Formula 1: 2011 Preview

As of today, 15 March 2011 at 10:27am, there are 9 days, 1 minute and 35 seconds left until the Qantas Australian Grand Prix heralds in the new Formula One season and the return of the best excuse to sit in front of the TV for a whole weekend.

Although F1 cars can have around 80 000 individual parts, we can all concur that there are only a few key elements that properly matter. Namely: power, driver, aerodynamics, tyres and awesome paintwork (probably not essential, but pretty things are nice to look at.)

So now for the changes: this year’s might not seem as dramatic as season’s past but in the power category, we have the re-introduction of Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). In Layman’s terms, heat generated by braking is recovered and used as energy in an acceleration power boost (kind of like the mushrooms you could eat in Super Mario track racing on your Play Station 1). According to the Official Formula One website, KERS helps in promoting the ever elusive ‘environmentally friendly and road car-relevant technologies in F1’ and also as a pretty nifty trick to be used in overtaking. Williams has had difficulties in getting their KERS system running, but have confirmed it will be ready for Melbourne. “KERS seems to be zero problems one day and another day a hundred problems, and then you don’t know where it is,” said the Brazilian Williams driver, Rubens Barrichello.

From the very start and up until recently, racing cars have had the reputation of crossing the line in first place and then completely disintegrating. F1, as we know, has done away with this land fill option, with the regulations on using minimum sets of tyres and one tank of petrol still standing. Adding to this, gearboxes now will have to last five race weekends, instead of last year’s prescribed four.

So too the ‘power’ field heralds a few key changes, but nothing too serious. Now for the drivers. The teams remain very similar to last year, with the big guys (Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes GP) having no changes at all. A few more faces have been added, with a full list viewable here.

Awful news though for Renault, as after a massive rallying accident just over a month ago, Robert Kubica, although showing positive signs early in his recovery is showing no definite date for recovery.

Our beloved race stewards will now have even more power to impose penalties for rule transgressions. Added to their arsenal is the right to exclude drivers from race results and suspension from future events.

Aerodynamically, the cars look similar to last year although a large change, the movable rear wing, has sparked debate in the paddock. Concern from various parties has been voiced regarding the combination of the new wing and the added KERS boost that could see accidents similar to the collision between Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus and Mark Webber’s Red Bull Boeing at Valencia last year, due to the high speeds now possible.

When F-ducts appeared in 2010, many hailed them as an ingenious way of thinking out the box and within regulations. However, now any addition or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is banned for the 2011 season. Thus no F-ducts or double diffusers, spoil sports.

Now tyres, which is perhaps the ultimate curve ball. Bridgestone announced its retirement in 201o after 13 years serving F1 cars. The Italian tyre company, Pirelli will take over as the sole tyre supplier for the next three years. Regulations are similar to last year, with drivers having to use both specifications of dry-weather tyres during a dry race.

The Pirelli debut has sparked some controversy with certain drivers, such as Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Alonso voiced his concern with the fact that the drivers can’t brake hard enough with the Pirelli’s and the traction has deteriorated from last year, with rear tyre lock abundant.

World champion and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has also been far from impressed, saying that the tyres wear down too fast, and are only good for 16 or 17 laps before they start to break up.

However, warm temperatures in Barcelona have alleviated many of these concerns and Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery, has conceded that the lack of hot weather testing over the winter means that it’s still a bit of a mystery as to how the tyres will perform in the conditions expected in Australia and Malaysia. However, the evidence points to there being no major problems, if anything the stop strategies have just been made that much more interesting in the circumstances.

And now for the colours: everyone looks as spiffing as always but wow, Lotus Renault GP, I want to give my Escort a makeover in your honour, simply fantastic.

At the conclusion of my writing this article, there are now 8 days, 21 hours, 58 minutes and 7 seconds left until Melbourne. About time.

Desiree Schirlinger
Photo Credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images and Vladimir Rys/Vladimir Rys Photography