunately this means there’s a lot more stuff for them to move around near the floor of the car, hence their difficulties introducing a new back end in a hurry.
This is almost certainly a wild over-simplification, so take it with a pinch of salt. 
So McLaren run Version 1.0 of their revised rear diffuser:
…and Lewis is quickest in free practice 1.
It’s going to be an interesting weekend!
Tried posting this last night but my DSL was having none of it. Anyway, looking forward to the weekend.
I happen to agree with Dead Badger in principal even if I rather stay away from technicalities as much as possible. Point being the BGPs are, at this moment in time, by far the fastest cars in F-1 – and as he mentions, it is not just about their controversial diffuser. To put it simply, as things stand now, barring mechanical problems, BGP is the odds on favorite for the WDC – and the constructors title as well.
My feelings about aside they were simply the keenest team in interpreting the always confusing FIA rules. Yet the fact remains we have two distinct divisions in the same Formula. Nothing to do with money for a change this time, but rather with cheeky ingenuity.
Sure, both Macca and Renault seem to be ready to adapt their own version of the controversial DD diffuser as soon as China, but the larger point remains how effective they will be in not only extracting the most from said piece, but rather what I think makes BGP a better car beyond this sole ‘gimmick.’ AS some have mentioned, Brawn’s dominance will not likely last all season, but it’s rather a moot point when and if you gather enough points to be able to coast by the time other teams catch-up. And the more I think about it, the more I agree with Flavio Briatore and his prediction the the WDC could likely be over by Monaco. What with Brawn being so far ahead of the field and having some significant developments still in store – by Barcelona if we are to believe the press – they might have and keep their current 1/2 sec advantage over the non DDD teams; even if they adopt them by then.
Right. This whole debate, IMO, should be put to sleep sooner than later. Plenty of time to draw conclusions after the season is over. Meanwhile I still plan on keeping my insane hours to see the whole thing develop. However I doubt I’ll be the only fan that’ll DVR the season if we have a WDC as soon as Flavio seems to think. Fortunately, it wouldn’t be the first (or likely the last) time he’s been wrong. One thing I know for sure and that’s that there’s a whole lot of racing ahead.
Might help some of you what drivers are actually worried about:
Tired, and emotional - drivers concerned over China rubber choice
Hoping for a good one yet again…wet maybe, but certainly no red flags.
Keep posting your opinions and/or predictions gents (and ladies if any) – might turn-out a hell of a season despite all of the infighting. Or so I hope.
Get your local times for the rest of the weekend there as well.
Looking forward to feeling jet-lagged all weekend. Part and parcel of this sport.
Throw away comment: Due to rear suspension set-ups, looks as if Ferrari, Red Bull (and TR by default) will be in a bind trying to retrofit the DD diffusers.
I always try not to make much of FPs. However I do hope Macca’s temporary version of the DD diffuser brings them back into contention although I very much doubt it’ll happen overnight – they won’t have a final version until at least the Barcelona GP. FP-2 looks a little more realistic in terms of pace…
Button to win and add to his lead. Hoping against hope for a surprise. Whether it’s from Macca, BMW or Renault, the BGPs need competition now!
Interesting and angry comments by Alonso. Looks like as in Australia, tires are going to make a huge difference in the race – gimmicky stuff from FIA to make the races more “competitive.”
Alonso slams ‘ridiculous’ tyre choice
– bolding mine. Thought that was a funny way of putting things.
Saturday FP results. Outside the Usual Suspects, Hamilton, and especially, Piquet, were quite surprising. Of course, come Qualifying in less than two hours, it may mean nothing at all.
Comments on qualies from my end will have to wait as I won’t be watching from home.
Best of luck to all your faves!
Well, not really. 
Well, I hate to say it (again- I first said it about a year ago) , but I’ll still stand by it:
Button and Barrichello shold have retired at least a year ago.
These are the two luckiest bastards since Ringo Starr.
You’ve got to love Vettel and Red Bull. Despite all the controversy they managed to qualify 1st and 3rd despite not using a ‘dodgy’ diffuser or KERS. Ok, so they were the lightest cars (after Alonso) but still…
I like the BBC “Fuel-adjusted grid”: (Scroll down).
(with projected race first pit stops*)
1 Barrichello (lap 15)
2 Button (lap 15)
3 Trulli (lap 16)
4 Vettel (lap 10)
5 Webber (lap 11)
6 Alonso (lap 8/9)
7 Raikkonen (lap 19)
8 Rosberg (lap 12)
9 Hamilton (lap 20)
10 Buemi (lap 19)
- Calculated on the weight of fuel left in cars after qualifying had finished
It’s going to be a hell of a race!
Interesting qualy, certainly worth staying up for.
Vettel was magnificent, confirming what many – myself included – are saying, namely that he, and not Hamilton, is the real up and coming superstar in F-1. I also thought Fernando did a magnificent job with what is in essence a new car that he’s only driven for a few laps (they worked on it all night).
