time for Malaysia

[Craig.]

Well is the Malaysian GP this weekend and it will give everyone a real idea of who is a competitor and who isnts. With temps going to be upto 97*s and humidity being mid to high 80% this will be a good clue s to how good the 2 race engines are, along with just how viable 1 set of tyres is. My prediction will be a strong showing from Ferrari this time round  but Mclaren should also be strong. something to watch out for. If Schumacher changes his engine then dont expect to see the new Ferrari at the next race as they would have to take a penalty for the change.

[The Ruptured Duck]

You mean 97* Celcius right?  Cus thats how hot its gonna feel like to the drivers!

I'm goin for Renault or McClaren.  Or anyone who is not the "one we shall not speak of".

I really think Renault has legs this year.  Although, you never know because of all these [CENSORED] rule changes.  Those [CENSORED] idiots in the FIA.  They should take a serious look at how NASCAR is run, they would learn something-like pay the teams that support you enough- and -make it for the fans-.

[Craig.]

I wouldnt worry things are already being discussed for a couple of changes to the weekend, hopefully including going back to the hour session for qualifying and letting everyone have 12 laps. That was always more exciting as the unpredictability factor was there. Now its just a case of who has the better strategy.

[C]

With temps going to be upto 97*s and humidity being mid to high 80% this will be a good clue s to how good the 2 race engines are, along with just how viable 1 set of tyres is.

Except from the teams who changed their engines after the last race (ie - anyone who didn't finish)...

[Craig.]

And thankfully that rule has now been changed. Lets face it it was clever, but highly unfair on the part of BAR to do that.

[C]

Lets face it it was clever, but highly unfair on the part of BAR to do that.

That's business for you, and the other teams not in the points could have all done it quite legitamately and lost nothing...

Same as Ferrari and the other teams who happily changed engines after qualifying in Oz as they knew they'd be on the back 3 or 4 of the grid anyway. Stupid rule - common sense on BAR's part that they brought there cars in - Just a shame that half the cars on the Malaysian grid will legally have engines that have only been used for qualifying and the other half will have the same that wer used in Australia...

I await the end of the season - see what whacky new rule changes they bring in next year (and the loopholes they leave open...)

[Craig.]

Theres a differance between changing engines after qualifying and for the next race. At least those who do for qualifying accept the penalty. Those like BAR who pulled out deliberatly before the end of the race for no reason, could be considered cheating. I want 12 lap quali back, slick tyres with changes allowed, and refueling banned. That will shorten the time of the pit stops and increase racing time on the track. the added weight of the extra fuel will increase weight which F1 seems to love, and will mean the engines size will need to be reduced to decrease fuel consumption.

[C]

I want 12 lap quali back, slick tyres with changes allowed, and refueling banned. That will shorten the time of the pit stops and increase racing time on the track.

I agree, how about the 1994 regs, before the knee-jerk reaction to Roland Ratzenburger and Ayrton Senna's deaths...

Going back to the BAR debate, Jenson Button said today,

"The rules are the rules, they are what they are and they say you can change your engine if you stop before the chequered flag. I can't really see what the issue is."

Unfortunately the FIA missed a few clarifying words in the wording of the new regs....

After BAR's tactical retirement in Melbourne, the FIA moved to clear up the grey area, stating teams would now have to explain why they failed to finish.

"A distinction will be made between failing to finish and choosing not to finish," a statement said.

Anyway, BAR are doing what Ferrari (and any team the maestro Ross Brawn has been) have been doing for years, interpreting the rules to their best advantage - if I had millions of $ on the line, I would...

[Craig.]

The simple fact was, they went in knowing that rule which suggests they had little confidence in finishing well. Last i read today was, it would be abolished altogether and you get the penalty for any reason other than an engine failure.
Oh well I see this season being a disastor in terms of rules being worked around, and action being slim. Lets face it there wasnt actually much racing involved, again it was all decided in the pits. Apart from a few passing attempts by Kimi on schumacher in the corners there was just no action. It may not be the run away seasons like the past few years, but i can assure you on track action will be no better, and this could go down as a good season in terms of points and thats all.

[C]

BAR racing with two British drivers, Anthony Davidson replacing Takuma Sato...