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Spanish GP debut for Ferrari

Discussion in 'F1' started by 62 250 GTO, Jan 14, 2005.

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  1. 62 250 GTO

    62 250 GTO F1 Veteran

    Jan 9, 2004
    7,765
    Nova Scotia Canada
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    Neil
    #1 62 250 GTO, Jan 14, 2005
    MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) -- Ferrari's 2005 Formula One car will make its race debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in May, team boss Jean Todt said on Friday.

    "We are going to present the new Formula One car at the end of February," he told a news conference in the Italian Dolomites.

    "We are going to start the championship with the F2004B to a specification which takes into account the new regulations and today our program expects to do the first four grands prix with the 2004 car.

    "Why four? Well, simply considering the new rules, one power unit for two grands prix, we want to do two sequences of two grands prix and then we are going to start from Spain with the new car," said the Frenchman.

    The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona is on May 8.

    Ferrari won 15 of last year's 18 races and are chasing a seventh successive constructors' title, while Michael Schumacher aims for an eighth drivers' crown alongside teammate Rubens Barrichello.

    The new regulations have doubled the life span of a Formula One engine, forcing teams to use the same ones for two successive races in a bid to cut costs and reduce speeds.

    Todt said he expected an "extremely difficult" championship ahead, given the rule changes on engines, tires and aerodynamics.

    There are also an unprecedented 19 races this year, with several back-to-back.

    "Clearly, this will require continuous and intense effort on our part but this is true for everyone," said Todt.

    "It's going to be important to have an extremely competitive and reliable car because should one have problems the possibility of managing these problems in such short intervals is going to make our lives difficult."
     
  2. Tifoso1

    Tifoso1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
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    Anthony C.
    #2 Tifoso1, Jan 14, 2005
    I must admit, the late start for the F2005 concerns me. If the F2004B turns out to be uncompetitive, they will be 4 races down in the hole. Two races behind is one thing, four changes the complexion of the season completely. Hope the boys at Ferrari knows what they are doing.

    Side note: IMO, I still think this two race engine rule is idiotic. Anyway, since it is a 19 race season, does that mean the last race isn't included in this rule?
     
  3. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 tifosi12, Jan 14, 2005
    LOL

    You just beat the FIA and Mosley in their own logic!
     
  4. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,432
    FL
    #4 BMW.SauberF1Team, Jan 14, 2005
    Can teams get around the two race weekend engine rule? If you replace your engine before the second race, do you start either in pit lane, at the back of the pack, or are you disqualified? If it's the first two, I don't think Ferrari would have a problem passing 18 cars in a single race. I'm sure the FIA would do something about it if they see it's intentional.
     
  5. paulyb

    paulyb Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
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    paul bellis
    #5 paulyb, Jan 14, 2005
    After reading Todt's comment about doing 4 GP with the old car (using 2 engines for 2 GPs each),
    I was wondering, what's going to happen with the 19th GP ?
    Are teams going to develop a shangai special ?
    And what if Rubinho's engine blows during the 3rd GP ? Will he be allowed to change his engine again after the 4th ? Or will he have to do a 5th GP with the old F2004B ?

    Then later, it could be even more problematic!
    Consider Red Bull, who say they will probably alternate two of their drivers.
    Is the engine related to a driver or to a car? Could driver 3 come in witout a penalty for the next race if driver 2 blows an engine?
     
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tifosi12, Jan 14, 2005
    I'd be surprised if the FIA in its infinite wisdom had thought about this already. After all they were dumbfounded when Minardi pulled straight into pitlane during the qualifying session in season opening Melbourne.

    The fact, that they come up with a 2 races/engine rule and an uneven number of races speaks volumes. They don't think ahead.

    Paul, all great questions. Send them to Fia, Attn. of Max Mosley, Place de la Concorde 1, Paris-France.
    :)
     
  7. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,432
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    #7 BMW.SauberF1Team, Jan 14, 2005
    I was surprised, too! It was smart of them to do that to get around the rule, so I give them credit.

    Nice catch on the 19 races dilemma Paul, I never once thought about that. Now I can't wait to see what they'll do about it come the final race (probably some dumb rule--must use last season's car!).
     
  8. paulyb

    paulyb Karting

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    paul bellis
    #8 paulyb, Jan 14, 2005
    OK.....and further to that (can you tell its been a slow day) Is the FIA going to put a seal on an engine at the beginning of its "first" weekend, and check it at the beginning of the following race weekend? And even that would presumably only limit certain work being carried out on an engine.

    Or, are teams able to do what they like with an engine between races, just so long as the team use the same engine for 2 races? If that is the case, you could have that "same" engine which has got XX% of parts being different to what it had in the previous race.
     

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