DaisyChain, you never told me you were an F1 driver!

Always a big fan of DC, seeing as we are bith scottish. Now I support Hamilton. He will become so much better in years to come and win titles by 10+ points.

He is still a raw talent with a huge amount of skill at what he does. I am so sure he will win next season I may put £100 on him to win the title again, is that a wise investment?

I told you in Rotherhithe last time I was there!!

Should've recognised the car parked outside

And the champagne I sprayed everywhere was a bit of a give away too I should think!

Waste of champagne if you ask me

The new Formula 1 season starts in 3 weeks time

Despite all the new regulations being put in place for 2009 with the return of slick tyres and the new KERS system, there is only one new driver (Sebastien Buemi). Eight of the ten teams involved have retained the same drivers, with only Red Bull and Toro Rosso having at least one different driver.

The ex-Honda team has now been saved, and will run as Brawn GP for next season. The good news is that Button and Barrichello have been retained.

So the driver line-ups are:

• McLaren: Hamilton, Kovalainen
• Ferrari: Massa, Raikkonen
• BMW Sauber: Kubica, Heidfeld
• Renault: Alonso, Piquet
• Toyota: Trulli, Glock
• Toro Rosso: Buemi, Bordais
• Red Bull: Webber, Vettel
• Williams: Rosberg, Nakajima
• Force India: Sutil, Fisichella
• Brawn GP: Barrichello, Button

Car Expert

Formula 1...

Think this'll be a very open season. McLaren and Ferrari will probably be there or thereabouts, but I do think Renault will do extremely well, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Red Bull will do well too.

Who do I think will win the drivers' championship? I have a funny feeling that it might just be Alonso...

It says in the Radio Times that the BBC will be using the original version of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" as theme music again -

And no adverts!

dooooo-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-doooooo

B x

The first F1 race of the season is this weekend

Certainly will be an interesting race if Friday's practice sessions are anything to go by - it's hard to pick a winner. Rosberg is setting the pace so far, with Hamilton struggling for pace in his McLaren. Barrichello might even have a chance of winning a Grand Prix for the first time in ages. What a story that would be

Car Expert

A Brawn 1-2 on the front row of the grid.

Who'd have guessed that'd happen a few weeks ago?...

There you go - it's certainly a surprise to see a Brawn 1-2

I predicted correctly on Wednesday evening the first contestant to be fired on The Apprentice, so who knows (yes I know that's got nothing to do with F1 )

Hamilton's down in 18th with gearbox problems with the two Toyotas behind him, who were relegated to the back of the grid after breaching regulations. And yet there could be more controversy with Williams protesting about Red Bull and Ferrari breaching regulations too...

Car Expert

Come on team BRAWN

I think this shows how little a role the driver actually plays in F1. I mean, all the drivers are very talented and have to work very hard, but they are all of a very similar standard. The car they drive and the team they have working behind them are the things that really decide who wins each year. Which would mean that the "best driver" isn't necessarily the same guy who wins the championship.

This is so very true

Cough *Lewis H.* Cough

Yeah so true. My dad could have got on pole in a Brawn.

If anyone else replies on this thread, I won't be reading it until I've seen the re-run.

No-one tell me the result! Thanks!

Best race I've seen in about 15 years. Excellent, I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season now. Overtaking is back on the menu!!!

Yes it was excellent. I think it could be a very competitive season. The cars look great too, apart from the absurdly wide front wing. I must say that I think Lewis did a great job in what was supposed to be an uncompetitive car and I'm really chuffed for Jenson, Rubens and the whole Brawn team.

been waiting to read this post for ages : was worried it contained the result

Agree, a great race, and well done Jenson Button and the Brawn team!

I watched the race in bed - yay for it being on iplayer!

My dad is arranging when he picks me up from Durham at the weekend around the Grand Prix.

Indeed, yay!

Good to see you posting on the forum again Nicki

Was an exciting first race of the season. The question is can Brawn maintain this fast pace throughout the course of the season...

Car Expert

Essay was finished today

Hamilton and McLaren have had their points wiped out from the Australian GP relating to the incident with Trulli (who has been promoted back up to 3rd) "for providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards". McLaren aren't helping themselves are they?...

Wonder if Hamilton got his hands on the 3rd place trophy. If so, he's got to give it back to Trulli again...

Car Expert

40 years ago, we had a saying in Formula one - "When the flag drops, the bull**** stops". These days it seems that when the chequered flag drops, the problems begin. Still, it looks like being a fascinating season.

Button's on pole again for the Malaysian Grand Prix

Hamilton's down in 12th, Massa only qualified 16th despite being only a second behind Barrichello (who topped Q1), which shows how close the whole field is this season. Even Sutil who was fastest briefly at one point in the early stages of Q1 ended up 19th.

Car Expert

Looking forward to another exciting race - maybe the weather will have the last laugh!

*off to watch race*

*back soon!*

It was a bit rainy...

Yes, just a little bit...

2 wins out of 2 for Button now

Car Expert

Jenson Button and the other drivers affected will get to know today whether the diffuser on their cars is legal or not...

Let's hope it is. The last thing we want is more retrospective 'adjustment' of the results of earlier races. It's up to the other teams to catch up!

Formula 1 is getting very, very political, which is a pity...

I don't think we find out the decision until tomorrow.

Let's hope the decision is a just one...

- it's a shame...

If the three teams involved were to lose their points, the results for the first two Grands Prix would be as follows:

Australia
1. Alonso
2. Buemi
3. Bourdais
4. Sutil
5. Heidfeld
6. Fisichella
7. Webber
8. Vettel

Malaysia
1. Heidfeld
2. Webber
3. Hamilton
4. Massa
5. Bourdais
6. Alonso
7. Piquet Jr
8. Raikkonen

These results aren't even worth thinking about. Let's hope it doesn't happen because the changes to the results would be very controversial. I'm sure the likes of Force India, Ferrari and Toro Rosso wouldn't care that much about that, although logically they should just change their diffusers to match Brawn, Toyota and Williams. It's the fairest way round the situation.

Car Expert

Brawn are in the clear:

"Motorsport's governing body has ruled the Brawn GP car, which has taken Briton Jenson Button to two wins this season, is legal.
A panel heard eight hours of strongly worded evidence on Tuesday after complaints that Brawn, Toyota and Williams, use an illegal diffuser.
And the five International Court of Appeal judges said the designs "comply with the applicable regulations"".

Quite right too : maybe we can get back to car racing now...

Vettel's on pole for the Chinese Grand Prix. Now Red Bull have their first ever pole, can they get their first ever win?

Car Expert

Morning

Good morning : and well done to the winner of the race (won't reveal who it is 'til the re-run!)

I've just watched the re-run....thought the race was quite boring....() but glad about the top 3

It wasn't that exciting Nicki, I agree...

Well done to Vettel and Red Bull : first win for the team!

Bag watched it live first-thing (awards self a sticker).

Great to have it back on the Beeb.

Air-Bag x

PS : If Mark Webber gets a pain in his pinned-together leg, I'd be more than willing to rub it better for him

Hehe, I would have if I had been at home.

LOL Bag - you make me laugh all the time...

I bet he doesn't play the piano as well as Alpha Male Jazz Cat though

Ah perhaps not, Baz. Nor would his chest fur compare. However, did you know that the late, great Elio de Angelis (OK, NOW I am dating myself) was a pretty nifty player?

Awards self sticker.

B x