2007 F1 Thread

[MattR]

It's never too early. Here is the finalized schedule for 07

2007 FIA Formula 1 World Championship schedule:

March 18 Australia
April 8 Malaysia
April 15 Bahrain
May 13 Spain
May 27 Monaco
June 10 Canada
June 17 United States
July 1 France
July 8 Great Britain
July 22 Germany**
August 5 Hungary
August 26 Turkey
September 9 Italy
September 16 Belgium
September 30 Japan
October 7 China*
October 21 Brazil

**The 2007 German Grand Prix will take place at Nürburgring. In 2008, it will switch to Hockenheim, and continue to alternate between these two circuits thereafter.


Also, looks like a few changes have been approved and set into motion for next season.

Originally Posted by Speed Tv

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council got together at Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday, and, besides confirming a 17-race calendar for ’07 – with the USGP at Indy scheduled for June 17 – announced a roster of sporting and technical rules tweaks for next season.

Among the main novelties are the extension of the two Friday practice sessions from one hour to 90 minutes and the elimination of the third Friday car. Each team will be allowed to run just two cars on Fridays, to be manned by either racer or a nominated tester. Given the added running time on the first day of GP weekends, the two-race engine regulations will now only apply to the second day of practice (Saturday) and the day of the race. In addition, the WMSC ratified that engines homologated and used during the last two events of 2006 must now be used during the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Another important change is the introduction of a U.S. racing-inspired “free pass” for lapped cars during safety car periods. Before the SC returns to the pits, any lapped car between cars running on the lead lap must pass those cars and the SC, then proceed around the track to take up position at the back of the line.

Also borrowed from American racing is the addition of cockpit lights redundant to the flag signs to make drivers more easily aware of the race stewards’ red, yellow and blue flag signs.

For 2008, the FIA also agreed on the introduction of a mandatory standard ECU (Engine Control Unit) for all testing sessions in addition to the race meetings.

Finally, the entity confirmed a 17-race calendar for '07, with no possibilities of an 18th race being added. That event was the San Marino GP, which was not included in the provisional F1 schedule previously released but whose promoters were holding negotiations with the governing body to stay in the calendar for next year.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/33450/

[Nick Koan]

I'm kinda confused on the engine change rule.

So, does this mean if you blow your engine in Friday practice, you can replace it without penalty? Or does it mean for Friday practice you are allowed to put in a different engine?

[MattR]

Yeah, that's not entirely clear in this article, I'll see if F1 live has any better reporting

[MattR]

So f1 live's article is really no clearer.

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...18185820.shtml

[sperry]

Lucky dog in F1? That'll never work... for example: the SC comes out to control the pace and the leader is the only one on the lead lap. Every other car now has to haul ass around the track to make up their lap... meanwhile if the SC is only out for 1 lap, what's the chance the field will be able to make up the distance before things go green?

Also, I like the idea's of flagging lights in the cockpit, but I wonder how they work for local yellows... sounds like a complicated system to know where the car is and trigger the yellow light specifically for that flagger station. Also, do the flaggers hit a button or something when the wave the flag, or do they radio it to control who then triggers the cockpit lights... something tells me there's going to be a dispute at some point about a pass under yellow due to these lights.

[MattR]

The teams get to use a different engine on Friday, that along with the ban on third cars doing the grunt work should get the race drivers out on track.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

The teams get to use a different engine on Friday, that along with the ban on third cars doing the grunt work should get the race drivers out on track.

I guess if there's no 3rd car, they'll save enough cash to afford the cost of swapping in/out friday motors... but it still seems a little silly.

F1 should ditch the 2 weekend motor rule and just start Parc Ferme Saturday morning. One motor has to last Saturday practice, qualy, and race.

Maybe have a 110% rule on Sat practice where your installation lap has to be within 110% of the fastest Sat lap or you're penalized grid spots after qually just to make sure people get out there on Sat. Also, that means if everyone lolly-gags on Sat, one last minute lap by Alonso could really mix up the standings.

[Pat R.]

So who wants to go to Spa?

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Pat R.

So who wants to go to Spa?

You buyin? I'm there!

[MattR]

I think I'm going to try to go to Spa in 07. For my honeymoon

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by Pat R.

So who wants to go to Spa?

I'm still waiting for Suzuka to come back.

[Pat R.]

Originally Posted by MattR

I think I'm going to try to go to Spa in 07. For my honeymoon

Cool- we can split a room!

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Pat R.

So who wants to go to Spa?

I have a sudden craving for belgian waffles

[MattR]

Originally Posted by Pat R.

Cool- we can split a room!

FU pal! Seriously though, I think we're going to Spa. Should be the greatest trip of all time.

David????