Motors The Official Bit-Tech F1 2007 Thread

Ok, So it's still 3+ months away , but this will be the place to discuss the 2007 season. The 2006 season thread can be found here

2007 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar:

01. Australia MAR 18
02. Malaysia APR 08
03. Bahrain APR 15
04. Spain MAY 13
05. Monaco MAY 27
06. Canada JUN 10
07. USA JUN 17
08. France JUL 01
09. Britain JUL 08
10. Germany JUL 22
11. Hungary AUG 05
12. Turkey AUG 26
13. Italy SEP 09
14. Belgium SEP 16
15. Japan SEP 30
16. China OCT 07
17. Brazil OCT 21

Renault
Heikki Kovalainen
Giancarlo Fisichella
Ricardo Zonta (test driver)
Nelson Piquet Jr. (test driver)

McLaren
Fernando Alonso
Lewis Hamilton
Pedro de la Rosa (test driver)
Gary Paffett (test driver)

Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen
Felipe Massa
Luca Badoer (test driver)
Marc Gene (test driver)

Toyota
Jarno Trulli
Ralf Schumacher
Franck Montagny (test driver)
Kohei Hirate (test driver)
Kamui Kobayashi (test driver)

Williams
Nico Rosberg
Alex Wurz
Narain Karthikeyan (test driver)
Kazuki Nakajima (test driver)

Honda Racing
Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello
Christian Klien (test driver)
James Rossiter (test driver)

Red Bull Racing
David Coulthard
Mark Webber
Robert Doornbos (test driver)

BMW
Nick Heidfeld
Robert Kubica
Sebastian Vettel (test driver)

Spyker F1
Christijan Albers
2nd Seat TBC

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Vitantonio Liuzzi (TBC)
Scott Speed (TBC)

Super Aguri F1
Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson

Rule changes

• Although the FIA had planned to switch to a single tyre manufacturer from 2008, Michelin has announced they will end participation in Formula 1 after 2006, leaving Bridgestone as the sole supplier for 2007.
• The teams finishing 5th–11th in the previous seasons' Constructors' Championship will no longer be allowed to run a third car on Friday following a rule change. The teams that finish 1st–4th are already banned from doing so.
• Engine development will be frozen from the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix, with these engines being used for the whole of 2007 and 2008. This is described as engine "homologation" by the FIA. It was previously set to be introduced in 2008.
• All cars will be fitted with red, blue and yellow cockpit lights. The purpose is to give drivers information concerning track signals or conditions. The lights must be LEDs each with a minimum diameter of 5mm and which are fitted in order that they are directly in the driver’s normal line of sight.
• In order to give rescue crews an immediate indication of accident severity each car must be fitted with a warning light which is connected to the FIA data logger. The light must face upwards and be recessed into the top of the survival cell no more than 150mm from the car centre line and the front of the cockpit opening and as near to the marshal neutral switch as is practical.
• The two Friday practice sessions will expand from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. Any team will be allowed to use two cars, which may be driven by either the two race drivers or a nominated third driver.
• The engine penalty will now only apply in the second day of the grand prix weekends. Any engine change in the first day will not be penalised.
• No car will be allowed to enter the pits during a safety car period until all cars are in the group following the safety car. This prevents drivers from racing to the pits immediately after a safety car is deployed. In addition, any lapped cars in front of a car on the lead lap will be required to pass the safety car and restart at the end of the line-up instead of maintaining their physical position.

All sorts will be happening this year; Single tyre manufacturer, homologated engines, No detuned V10's (IIRC), Schummi not being around, Brawn on Sabatical, Kimi at Ferrari & a couple of newbies in quick cars on the grid - it's going to be an interesting weekend, Aus, eh?

 

"15. Japan SEP 30"

Looking forward to this, its Fuji Speedway this year right?

 

It certainly is... Toyota's stamping ground.

 

better yet:

14. Belgium SEP 16

oh why oh why couldn't they let Micheal have one more race in the wet/dry/wet/whatever else they can throw at the track

 

Hell yes. This is going to be a good season ihmo (despite the loss of Schumi, different tyres and Alonso making a real ass of his career and moving to McLaren).
Can't wait for Fuji, that's going to be seriously awesome.

 

That will make it fun!

 

That fuji track looks like its going to be exceptionally fast

I dont understand why retaining the engines fromi this year is good, bearing in mind it means some of the teams cant implement new technologies for years thus giving the current frontrunners (ferrari and renault?) 2 years free sailing.

 

Anyone else think we will see a new world champion? Just can't see McClaren giving Alonso the reliability or the partner (Hamiliton is a rookie) he needs.

Should be interesting, with 3months to go I expect 15 rule changes.

 

No engine development? Get outa here. They'll continue to work on them for two years and then implement everything at once.

 

Ah yeah, I meant the next 2 years is going to be dominated no matter what breakthroughs the other teams make - also, if an awesome new thing is made by say "Red Bull" now, it means the other teams have a much longer time to catch on to it and implement it themselfs. I guess it could make for a more interesting season 09, but I cant see how the racing in the meantime will be any better for the teams unlucky enough to have a **** car this year.

 

14. Belgium SEP 16

 

Why dont they just rename the sport "A1" and be done with it?

 

Damn good idea!

 

Let's hope it rains - always some good accidents at Spa.

 

Yay, good to see Silverstone back at my birthday weekend again.
My birthday is the 11th

Might have to see if I can go this year!

 

Why the hell did Alonso move to McLaren?

I'll be rooting for Kimi, and since he's with Ferrari this year, he might be winning the championship.

 

GREAT to see Spa back on the calender, utterly AWSOME track.

Interesting rules, and totally agree on the Alonso -> Mclaren arse up! Wasn't this decided at the tail end of last year when the Mclaren was arguably the quickest card on the track?
Have a feeling we'll see a world champ coming from Ferrari this year, tho Jense/Rubens might have a look in if the car's quick enough. Gonna wager it'll be a fight between Massa and Kimi, possilby swining in Massa's favour a little.

 

McLaren = Money.

 

Money = Greed.

Sam

 

As a Tifosi obviously I want Kimi or Feli to win and thus the Scuderia the constructors championship.

I reckon it's a more level playing field for 2007 and we will see wins from Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW and Red Bull. well I hope so anyway. Makes it more interesting when it's not just 2 teams winning all the prizes.

Having said that I want Ferrari to win all the races, good for me and other Tifosi but bad for the sport. Not that it's a sport any more :-(