While the regulation changes for next year's Formula 1 World Championship are not as extensive or radical as those introduced at the start of 2009, the new rules - which include the banning of refueling and the introduction of narrower front tyres - will inevitably require some serious thinking from all teams if they are to be exploited to their fullest extent.
Not least of these are the additional considerations that stem from carrying significantly heavier fuel-loads through the race - increasing fuel-weight from around 60kg for a typical two-stop strategy to more than 150kg for a full race distance, and slowing laptimes by as much as five seconds at the start of each grand prix.
In order to cope with these demands, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Dutch shock absorber manufacturer KONI have extended their successful partnership, which will continue the Formula 1 team's use of KONI's unique frequency selective damping (FSD) system.
FSD's hydraulic system can be tuned for aerodynamic stability, but, when the going gets tough, such as when a grand prix car is travelling over kerbs, it will adopt an optimum setting for handling and feel of the car.
For 2010, optimal damping will be essential: the heavier cars will require a stable aero platform, particularly where damping assists most: the entries and exits of corners. By reducing unwanted vehicle movement while simultaneously improving driver 'feel', KONI's FSD system provides 'instant' laptime.
"KONI's FSD is intelligent damping," says McLaren Racing's managing director, Jonathan Neale. "FSD thinks for us - so it gives the drivers greater confidence and means they can drive through corners with maximum commitment - something you're always looking for when you're pushing a racing car to operate at its limit."
In addition, KONI continues to expand its FSD technology into the road car market, providing vehicles with an intelligent mechanical system that doesn't require complicated electronics, and which also allows vehicles to be driven more efficiently.
Frits Altorf, KONI's sales engineer, car OE & racing, added: "Formula 1 is an extremely prestigious international shop window for KONI's state-of-the-art products - therefore, we're delighted to have extended our partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, particularly as damper technology will be more important than ever in 2010.
"Additionally, the damping technology you see at the racetrack feeds directly into the pioneering work we're undertaking on our road car FSD systems. The success we've achieved with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes gives the clearest possible demonstration of how KONI FSD technology can also provide outstanding performance and comfort on the road."
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Monday 7 December 2009
Dennis: Car business good for McLaren
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has no doubts his company is doing the right thing in pursuing its road car ambitions - even though that decision proved a catalyst for Mercedes-Benz to switch its focus to Brawn.
Dennis is heading up McLaren's plans to build a range of sportscars over the next few years - with the MP4-12C due to be the first of the new range.
And although the expansion of the road car business has been singled out as a key reason why Mercedes-Benz chose to end its exclusive deal with McLaren and instead takeover Brawn, Dennis is adamant the move is to the ultimate benefit of his Woking-based company.
"It is really a development of the brand," said Dennis as he collected a lifetime achievement award at the AUTOSPORT Awards.
"We have had some great partners - and I have to mention Mercedes-Benz. They have been phenomenally strong partners of us, and there was a time when we had to think hard and long about what was the right thing for McLaren.
"When I look at the achievements of Ferrari and what we intend for McLaren, it is absolutely categorically the right thing for us to plough our own furrow. It is a win-win situation for everyone.
"I am delighted for Brawn and the Mercedes GP team of the future, and at the end of the day, we were extremely supportive of solving the problems with Brawn.
"It is the way we have always been in F1. We take decisions for the benefit of F1, most of the time, if not all the time. I have had ups and downs in my career and I accept that being the boss you have to take the responsibility sometimes for things that are not always in your own mind your responsibility. But nevertheless that is part of being a boss and that is what I have had to do."
Dennis has also dismissed any talk of him returning to a role within McLaren's F1 teams.
"No. No. No," he said when asked about the possibility of coming back to F1. "My role in active F1 is definitely over.
"I will go to some grands prix because I love it. My brain is in McLaren but my heart is in motor racing, so I will definitely be at some grands prix. But it will not be on the pit wall and not as anything other than a spectator.
"At the end of the day I live and breath for McLaren and that is never going to change."
Dennis is heading up McLaren's plans to build a range of sportscars over the next few years - with the MP4-12C due to be the first of the new range.
And although the expansion of the road car business has been singled out as a key reason why Mercedes-Benz chose to end its exclusive deal with McLaren and instead takeover Brawn, Dennis is adamant the move is to the ultimate benefit of his Woking-based company.
"It is really a development of the brand," said Dennis as he collected a lifetime achievement award at the AUTOSPORT Awards.
"We have had some great partners - and I have to mention Mercedes-Benz. They have been phenomenally strong partners of us, and there was a time when we had to think hard and long about what was the right thing for McLaren.
"When I look at the achievements of Ferrari and what we intend for McLaren, it is absolutely categorically the right thing for us to plough our own furrow. It is a win-win situation for everyone.
"I am delighted for Brawn and the Mercedes GP team of the future, and at the end of the day, we were extremely supportive of solving the problems with Brawn.
"It is the way we have always been in F1. We take decisions for the benefit of F1, most of the time, if not all the time. I have had ups and downs in my career and I accept that being the boss you have to take the responsibility sometimes for things that are not always in your own mind your responsibility. But nevertheless that is part of being a boss and that is what I have had to do."
