By John Sharpe
March 4 2005

Even with the new technical regulations firmly in place for the first race of the year, the speeds during Fridays practice for the Australian Grand Prix were quick and more consistent then what I expected.

Even with the new technical regulations firmly in place for the first race of the year, the speeds during Fridays practice for the Australian Grand Prix were quick and more consistent then what I expected.

During winter testing Mclaren, Renault as well as Red Bull Racing ran very strong. The “winter championship” was definitely on its way! While most team bosses hardly ever put much stock into winter testing times clearly, the speed and the falling times on Fridays two practice sessions cemented what most of us knew all already; Mclaren just might be back after all, never under estimate Ferrari with Michael and RBR will be quietly making some noise this year.

I have never relied on Fridays practice times as being a true indicator for what’s to come on race day but I was very impressed with what I saw out of our own RBR. Christian Klien displayed some early speed, while DC mid way through the second session posted an impressive 1m 27.017 to top the time sheets. The only noticeable concern regarding DC during his practice session was the tire wear on his left front wheel. A large dark groove was easily visible during the in car camera shots.

Overall, the car looked and ran great. Red Bull Racing should be pleased with their first day on the track.

 

With harder tire compounds, raised front wings and rear wings pushed slightly forward, the FIA rule makers did all they could to slow the cars down this year. Did it work?

Well with 30 percent less down force taken away this year from last years aero package, F1 engineers seem to have done the impossible. According to some team engineers and aerodynamicists, they were able to regain a huge amount of that down force back with some creative maneuvering. It seems to me that the more the FIA tries to stifle Formula One cars, essentially making them shadows of what they once were, they only manage to excite engineers with a new challenge. F1 designers, engineers and aerodynamicists are the best in the business, many are hand picked or plucked from the most prestigious universities and companies around the world. The more the FIA changes the technical regulations they only succeed in creating an environment that inspires new ideas for F1 team engineers. What the FIA will never seem to figure out is, these people are problem solvers, bottom line!

 

By lowering the middle portion of the front wing this year, down force was found due to the end plate portion of the wings being raised by as much as 4 inches in accordance with new rules.

This solution created the sculpted front wing, which I like to refer to as the “butterfly” look. Ferrari even did one better with their “chin” step underneath the front wing.

 

I don’t know about the rest of you but with all these changes and new changes to circumvent the old changes in which to slow the cars down. Wow, that was a mouthful. I am looking forward to seeing the new changes muted with the new changes the engineers came up with that will only result with the FIA going back to the old. Did you get that? I guess what I am trying to say is, it’s going to be one fantastic weekend.

 

Go Bulls!!!