Fuel loads/strategies will feature big time as well. With their very light cars, the front three will not only be piting early, but also getting rid of the soft tire which is said to only be good for 10 laps or so – after that graining makes it lose in the vicinity of 1/2 sec per lap and it only gets progressively worst. So I’m betting/hoping that both Vettel and Alonso can pull a considerable gap in their first stint or else the race might fall into the BGPs hands simply by virtue of pit stops. OTOH if Vettel manages to keep his place at the start, it’ll be interesting to watch a possible Webber/Alonso fight.
On the downside for the RBs, they appear to be having some mechanical problems, Vettel was saying he hopes they can finish the race. Anyway, should be a good one.
Oh! and there’s also the weather to consider – rain likely later in the race.
Weight chart with starting positions:
- S. Vettel…644.0
- F. Alonso… 637.0
- M. Webber…646.5
- R. Barichello…661.0
- J. Button…659.0
- J. Trulli…664.5
- N. Rosberg…650.5
- K. Raikkonen…673.5
- L. Hamilton…679.0
- S. Buemi…673.0
- N. Heidfeld…679.0
- H. Kovalainen…697.0
- F. Massa…690.0
- T. Glock…652.0
- K. Nakajima…682.7
- S. Bourdais…690.0
- N. Piquet… 697.9
- R. Kubica…659.0
- A. Sutil…648.0
- G. Fisichella…679.5
I wonder how tire wear will factor into this? It looks like Raikkonen, Hamilton and Buemi are able to stay out longest by fuel weight, but will their rubber last that long? On Sidepodcast they mentioned that the track in China is particularly rough, and this chews up tires faster than usual. I can’t find the minimum number of laps required on a tire compound in the FIA regs. Does anyone know how fast they could ditch the less-effective super-soft?
It’s definitely going to be an exciting race - I’m looking for it to make up for the anticlimax of Malaysia!
Don’t quote me, but I think one lap will satisfy the regs. You might even be able to “start” with them (on the grid) and shit-can them after the parade lap (by pulling into the pitlane and starting from there, after a change post-start). It is hard to imagine a situation where this would be to any benefit, but in the 35 years of following the sport, I’ve seen some odd shit. The stewards would have field day with a scenario like this. F1 is a strange sport, too be sure. I personally look forward to the day where KERS and stupid “must use” tire regs are gone. Gimme a loose formula where the smartest engineers design the fastest cars for the most skilled drivers and let em rip!
Heck of an entertaining wet race, Vettel, without a doubt driver of the race – not a single mistake from him all race long, including the pass on Button when he wasn’t sure if the latter needed another pit stop or not. Just great pace all race long. Teammate Webber with an outstanding job as well, heck of a back and forth with Button there for a while. Good to see that the BGPs might not run away with it after all – beaten fair and square by a a great design with no trick diffuser or KERs.
Tires obviously not an issue due to weather which was great as I think it’s an unnecessary gimmick.
On the negative side, could freaking SpeedTV manage to show any more commercials without totally missing the race?! Utterly worthless ‘coverage.’
Next week BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
[url=http://www.formula1.com/results/driver/]Driver’s standings (not yet updated)
Night all.
Apart from the boring (though understandable) start, the race lived up to expectations. A great way to start a Sunday morning.
I don’t know what to make of it all really. For weeks there have been arguments about iffy diffusers and KERS, along come Red Bull with neither and pull out a convincing first and second finish.
A disappointing race from Hamilton IMO. How many times did he lose control of his car, four? I know it’s not entirely his fault but he had a reputation for being great in the wet. Was it a media-manufactured rep or did the supposed lack of down force exacerbate the conditions?
Lets have a completely dry race in Bahrain next, please.
I thought it was an incredibly entertaining race, and I loved seeing Red Bull start at the front of the grid and finish in the front, sans the diffuser and the KERS.
Although, correct me if I’m wrong, I thought both Brawn cars had only the trick diffusers and the NOT the KERS… From what I gathered from the commentary before the race, only two or three drivers had the KERS today; the rest had taken them out.
I was incredibly impressed with Sutil of Force India, who started from the pit lane and crashed with just 6 or 7 laps to go in 6th place. I was really rooting for him.
And the clowns commentating on SPEED never said why Nakajima retired and I haven’t found anything on the internets; anyone know the reason?
I enjoyed it and I’m glad that Bahrain is only a week away; it’s hard waiting two weeks for my fix.
I didn’t manage to see it until this afternoon (BST).
I was a bit surprised that Red Bull won; maybe the lower speeds occasioned by the rain reduced the downforce available to the Brawns enough for the Red Bull to outperform them? That being said, taking advantage of nonstandard conditions is one of the skills GP teams need.
Good to see an unfancied team turning the tables.
Hamilton did lose control too many times, but the corner where he spun last (a 360 spin winding up facing the right way down the track) was the bane of most drivers at one point or another.
Probably Kubica was the luckiest though. After trying to climb into Trulli’s engine compartment and losing his front wing in the process, he somehow managed to end up at the entrance to the pitlane, and facing the right way.
More next week, and at a slightly more reasonable time for me.
That was just a great race. Impressive driving by the Red Bull team. They really owned that track, hands down. I can’t wait to see how things run next week in Bahrain - should be a dry race for a change.
Agreed. Outstanding performance. Not to lose it once over 50-odd laps in those conditions.
but F! him! I’m a Ferrari Fan! 