The Formula One 2009 Season

The months of testing are over, the excitement and adrenalin levels are rising, as Friday Formula One drivers will slip the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship season in gear at Melbourne’s Albert Park. The months of winter during the off season have given fanatics and industry professionals the time to consider which team and driver will set the pace for the 2009 season?

Let the adrenalin flow

Fans will be lined up along the track Friday to watch the opening rounds of testing that will carry a new level of importance and significance this year with all the changes to regulations. The limitations on testing will mean teams will need to ramp up the speed from the start and get their cars ready as they only have so much track time to get their car up to standards. BMW Sauber, Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren will be running KERS systems on their cars, while Force India, Williams, and Brawn have decided to race without the controversial system.
The testing season has been dominated by the power and speed of Brawn through the testing season that started in March, so Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button will pull up to the start line confident and full of expectations for the 2009 Formula One season. There has been a lot of controversy over the Brackley car’s diffuser design as we approach the start of the season, Red Bull has even stated they intend to protest the design if the Albert Park race stewards certify it okay for race day.
Ferrari appears to have the F60 ready to challenge for the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. They have had a few problems with their car’s reliability, but they have been primarily keeping a track on the progress of Brawn, who testing indicates will be a major force on the track.
McLaren will be a front runner again despite problems with their car’s aerodynamics while testing in Spain, they made changes late in the Jerez testing sessions which appear to have improved the aerodynamics, so the current world champion Hamilton should be ready to challenge for a repeat of 2008.
Toyota will be appearing on the grid, Red Bull and Toro Rosso will be fielding their new Adrian Newey designed cars, while Williams expects their FW31 to challenge for the championship. Force India will be using Mercedes power, instead of Ferrari, but they will have to get the aerodynamics of their car working correctly before they can challenge for points.

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