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Cutting-edge stuff, yeah....

2008 Prediction Champion

I "love" you scepticism.

Come on.
Of course its cutting the edge technology, thats why its creating so many headaches and challenges, and they are still undecided.

Give them a break. This stuff ain't that easy, and I can perfectly understand them taking this decision

Racing against the machine!

bad news for Kubica

With BMW road cars marketing going all around with 'efficient dynamics' KERS application in roadcars... they would be in bizarre situation if non-KERS car is doing better than KERS car.

Anyway, car designed for KERS, raced w/o KERS. That's exactly what Kubica expected. No wonder he pushed to get his chances in 2008.

No wonder that Kubica tested KERS once, maybe twice in pre-season testing. They knew it from the very beginning that RK won't use it in Melbourne. What a cr@p

2008 Prediction Champion

Shame...

I hope this feeling of disappointment doesn't continue for the whole season

Guys, I think you are overreacting.

I challenge you for after the race to prove me wrong, but I have a feeling there won't be signficant differences between BMW KERS and non-KERS cars in pace wise. The only difference we'll see is perhaps Nick gaining more positions at the start than RK. You'll see.

Racing against the machine!

On one hand it is sad that BMW wasnt able to build the car that would give the same opportunites to both drivers. They compromised Kubica's chances in 2008 to build device that may compromise those chances even more. It would look rather stupid if their non-KERS car will beat their KERS car, as the KERS is their beloved child. Which leads to some suspicions, but lets leave it here.

On the other hand Kubica sounded very optimistic for himself so it doesnt look like he perceive that he is f.ucked this year. If he doesnt feel like that who are we to challenge his views?

Good post, Wals.

2008 Prediction Champion

Yeah, good post Wals.

Its ironic that, as I remember, some RK fans were fearing and evencomplaining that BMW would force Robert to race with the KERS in Australia and that it would be a disadvantage.

Now its announced he (most likely) won't use it, yet there are claims that it will be a disadvantage.

Get right your mind hehe
ANyway, I see as stupid the conspirancy theory that BMW won't let Kubica win or beat Nick, because he doesn't have KERS on to show BMW's image. Thats BS.
First of all because BMW will already have to beat Brawn and the other teams, I don't think they will have the chance to even think of letting Nick beat Robert. BMW's priority is that a driver of their team wins, no matter who. Just look at Canada 2008. The moves were done in that direction.

BMW is no Mclaren, they don't give have a 1st and 2nd driver. Don't expect any Alonso-Hamilton kind of problms in the team.

Racing against the machine!

Quote:

J-Raid
Its ironic that, as I remember, some RK fans were fearing and evencomplaining that BMW would force Robert to race with the KERS in Australia and that it would be a disadvantage.
Now its announced he (most likely) won't use it, yet there are claims that it will be a disadvantage.

It's simple. KERS is a disadvantage for Robert no matter if he drives with it or not

2008 Prediction Champion

Quote:

J-Raid
Yeah, good post Wals.
Its ironic that, as I remember, some RK fans were fearing and evencomplaining that BMW would force Robert to race with the KERS in Australia and that it would be a disadvantage.

Now its announced he (most likely) won't use it, yet there are claims that it will be a disadvantage.

Get right your mind hehe
ANyway, I see as stupid the conspirancy theory that BMW won't let Kubica win or beat Nick, because he doesn't have KERS on to show BMW's image. Thats BS.
First of all because BMW will already have to beat Brawn and the other teams, I don't think they will have the chance to even think of letting Nick beat Robert. BMW's priority is that a driver of their team wins, no matter who. Just look at Canada 2008. The moves were done in that direction.

BMW is no Mclaren, they don't give have a 1st and 2nd driver. Don't expect any Alonso-Hamilton kind of problms in the team.

Jaime,

You are probably right that we are overreacting here. Noone knows where advantage will be in first race: KERS or non-KERS. I myself predicted weeks ago that only Nick will drive it.

But still, it feels bitter to finally have it confirmed that BMW's favourite gizmo, the one around which the focuse theur strategy in last years is not available for Kubica.

I actually believe our KERS is good, and our car had been from first drawing line being thought to work around it.

Well, life is life. It's hardly fair to everybody...

And finally, despite all information I hoped till the end that BMW really found the way to make light KERS that will allow enough ballast, that all weight issue talks were just smokescreen. I just hoped it's actually better that we suspect. Now it seems there's no miracles...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:26:05:29:32 by Gemm.

It's funny as form what I've seen - Robert weights today the same as Hamilton, and near likes of Piquet, Alonso, Raikkonen. So the other 3 teams managed to build efficient KERS for them while "we-support-KERS-at-all-cost" BMW did not?

