2010 Formula 1 Season Build-Up

[torque55]

i think that the rivalry within the teams will be more intense than any previous season.

with ferrari i think alonso will come out on top, with mercedes i think schumi will get that ,and with mclaren the smart money would be on Hamilton, but then again we will have to wait and see.

[Reason]

Monday should be interesting:

USF1 set to announce first driver for F1 2010 on Monday | F1 News | Jan 2010 | Crash.Net

[Cotterik]

i'm telling you now. schumacher wont win the championship next year. he may be experienced but hes had a significant time out and F1 has changed since his departure. If anything i think he will be matched by the talent of rosberg at mercedes, and i still think red bull will be one of the biggest contenders for the title as they will be the team most familiar and most confident with their current environment and pace going into the season.

PS Mercedes today launched its team and livery in stuttgart. Only one low-res photo. anyone with media clearance please feel free to post the photos from the press release.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=47665

[Ecnelis]

i'm telling you now. schumacher wont win the championship next year.

You meant this year?

PS Mercedes today launched its team and livery in stuttgart. Only one low-res photo. anyone with media clearance please feel free to post the photos from the press release.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=47665

Here's more (but low-res also): Official site of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team

Why is it "Mercedes GP Petronas" and not "Mercedes-Benz GP Petronas"?

[Cotterik]

well, the season's still not technically begun. so i guess i'm speaking in season years rather than physical years.

And thats a good question about the name actually i tried to do some research but cant really find a reason. Their division is named mercedes-benz motorsport but i'm not sure maybe the benz counterpart only features in the engine department. But thats just a guess. They did the same with Mclaren-Mercedes. Never called Mclaren-Mercedes-Benz. I suppose its all about keeping a sensible team name. Mercedes-Benz-Patronas would probably be the longest name on the paddock. Perhaps there's a character limit?

[ringle]

i'm telling you now. schumacher wont win the championship next year.

If Button can win the WDC why not Schumi?

[cmcpokey]

US F1 Team announces Jose Maria Lopez as driver for 2010 season

[TheScrutineer]

Ohh nice new Ferrari. I'm a big fan of the massive nose with the sculpted 'ridge'. Is this just to reduce drag with less nose area or to aid aerodynamic stability?

sorry, cant get a link of a jpg of the launch on here

[RacingManiac]

You mean like Red Bull last year? The 2 ridge on the side was used to get the same mandated cross section area but allowing the underside of the nose to be more open for airflow off the front wing. Imagine a square where you chop the 2 corner off the bottom and glue it on top....

Additionally you get better kinematic for the suspension camber gain as well...

[faksta]

Auto Hebdo reports that Renault has chosen Petrov! Yay, crossing my fingers!

In other news, Williams FW32:
autosport.com - F1 News: Exclusive: First image of new Williams

[RacingManiac]

UCP have the MP4/25 page up too....

[faksta]

Yeah, and the first video teaser is online

Earth Vista Video - Mclaren MP4-25 videos

More seriously, is the MP4/25 engine cover actually connected with a rear wing??? I can't see from these photos...

[RacingManiac]

RBR did it last year....

[faksta]

Indeed. I missed it then. During the season I pay less attention to aerodynamic and technical novelties, as opposed to pre-season speculations, when every piece of new information becomes golden.

[Dino Scuderia]

I like the side exhaust.