By now all the teams are in Australia ready to race.  This season is already shaping up to be an edge of seat nail biting season.  This is because of the biggest change in technical rules in a long time (some say ever!).  This change in regulations means that all teams have had to redesign their cars from scratch with some surprising results!

Brawn Grand Prix

Perhaps the biggest surprise this season will be Brawn GP.  Late into the winter break Honda announced they were pulling out of Formula one and their team principle Ross Brawn was able to put together a bid to buy the team.  They are now racing under the name Brawn GP in the BGP 001 car.  This car has a Mercedes Benz F0108W engine an identical engine to the McLaren car this season.

In pre season testing and pre race practise Brawn GP have been absolutely flying as the fastest team in many testing sessions.  In fact a check at the bookmakers shows that Jenson Button is the odds on favourite to win the Australian Grand Prix!  Even more surprising he is third to win the whole drivers championship, higher than current World Champion Lewis Hamilton.  I wish Brawn GP all the best for this season, it will be great to see a team who are less well funded come to the top of the field.  Jenson Button has completed 153 Formula One races but only one once.  Williams F1 went as far as saying They are making the rest of us look like amateurs

A final point – it is interesting to note that the BGP 001 is running naked – That is there are no sponsors listed on the car except for Bridgestone tyres.  I imagine shortly there will be a queue of companies outside Brawn GP headquarters all wanting their name on the car.

Lewis Hamilton the underdog

Yes you read that right, this season it is likely that Lewis Hamilton the current World Champion will be the underdog.  Sensationally Hamilton was quoted saying that McLaren would not be challenging for the title “We’ll have pretty much the same people challenging for the title as last year – except for us obviously,”

However I expect McLaren to push on with the cars development throughout the season and they could suprise us soon!

It’s not all smiles though

Not all teams are happy about the change at the top.  Four teams lodged formal protests with the FIA (Formula Ones governing body) questioning the legality of the rear difuser on The Brawn GP, Williams F1 and Toyota cars.  ITV-F1 have simply explained the purpose of a rear diffuser

The rear diffuser is an upward-sweeping ‘ramp’ on the underside of the car, located beneath the engine and gearbox behind the rear wheel axle line.  While the front and rear wings (aerofoils) work the air that passes over the car’s body, the diffuser harnesses the air that travels underneath the car.  The diffuser’s shape causes air to be channelled through it and creates a suction effect that pushes the car into the ground.  Working in conjunction with the undertray, the diffuser generates a large proportion of the car’s rear downforce.

This years new formula one rules have placed limits on the height of the rear diffuser in an effort to decrease downforce generated.  The three teams have extended the car’s crash structure around the diffuser in effect extending the diffuser providing more downforce.  Downforce is key as this season the cars front and rear wings have been made much narrower.

The FIA cleared the cars for the Australian GP but other teams are appealing so it is likely that the Australian GP results will remain provisional untill long after the race.

Formula one on the BBC

At last Formula one has returned to the BBC and we can enjoy advert free racing!  This season you can expect impressive coverage from the BBC team which will include…

• All practice sessions will be broadcast through the BBC digital freeview red button
• The commentators will be Martin Brundle and Jonathon Legard
• Pundits and Presenters to include David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, Jake Humphery, Anthony Davidson, Murray Walker, Lee Mckenzie, Ted Kravitz, Simon Cross, Ben Gallop.
• F1 fans will be able to customise their viewing experience through the BBC’s multi-platform offering with options such as: split-screen action; a live leaderboard; in-car cameras; choice of commentary; live online streaming; live text; interactive forums; circuit guides; and blogs.
• On race day, viewers will be able to choose from three different video streams.  These will be: the main network feed with a choice of commentary from BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live; a split screen comprising the main network feed; an in-car camera feed and leaderboard; rolling highlights.

The Australian Grand Prix TV Coverage

Friday 27 March (GMT)

Practice (Times TBC): 0125-0305, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
0525-0705, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Saturday 28th March (GMT)

Practice: 0255-0405, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Qualifying: 0500-0715, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live sports extra/online

Re-run: 1300-1415, BBC One

Sunday 29th March All times BST

Please remember the clocks change overnight.

Race: 0600-0900, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 0900-1000, BBC Red Button/online

Race re-run: 1300-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

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