No matter what you say it makes them look bizarre and at least partially - like fools.

Come on. It's not even decided yet. Can You tell, you're 100% sure Kubica won't use it?

It is decided.

[www.autosport.com]

Q&A with Mario Theissen:

[www.formula1.com]

2008 Prediction Champion

Quote:

barteks

Quote:

J-Raid
Its ironic that, as I remember, some RK fans were fearing and evencomplaining that BMW would force Robert to race with the KERS in Australia and that it would be a disadvantage.
Now its announced he (most likely) won't use it, yet there are claims that it will be a disadvantage.

It's simple. KERS is a disadvantage for Robert no matter if he drives with it or not

That sounds like a typical moaner's strategy

Quote:

pcyryl
It's funny as form what I've seen - Robert weights today the same as Hamilton, and near likes of Piquet, Alonso, Raikkonen. So the other 3 teams managed to build efficient KERS for them while "we-support-KERS-at-all-cost" BMW did not?
No matter what you say it makes them look bizarre and at least partially - like fools.

Thats either down to BMW not having constructed a chasis light enough as others (which I doubt) or that the simulations from different teams differ.

You have to bear in mind that while there is only one truth and facts, as nature is so complex sometimes engineers may not get the complete picture or not accurate enough, so team's simulations don't show the same results.
As well the factor of how much rear tyre wear each car creates influences. Though the Mclaren was supposed to be harder on the tyres than the bimmer, yet both drivers went for KERS...

Ah, and Kubica is taller than Hamilton or the other drivers, so with KERS he would have a higher CoG that Hamilton's.

Racing against the machine!

I think BMW plays it safe as always.
In case of technical difficulties they want to have at least one car on the finish line.
Also weather plays some role. If for example shower comes during the race, the KERS cars are doomed in my opinion.

On KERS, some info about Mclaren's:

There are 86 batteries (cells) in there (by AFCA):


Racing against the machine!

So they can be placed almost everywhere around the car?

2008 Prediction Champion

Not really anywhere, as you have to provide lots of cooling for them

Quote:

J-Raid

Thats either down to BMW not having constructed a chasis light enough as others (which I doubt) or that the simulations from different teams differ.

You have to bear in mind that while there is only one truth and facts, as nature is so complex sometimes engineers may not get the complete picture or not accurate enough, so team's simulations don't show the same results.
As well the factor of how much rear tyre wear each car creates influences. Though the Mclaren was supposed to be harder on the tyres than the bimmer, yet both drivers went for KERS...

Ah, and Kubica is taller than Hamilton or the other drivers, so with KERS he would have a higher CoG that Hamilton's.

Jaime...

Its all to do about the minimum weight rules in F1...605 kgs with driver... so the lighter the driver, the greater freedom in placing and moving ballast (weight).

McLarens mp4-18 was apparently the lightest chassis ever built...approx 65 kgs. Unfortunately, though light, it was also flexible...were still waiting for the mp4-18's first race (which will never happen btw).

Robert is penalised for being himself... bigger and heavier than Nick.

At the rate the size of F1 drivers are going, I bet well see Smurfette driving in 2012!

mikel

Wonder how today's performance will affect running KERS in the future?

Quote:

mikel
Its all to do about the minimum weight rules in F1...605 kgs with driver... so the lighter the driver, the greater freedom in placing and moving ballast (weight).

And where have you been the last days, thats what we have been talking about

ANyway, its clear that for the first race KERS cars are @#$%& up in Quali. We have yet to see how much it affects overtaking in the race.

Racing against the machine!

On KERS procedures (specifically Ferrari's):

The most severe measures have been taken in order for things to go in the safest way possible as far as KERS is concerned. To each GP Ferrari takes a five-strong rapid reaction force that is come into action in the event of a fire or a gas leakage. ''They will always be in the pitbox with special equipment.'' For all of those that touch the car there's a strict clothing prescription: ''Rubber gloves, insulated shoes and clothing with a lot of nomex in order for there not to flow any electricity.''
-----
Wearing masks and all that is all precautionary stuff basically, though obviously very useful and necessary when there's smoke.

- From the pitbox the team can see whether KERS (as well as the engine) are shut down within two seconds of something having gone wrong.

- In the factory in Maranello there’s an isolated zone, the temperature is controlled, there are protectional measures against fire and explosions.

- Marshalls can check whether KERS is switched off looking at the light on the steering wheel. They could also push the N on the nose or the E on the sides of the engine cover.

- To each marshall the FIA has handed out a document of 6 pages with instructions. Of the 700 people at the trackside around 400 wear protectional clothing, the medical personnel has special equipment as well.

Racing against the machine!