2009 Car Reveal

darkmarlin16 said:What's this guy in the Renault gear doing hanging around there? What does he have to do with the engine🤷 or did he just happen to be in the wrong place at the right time, since he's rocking that Renault F1 Team jacket?

It's spying. He'll probably head to a FedEx Office to copy the data, and then Renault is looking at getting kicked out of F1 🤣 if Max sees this, it's game over for Renault.👋

👋man, alright

McLaren remains the fastest on track today🙂

Nobody can touch us at this point; we’re even stronger than fate itself. The only ones left to complain are those who simply can't stand seeing us succeed...😉

ironfalcon43 said:McLaren's still the fastest today.🙂

Nobody can touch us. We’re tougher than fate itself. The only people who have an issue with that are the ones who can't stand us anyway.😉

🤣Just imagine if they actually used last year's wing again.😁

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - USA 12 February 2009 Pos
Pos. Driver Team Tires Time Laps
Sebastien Bourdais in the Scuderia Toro Rosso on Bridgestone posted a 01:18.493 after 126 laps.
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren Bridgestone 01:20.737 93
3rd place. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, Bridgestone. 01:20.738 92
4 Kazuki Nakajima Williams Bridgestone 01:20.898 92
Fernando Alonso in the Renault on Bridgestones clocked a 01:20.307 after 133 laps. Bridgestone 01:20.307 133.

He's way faster. 😬

Sebastian Vettel takes the title, and he isn't even driving a McLaren. That’s entirely on them.👎 Don't blame me, but 2009 just isn't their year.☕

stormybadger8 said:🤣What can you even say? If they had that same wing from last year, things might have looked different.😁

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - USA 12 February 2009
Pos. Driver Team Tires Time Laps
1 Sebastien Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso Bridgestone 01:18.493 126
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren Bridgestone 01:20.737 93
3 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Bridgestone 01:20.738 92 4 Bridgestone 01:20.738 92
4 Kazuki Nakajima Williams Bridgestone Bridgestone 01:20.898 92
5 Fernando Alonso Renault Bridgestone 01:20.307 133

He is quite a bit faster, isn't he? 😬

Vettel is going to take the title, and since he isn't driving for McLaren, we can point the finger at their own mistakes.👎 It's their own fault, really; 2009 just isn't their year.☕

Actually, 2009 is precisely the year for McLaren.😁 We are finally on track to secure the double crown; we aren't just settling for the Drivers' Championship this time—we're coming for the Constructors' too.😉

darkmarlin16 said:So what's this guy in the Renault gear doing over there? What does he have to do with the engine?🤷Is he just hanging out there because he happens to be wearing an ING Renault F1 Team jacket?

If you actually bother to look closer, it isn't just some Renault guy... you've got McLaren techs on the left and Williams guys on the right. Everyone's trying to get a peek at the RB5.🤣

And regarding yesterday's times—McLaren was running that old 2008 rear wing, so being a measly 0.001s faster than Vettel isn't exactly some massive breakthrough...

Fernando Alonso already sent those times back home today, and Renault is dropping down into the low 1:20s...

Jerez -

Sebastien Bourdais 1.18:201 28 laps
Fernando Alonso 1.20:221 20 laps
Lewis Hamilton 1.20:273 19 laps
Mark Webber 1.21:971 7 laps

Bahrain -

1. Jarno Trulli Toyota TF109 1:34.698
2. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F60 1:34.848 +0.150
3. Klien BMW F1.09 1:35.535 +0.837

