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 2009 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
The following teams are signed with Formula One Management and make up the Formula One Teams Association:
New car launches
- All chassis except Toyota are speculated and unconfirmed.
| Constructor | Chassis | Launch Date | Launch Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | TF109 | January 16[2] | TBA |
| Ferrari | F2009 | TBA | |
| McLaren-Mercedes | MP4-24 | TBA | |
| BMW Sauber | F1.09 | TBA | |
| Red Bull-Renault | RB5 | TBA | |
| Honda | RA109 | TBA | |
| Renault | R29 | TBA | |
| Force India-Ferrari | VJM-02 | TBA | |
| Williams-Toyota | FW31 | TBA | |
| Toro Rosso-Ferrari | STR4 | TBA | |
Teams and drivers
| Team | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | No | Contracted Driver | No | Test driver(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
|
McLaren | TBA | Mercedes | B | Lewis Hamilton[3]
|
TBA | ||
 Heikki Kovalainen[4]
| ||||||||
 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
|
Ferrari | TBA | Ferrari | B |  Felipe Massa[5]
|
Luca Badoer[6] Marc Gené[6]
| ||
| Kimi Räikkönen[7]
| ||||||||
 BMW Sauber F1 Team
|
BMW Sauber | TBA | BMW | B |  Robert Kubica[8]
|
 Christian Klien[8]
| ||
| Nick Heidfeld[8]
| ||||||||
 ING Renault F1 Team
|
Renault | TBA | Renault | B | 7 | TBA | TBA | |
| 8 | TBA | |||||||
 Panasonic Toyota Racing
|
Toyota | TF109[2] | Toyota | B | Jarno Trulli[9]
|
TBA | ||
| Timo Glock[10]
| ||||||||
| Scuderia Toro Rosso
|
Toro Rosso | TBA | Ferrari | B | TBA | TBA | ||
| TBA | ||||||||
| Red Bull Racing
|
Red Bull | TBA | TBA | B | Sebastian Vettel[11]
|
David Coulthard[12]
| ||
 Mark Webber[13]
| ||||||||
| AT&T Williams
|
Williams | TBA | Toyota | B | Nico Rosberg[14]
|
Nico Hülkenberg[14]
| ||
| Kazuki Nakajima[14]
| ||||||||
| Honda Racing F1 Team
|
Honda | TBA | Honda | B | TBA | TBA | ||
| TBA | ||||||||
 Force India F1 Team
|
Force India | TBA | TBA | B | Giancarlo Fisichella[15]
| |||
| Adrian Sutil[16]
|
TBA |
Schedule
Confirmed Calendar changes
- On February 3, 2007, it was announced that a new race in the United Arab Emirates will be held in Abu Dhabi, known as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It will be added to the 2009 calendar as part of Formula One's expansion in the Middle East.[17] 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[18], 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[19].
- On 28 September 2008 Malaysia's Sepang circuit boss Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has told the local newspaper The Star that Malaysia's F1 contract has been altered simply to accommodate a delayed race start, rather than conversion into a night race[20].
- On October 7, 2008, the FIA formalized the 2009 season calendar with the dropping of the Canadian Grand Prix (for financial problems) and the Turkish Grand Prix moved to June 7, 2009[21]. Excluding the Indianapolis 500, this will be the first year since 1958 that there will be no Formula One Grand Prix in North America. [22] The race had been on the provisional schedule, before being dropped.
- On October 15, 2008, the organisers of the French Grand Prix announced via their official website that the race would no longer be part of the 2009 season, citing "economic problems".[23][24] This will be the second time ever that there has not been a French Grand Prix on the schedule since the start of modern F1 in 1950. The only previous time was 1955. [25] The race had been on the "final" schedule for 2009.
2009 race schedule
The calendar as published by the FIA on 7 October 2008[26]
- 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"[27].
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.[28]
- On 17 July 2008, Red Bull Racing announced that Sebastian Vettel would replace the outgoing David Coulthard in 2009.[29]
Rule changes
On 22 December 2006, the FIA released the technical regulations for the 2009 season[30].
- 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.[31]
- There will also be a cap on team budgets starting in the 2009 season.[32]
- 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.[33]
- In Spain, Telecinco loses the F1 coverage rights in favor of Mediapro, major shareholder of LaSexta.[34]
- In Bulgaria, TV7 have acquired the coverage rights for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons from bTV.[35]
- ESPN Star Sports has agreed a new 5-year deal for the exclusive rights to broadcast Formula One in 24 Asian countries, including India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea.[36]
- GlobalTV will be official broadcasters in Indonesia through 2011[citation needed].
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.[37] This happened again to Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, for which they were punished with 10 second stop/go penalties.
References
- ^ "Ecclestone signature ends breakaway threat". GPUpdate.net. 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2006-10-09.
- ^ a b "Toyota launch date". Autosport. 194 (4): p. 11. 2008.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (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) - ^ "Ferrari confirm Raikkonen to end of 2010". formula1.com. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ a b "Ferrari retain Badoer, Gene as testers". Autosport. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Massa extends Ferrari stay until 2010". Manipe F1. 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Kubica and Heidfeld stay with BMW". BBC Sport. 2008-10-06.
{{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) - ^ a b c "Williams names unchanged line-up for '09". crash.net. 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
{{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) - ^ "No Malaysian night race". f1-live.com. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "FIA issue revised 2009 Formula One calendar". F1.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Canadian GP organisers surprised by FIA decision". PitPass.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ http://www.gpfrancef1.com/
- ^ Pablo Elizalde (2008-10-15). "FFSA cancels 2009 French Grand Prix". autosport.com. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
- ^ Reuters, French federation cancels 2009 French Grand Prix for for economic reasons, October 16, 2008 (accessed 22 Oct 2008)
- ^ "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 language|Bulgarian]])". telemaniac.com. 12/05/2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "ESPN Star Sports agrees new 5-year deal". pitpass.com. 03/09/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Heidfeld hits out at 'stupid' SC pit rules". ITV-F1.com. 29/04/2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)