Despite some cost-cutting at Formula One and changes in the design of its race cars, one constant remains in the international racing series for 2009: The teams to beat are McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari.
Formula One opens its season March 29 in Australia, where Hamilton won a year ago, but there are two major changes in its 2009 schedule. The series dropped its races in Canada and France and added one in Abu Dhabi, which will be the season finale Nov. 1.
And with sponsorship money becoming scarcer amid the weak global economy, Formula One officials are trying to aggressively lower the sport’s operating costs. Those lofty costs, which can exceed $300 million per race team annually, prompted Japanese automaker Honda to leave the series after last season.
Formula One’s teams and the series’ governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, agreed in December to a series of cost-cutting proposals for this season, including using engines for longer periods and reducing testing and wind-tunnel research.
The FIA also ordered aerodynamic changes, in part to foster closer racing, and several of the teams recently introduced new cars for the 2009 season. They included Ferrari’s F60, McLaren’s MP4-24 and Renault’s R29, which look noticeably different from last year’s models.
All of which raises the question as to which Formula One drivers will be the fastest when the series begins in Australia.
“Who knows when we get to the first grand prix who’s going to be quick,” Hamilton said. “Everyone’s going to be in the same boat” in terms of adapting to the changes, he said.
Hamilton, when asked if the changes would make it harder to repeat as champion, replied: “I don’t think it’s going to make it easier.”
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