That's all we have for now..🙂

Fernando Alonso : 1:19:846

Whatever 😁

Fernando Alonso🙂

Man, look at what Lewis is doing to the rest of the field today.🤣
Didn't someone claim that Red Bull would actually be giving the Silver Arrow a run for its money this season?😕
With Lewis hitting 1m.19.632 and Mark Webber at 1m.21.313, there's really no reason for us to be worried about the level of competition here.☕
Can someone give me an update on how Ferrari is looking in Bahrain (or wherever they've headed to test)? Everything seems pretty clear here at Jerez...🙂

ironfalcon43 said:Man, look at what Lewis is doing to the "competition" today.🤣
Didn't someone claim Red Bull Racing would be giving the Silver Arrow a run for its money this season?😕
Lewis Hamilton 1m.19.632---Mark Webber 1m.21.313... yeah, this is some serious competition right here.☕
Someone let me know how Ferrari is looking in Bahrain (or wherever they're testing), because things are crystal clear here in Jerez...🙂

You're actually comparing Mark Webber—who just got out of the hospital with two broken legs a few days ago—to your precious champion?🤣 😂

Just wait until Sebastian Vettel shows him again how to actually drive and leave the Silver Arrow in the dust during a race.😉

☕Then we'll talk.

stormybadger8 said:🤣 You’re really comparing Mark Webber—who was just discharged from the hospital with broken legs only a few days ago—to your personal champion? 😂

Just wait until Sebastian Vettel shows him once again how to actually drive and how to overtake a Silver Arrow during a race.😉

Then I'll ask you my question.☕

Well, it all makes sense now.🤷 If Lewis Hamilton just gets a little more serious, you'll see what he can do to the rest of the competition. 🤣 🤣🤣
As for Sebastian Vettel and his crowd... it's up to him to figure out how to be better than Jarno Trulli, Kazuki Nakajima, Nelson Piquet, and the rest. After all, he, much like Red Bull Racing, is still quite far from the true elite.☕

stormybadger8 said:🤣 Mark Webber just got out of the hospital. With broken legs. Just a few days ago, you were busy drawing comparisons between him and his own champion. 😂

Just wait until Vettel shows everyone how it's done again and passes that Silver Arrow on the track.😉

Then I guess I'll just have to wait for you to ask me.☕

So, this is basically how all his steering wheel commands look. 😬

If I’m catching this correctly, it sounds like Vettel is about to show Lewis Hamilton how to actually outrun a Silver Arrow in a race—though we probably shouldn't count Heikki Kovalainen in that equation. Basically, he's going to show him how to overtake himself, which honestly feels like we're introducing a fourth dimension to the sport. 🤔 What, you think this has anything to do with quantum mechanics?🤷 😉

ironfalcon43 said:Man, look at what Lewis is doing to the "competition" today.🤣
Didn't someone claim Red Bull was going to be actually competitive against the Silver Arrow this season?😕
Lewis Hamilton 1m.19.632---Mark Webber 1m.21.313,,,if this is what "competition" looks like, I think we can all stop worrying about it right now.☕
Can someone give me an update on how Ferrari is looking in Bahrain (or wherever they've set up testing)? Everything here in Jerez is pretty damn obvious...🙂

Jerez:
1. Sebastien Bourdais - Toro Rosso STR3 - 1:17.472 - 117 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren MP4-24 - 1:19.632 - 94 laps
3. Fernando Alonso - Renault R29 - 1:19.846 - 109 laps
4. Nico Rosberg Williams FW31 - 1:21.123 - 71
5. Mark Webber - Red Bull Racing RB5 - 1:21.313 - 62 laps
6. Kazuki Nakajima - Williams FW31 - 2:39.999 - 34 laps

...since the teams agreed to only run one car per session, Nakajima and Rosberg were splitting the seat.

