2009 Formula One World Championship
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- "F1 2009" and "Formula One 2009" redirect here. For the video game, see Formula One 2009 (video game).
The 2009 Formula One season will be the 60th FIA Formula One World Championship season. As it stands, there are a total of seven teams signed up to compete in the championship through an agreement with Formula One Management (reduced from eight following Super Aguri's pull out of the 2008 season), while the other three major manufacturers in the Grand Prix Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the 2006 Spanish Grand Prix to compete in the 2008 season.[1] There is also still a chance that Prodrive could debut in the 2009 season, given that no definitive statement has been made indefinitely abandoning the prospective team's F1 aspirations. However, given that customer cars - the basis of Prodrive's plans - will no longer be allowed in F1 from 2009, and further given that Prodrive is no longer guaranteed to be accepted on the 2009 grid after failing to meet their 2008 obligations, this must be seen as a very remote possibility.
Teams
Teams Signed with FOM
GPMA Manufacturers
Teams and drivers
| Team | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | No | Contracted Driver | Test driver(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
|
Ferrari | TBA | Ferrari | B |  Kimi Räikkönen[2]
|
TBA | |
 Felipe Massa[3]
| |||||||
 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
|
McLaren | TBA | Mercedes | B | Lewis Hamilton[4]
|
TBA | |
| Heikki Kovalainen[5]
| |||||||
 BMW Sauber F1 Team
|
BMW Sauber | TBA | BMW | B | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | |||||||
 Panasonic Toyota Racing
|
Toyota | TBA | Toyota | B | Jarno Trulli[6]
|
TBA | |
| Timo Glock[7]
| |||||||
 Red Bull Racing
|
Red Bull | TBA | TBA | B |  Mark Webber [8]
|
David Coulthard [9]
| |
| Sebastian Vettel [10]
| |||||||
 ING Renault F1 Team
|
Renault | TBA | Renault | B | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | |||||||
| AT&T WilliamsF1 Team
|
Williams | TBA | Toyota[11] | B | Nico Rosberg[12]
|
TBA | |
| TBA | |||||||
| Honda Racing F1 Team
|
Honda | TBA | Honda | B | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | |||||||
| Scuderia Toro Rosso†
|
Toro Rosso | TBA | TBA | B | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | |||||||
 Force India F1 Team
|
Force India | TBA | TBA | B | Giancarlo Fisichella [13]
|
TBA | |
| Adrian Sutil [14]
|
† - Although Scuderia Toro Rosso is currently for sale, the team have since confirmed that they will not change ownership before the 2009 season.[15]
‡ - Although Prodrive was granted an entry to the 2008 season, the company has not yet confirmed if they intend to pursue a 2009 entry. The FIA has explicitly stated that Prodrive is no longer guaranteed a spot on the 2009 grid after failing to fulfil their 2008 obligations.[citation needed]
2009 Race schedule
Confirmed Calendar changes
- On February 3, 2007, it was announced that a new race in Abu Dhabi known as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be added to the 2009 calendar as part of Formula One's expansion in the Middle East.[16] The race will take place at the Yas Island Circuit which is currently being built on Yas Island by the construction company Aldar. On April 10, 2008, the organisers were told that the Grand Prix would take place in October 2009[17], but it was later confirmed on the provisional FIA calendar that this is not the case.
- After being dropped in 2007 to the Fuji Speedway, the Suzuka Circuit will return to host the Japanese Grand Prix in 2009. The race will then alternate between the two circuits.
- After the 2006 United States Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestone and Ron Dennis announced the possibility of a new Grand Prix in South Korea entering in 2009. It has now been revealed though that the Korean Grand Prix will take place from 2010 at the soon-to-be built Korean International Circuit. In addition to this, India has been confirmed on the Grand Prix calendar in 2010 with the Indian Grand Prix taking place in Delhi.
- On 12 May 2008 Bernie Ecclestone confirmed the 2008 French Grand Prix as the last race to be held at Magny Cours and as a result the French Grand Prix may be dropped from the 2009 Formula One season and possibly return at a location in Paris in 2010. After the race, however, he said that it would stay on the calendar, as they had a contract until 2011[18].
Possible Calendar Changes
- The organizers of the Malaysian Grand Prix revealed on January 22 their interest to host Formula One's second night race in 2009.[19] On February 13 the Sepang International Circuit confirmed it was in discussions about securing a floodlighting system.[20]
Provisional 2009 race schedule
The provisional calendar as published by the FIA on 25th June 2008 [21]
† As was the practice in 2007, if an agreement cannot be reached over the naming rights, then this Grand Prix will likely be named something other than the "German Grand Prix" - as the Hockenheimring currently holds all naming rights for the "German Grand Prix". The last Grand Prix to be held at the Nürburgring that was not named the European Grand Prix were held in 1997 in 1998, under the name Luxembourg Grand Prix. However, while currently the name "European Grand Prix" is reserved for the Valencia Street Circuit[citation needed] this could be changed to the "Mediterranean Grand Prix"[22].