Dennis has also dismissed any talk of him returning to a role within McLaren's F1 teams.
"No. No. No," he said when asked about the possibility of coming back to F1. "My role in active F1 is definitely over.
"I will go to some grands prix because I love it. My brain is in McLaren but my heart is in motor racing, so I will definitely be at some grands prix. But it will not be on the pit wall and not as anything other than a spectator.
"At the end of the day I live and breath for McLaren and that is never going to change."
Friday 4 December 2009
JEREZ YOUNG DRIVER TEST
Drivers: Gary Paffett & Oliver Turvey
Location: Circuito de Jerez
Track Length: 4.423km
Weather: Cold and slippery in the morning, a light patch of drizzle at lunchtime and dry for the afternoon
Track temperature: 21.7°C
Air temperature: 17.0°C
Laps run today: 91 (59 for Gary/32 for Oliver)
Laps run in total at test: 252 (81/80/91)
Kilometres covered today: 402km
Kilometres covered in total at test: 1114km (358/354/402)
Best lap time today: Gary: 1m18.746s at 16:46pm
Best lap time of the test: Gary: 1m18.746s
Drivers for tomorrow: -
Duration of test: Three days (December 1-3)
Next Test: Valencia Feb 1-3 2010
Oliver took over for the morning, concluding the running he began on Tuesday afternoon. On a slippery track, Oliver began with a number of aero tests at slower speeds until conditions improved and the test team switched him to a 10-lap run, running through a suite of different set-ups to give Oliver a feel for the changes.
Test team manager Indy Lall said: “Oliver did a very good job and contributed towards our week’s test work. He made a very good impression on his introduction to Formula 1.”
With a midday patch of drizzle, it was decided to switch the car over for Gary’s run in the afternoon. He spent the remainder of the day conducting a very disciplined series of set-up and tyre analysis runs.
The three days’ work was very encouraging and provides a very useful benchmark for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team’s preparations for 2010 and the launch of the MP4-25.
Driver Constructor Time Laps
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1m17.418 77
Paul di Resta Force India F1 1m18.736 53
Gary Paffett Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1m18.746 59
Mike Conway Mercedes GP 1m19.096 77
Nico Hulkenberg Williams F1 1m19.226 106
Bertrand Baguette BMW Sauber 1m19.356 70
Oliver Turvey Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1m19.358 32
Marcus Ericsson Mercedes GP 1m19.382 49
Lucas di Grassi Renault 1m19.602 123
JR Hildebrand Force India F1 1m19.873 41
Pablo Sanchez Lopez Ferrari 1m21.068 39
Daniel Zampieri Ferrari 1m21.279 42
Marco Zipoli Ferrari 1m21.725 41
Brendon Hartley Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m22.493 50
Mirko Bortolotti Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m23.271 34
Ho-Pin Tung Renault 1m32.477 4
Location: Circuito de Jerez
Track Length: 4.423km
Weather: Cold and slippery in the morning, a light patch of drizzle at lunchtime and dry for the afternoon
Track temperature: 21.7°C
Air temperature: 17.0°C
Laps run today: 91 (59 for Gary/32 for Oliver)
Laps run in total at test: 252 (81/80/91)
Kilometres covered today: 402km
Kilometres covered in total at test: 1114km (358/354/402)
Best lap time today: Gary: 1m18.746s at 16:46pm
Best lap time of the test: Gary: 1m18.746s
Drivers for tomorrow: -
Duration of test: Three days (December 1-3)
Next Test: Valencia Feb 1-3 2010
Oliver took over for the morning, concluding the running he began on Tuesday afternoon. On a slippery track, Oliver began with a number of aero tests at slower speeds until conditions improved and the test team switched him to a 10-lap run, running through a suite of different set-ups to give Oliver a feel for the changes.
Test team manager Indy Lall said: “Oliver did a very good job and contributed towards our week’s test work. He made a very good impression on his introduction to Formula 1.”
With a midday patch of drizzle, it was decided to switch the car over for Gary’s run in the afternoon. He spent the remainder of the day conducting a very disciplined series of set-up and tyre analysis runs.
The three days’ work was very encouraging and provides a very useful benchmark for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team’s preparations for 2010 and the launch of the MP4-25.
Driver Constructor Time Laps
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1m17.418 77
Paul di Resta Force India F1 1m18.736 53
Gary Paffett Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1m18.746 59
Mike Conway Mercedes GP 1m19.096 77
Nico Hulkenberg Williams F1 1m19.226 106
Bertrand Baguette BMW Sauber 1m19.356 70
Oliver Turvey Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1m19.358 32
Marcus Ericsson Mercedes GP 1m19.382 49
Lucas di Grassi Renault 1m19.602 123
JR Hildebrand Force India F1 1m19.873 41
Pablo Sanchez Lopez Ferrari 1m21.068 39
Daniel Zampieri Ferrari 1m21.279 42
Marco Zipoli Ferrari 1m21.725 41
Brendon Hartley Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m22.493 50
Mirko Bortolotti Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m23.271 34
Ho-Pin Tung Renault 1m32.477 4
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