Bahrain:
1. Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari F60 - 1:33.325 - 105 laps
2. Jarno Trulli - Toyota TF109 - 1:33.429 - 127 laps
3. Christian Klien - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:33.666 - 125

Exactly—it's crystal clear in Jerez. Renault is the class of the field, mainly because Toro Rosso is running last year's spec and McLaren is still rocking that old rear wing from last season. Renault is basically shouting at us that they're going to dominate the whole season.

darkmarlin16 said:Jerez:
1. Sebastien Bourdais - Toro Rosso STR3 - 1:17.472 - 117 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren - McLaren MP4-24 - 1:19.632 - 94 laps
3. Fernando Alonso Renault - Renault R29 - 1:19.846 - 109 laps
4. Nico Rosberg Williams FW31 - 1:21.123 - 71
5. Mark Webber - Red Bull Racing RB5 - 1:21.313 - 62 laps
6. Kazuki Nakajima - Williams FW31 - 2:39.999 - 34 laps

...since the teams agreed to test using just one car—Nakajima and Rosberg were splitting duties

Bahrain:
1. Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari F60 - 1:33.325 - 105 laps
2. Jarno Trulli - Toyota TF109 - 1:33.429 - 127 laps
3. Christian Klien - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:33.666 - 125

Exactly—things are looking pretty clear in Jerez. Renault is the way to beat. I mean, Toro Rosso is running last year's machine and McLaren is still rocking last year's wing. Renault is basically screaming that they're going to dominate this season.

And man, can we talk about those time gaps... 🙏

The crews over at Williams and Red Bull Racing are lagging behind Alonso by more than a full second per lap.😲

Btw, what is up with Nakajima's time? Did someone mess up a sensor or something?

ironfalcon43 said:Man, what did Lewis just do to the rest of the field today? Seriously.🤣
Didn't someone claim that Red Bull Racing would actually be a threat to the Silver Arrow this season?😕
Lewis Hamilton clocked a 1m.19.632 while Mark Webber was out at 1m.21.313. Honestly, we shouldn't be trying to downplay this level of competition. Why even bother?☕
Can someone give me an update on how Ferrari is looking in Bahrain (or wherever they're running tests right now)? Everything seems pretty clear here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway...🙂

I can't believe people are still hanging around that site. Seriously? Why would anyone bother checking there for updates when we have everything else available? It feels like looking at a relic from a different era. Is it just me, or does the whole vibe feel completely outdated? I don't get it.

Go look at this page here and there, just so you don't end up looking like you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.

Lewis Hamilton only clocked that time right at the tail end of the test. He ran two stints of just two laps each—basically qualifying simulations. For the rest of the day, he was sitting around a full second slower. Maybe it just stung too much seeing Fernando Alonso outpace him? It’s incredibly easy to put up a flashy time when you're running a light fuel load and dealing with an inconsistent rear wing. If people aren't actually paying attention to the details, they might walk away thinking everything is perfect over at McLaren, but that's just not the case.

There's an old saying that not everyone shows their true colors right away...☕

And honestly, looking at these lap times, it’s all just one big, messy overlap anyway.😁

Austin: BOURDAIS EDGES OUT HAMILTON

Wrapping up the final day of testing here in Austin, and honestly, it was more of the same at the top with Sebastien Bourdais and Lewis Hamilton swapping blows for the fastest times.

Just like the rest of the week, the Scuderia Toro Rosso crew looked absolutely untouchable, mostly because they’re still running that old car setup that hasn't been "tweaked" to meet those annoying new aero regulations for next season.

But man, the real shocker of the day? Definitely the Renault R29 and Fernando Alonso. Even though he grabbed third, the Spaniard was flying—he was only two-tenths behind Hamilton, who was sitting in second. And you gotta remember, McLaren's current world champ was still rocking last year's rear spoiler, which basically gives them a massive boost in downforce, making Alonso's pace look pretty damn impressive if you ask me.
Nico Rosberg took fourth, followed closely by Mark Webber, though the Australian actually caused the only hiccup today when his car gave up the ghost near the end of the session due to some mechanical failure.
Bringing up the rear was Kazuki Nakajima, who spent his 34 laps just drilling pit stop practice, so he didn't even bother setting an official time.