Changes
Driver changes
- David Coulthard: Red Bull Racing → retirement
- Sebastian Vettel: Scuderia Toro Rosso → Red Bull Racing
More Information
- On 3 July 2008, David Coulthard confirmed that 2008 would be his final year of Formula One racing. He will stay on as a consultant and a development driver to the Red Bull Racing squad next season.[23]
- On 17 July 2008, Red Bull Racing announced that Sebastien Vettel would replace the outgoing David Coulthard in 2009.[24]
Rule changes
On 22 December 2006, the FIA released the technical regulations for the 2009 season[25].
- Along with changes to bodywork, vehicle weight and tyre size, the document includes details of a "Kinetic Energy Recovery System", or KERS. This is a regenerative brake device that is designed to recover some of the vehicle's kinetic energy that is normally dissipated as heat during braking. The recovered energy could be stored electrically, in a battery or supercapacitor, or mechanically, in a flywheel, for use as a source of additional accelerative power at the driver's discretion.
- After being banned since 1998, slick tyres will be provided by Bridgestone in 2009.[26]
- There will also be a cap on team budgets starting in the 2009 season.[27]
- Section 3.18 of the regulations contains details of "driver adjustable bodywork". The angle of incidence of elements in a defined area forward of the front wheels can be varied by up to 6 degrees and adjusted by direct driver input. A maximum of 2 adjustments can be made on any lap.
Broadcasting changes
- The BBC regain coverage of Formula One in the United Kingdom after losing it to ITV in 1996. The deal will last for 5 years and includes TV, radio and online coverage rights.[28]
- In Spain, Telecinco loses the F1 coverage rights in favor of Mediapro, major shareholder of LaSexta.[29]
- In Bulgaria, TV7 have acquired the coverage rights for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons from bTV.[30]
Rumours
Rumoured regulation changes
- The closing of the pit lane when a safety car is deployed may be abolished by the start of the 2009 season. During 2008, Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld have both been forced to pit when their cars were low on fuel and received penalties for refueling when the pit lane was closed.[31]
Rumoured driver changes
- During an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, Fernando Alonso revealed that he could leave Renault at the end of the 2008 season if he wished. This comes after Renault started the 2008 season uncompetitively. He has been linked to possible drives at Honda and Ferrari for 2009,[citation needed] but it is understood that any move depends on speculation regarding the possible retirement of Kimi Räikkönen. It may be that Honda provide a one year stop gap for Alonso until a full time drive at Ferrari from 2010.[citation needed]
- It has been suggested that Robert Kubica could also be in line to replace a possibly retiring Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari. However, BMW have an option on the Pole's services which would restrict any move.[citation needed]
- GP2 Series driver Bruno Senna has been linked with a possible step up to Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso.[citation needed]
- GP2 Series driver Sebastien Buemi is being evaluated for the 2009 ride at Scuderia Toro Rosso.[citation needed]
- Former Super Aguri drivers Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson will both get to test for Scuderia Toro Rosso, in order to possibly replace Sebastien Bourdais. [citation needed]
References
- ^ "Ecclestone signature ends breakaway threat". GPUpdate.net. 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2006-10-09.
- ^ "Ferrari confirm Raikkonen, Massa for '07". formula1.com. 2006-09-10. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ "Massa extends Ferrari stay until 2010". Manipe F1. 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Lewis extends McLaren stay until 2012". Manipe F1. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "McLaren confirm Kovalainen for 2009". Autosport. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Trulli signs new Toyota contract". BBCsport. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ "Toyota to retain Glock for 2009". itv-f1.com. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ "Red Bull confirm Webber for 2009". Manipe F1. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Coulthard confirms retirement decision". ITV-F1. 03/07/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Sebastian Vettel to join Red Bull for 2009". The Official Formula 1 Website. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Toyota engines for Williams in 2007". formula1.com. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
- ^ "Q+A: Williams' Nico Rosberg". Manipe F1. 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ "Q+A: Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella (See final question)". Manipe F1. 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Force India to retain drivers for 2009". f1-live.com. 2008-08-11.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Text "http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080811141623.shtml" ignored (help) - ^ "Toro Rosso reassured over 2009". ITV-F1. 01/07/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Abu Dhabi gets Grand Prix for 2009". F1.com. 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Abu Dhabi GP set for October date". autosport.com. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Magny-Cours to stay on calendar". BBC Sport. 22/06/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Malaysia wants night race in 2009". Autosport.com. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- ^ "Malaysia closing on '09 night race". ITV.com. 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- ^ "2009 FIA F1 Provisional Calendar". FIA. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ "Valencia GP set for name change". Autosport.
- ^ "Coulthard confirms retirement decision". ITV-F1. 03/07/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "RBR signs Vettel for 2009". ITV-F1. 17/07/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ FIA Formula One 2009 Technical Regulations (PDF), 11/07/2008
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Bridgestone eyeing slick warm-up cure". autosport.com. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ "2009 Budget Cap". ITV-F1. 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
- ^ "The BBC wins rights to UK Formula One coverage". formula1.com. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
- ^ "MEDIAPRO WINS F1 TV RIGHTS IN SPAIN". SportBusiness.com. 16/05/2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "tv7 взе формула 1 (in [[Bulgarian]])". telemaniac.com. 12/05/2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Heidfeld hits out at 'stupid' SC pit rules". ITV-F1.com. 29/04/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)