1. S. Bourdais STR-Ferrari - 1:17.472 - 117 laps
2. L. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes - 1:19.632 - 94 laps
3. F. Alonso Renault - 1:19.846 - 109 laps
4. N. Rosberg Williams-Toyota - 1:21.217 - 70 laps
5. M. Webber Red Bull-Renault - 1:20.738 - 92 laps
6. K. Nakajima Williams-Toyota - no official time - 34 laps

02/13/2009

just restin my case

Arthur Doyle70 said:Besides, he's got all those controls on his steering wheel anyway 😬

So... if I've actually got this right, Sebastian Vettel is going to show Lewis Hamilton how to overtake a Silver Arrow mid-race (we aren't counting Heikki Kovalainen here, obviously). Basically, he's showing him how to overtake himself. Are we introducing a fourth dimension now 🤔? Quantum mechanics?? 🤷 😉

You're forgetting that Ron Dennis isn't around to baby him anymore 😉. Who knows, maybe Lewis will get the chance to drive a Force India or something similar soon 😉

If he keeps up this "genius" act—acting like a jerk and ramming into other cars—you really think he’ll stay at Mercedes-Benz much longer? 🤷

Plus, Lewis loves his PlayStation, and anything can happen there 😬

darkmarlin16 said:AUSTIN: BOURDAIS LEADS HAMILTON

On the final day of this week's testing in Austin, Sebastien Bourdais and Lewis Hamilton once again locked out the top two spots.

Just like the previous days, Racing Bulls were untouchable, largely because they’re still running last year's car which hasn't been "nerfed" by the new aero regulations for the upcoming season.

But the real shocker today came from the Renault R29 and Fernando Alonso. Even though he finished third, the Spaniard was surprisingly fast, trailing second-place Hamilton by just two tenths. When you consider that McLaren's current world champion setup was using last year's rear spoiler for extra downforce, Alonso's time is actually pretty impressive.
Nico Rosberg took fourth, followed by Mark Webber, who caused the only red flag of the day. The Australian had to pull off near the end due to a mechanical failure.
Last place went to Kazuki Nakajima, who spent his 34 laps practicing pit stops, so he didn't even bother setting an official time.

1. S. Bourdais STR-Ferrari - 1:17.472 - 117 laps
2. L. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes - 1:19.632 - 94 laps
3. F. Alonso Renault - 1:19.846 - 109 laps
4. N. Rosberg Williams-Toyota - 1:21.217 - 70 laps
5. M. Webber Red Bull-Renault - 1:20.738 - 92 laps
6. K. Nakajima Williams-Toyota - no official time - 34 laps

02/13/2009

just making my case

👍Everyone seems to forget that Renault bumped up engine power by 25 hp. It's more than just a small tweak; it's a real deal, and Red Bull is definitely capitalizing on it. Everyone needs to chill out and look at the results from the second half of last season—who were the two best drivers?😉

Alonso and Vettel clearly showed they have massive potential here. Now, imagine what they can do with an extra 25 hp.☕

For Vettel, the gap isn't even that huge, but the car itself is visibly superior to the STR. Plus, a picture is worth a thousand words.😉

When you see a crowd of mechanics standing on the sidelines buzzing around trying to spy on your car to steal solutions, everything becomes crystal clear.😁

P.S. Huge respect to Starks; I shouldn't even have to sit here explaining why Renault has the edge over everyone else.😬
Where have you been?🤣

stormybadger8 said:You seem to be forgetting that the old days with Ron Dennis are long gone😉 who knows, maybe Lewis Hamilton will find himself behind the wheel of a Force India or something similar soon enough😉

If he keeps up this attitude—acting like he's smarter than everyone else, shoving his way through the field and ramming into other cars—I don't see him staying at Mercedes-Benz much longer.🤷

Besides, Lewis loves his PlayStation, and anything can happen in a video game.😬

Well, good morning... I see someone is already posting early on a Friday or Saturday, probably under some kind of influence.🤣🤣 😉

I wouldn't know how to answer you🤷, but it’s pretty safe to say he won't be jumping into a Force India anytime soon...