Webber :v8 Cars Will Be 3-4 Secs Slower To Start With

[narain fan 0]

FORMULA One cars will be as much as four seconds a lap slower when they race at Albert Park in April.

Australia driver Mark Webber predicted that the change from V10 engines to smaller V8s in the world's top motor sport class would slow the field significantly.

"I reckon it would be about three to four seconds a lap there (Albert Park). At somewhere like Monza (Italy), it would be more like six seconds," Webber said.

"It will feel very slow to start off with for us guys who have been there for five years."

The Williams driver said the V8s would not sound as good as the outgoing V10 engines, with an engine note that was not as high-pitched.

"The V10 sounds better but we will get used to it," Webber said.

F1 officials decided to switch from the 3.0-litre V10s to less powerful 2.4-litre in an attempt to slow down grand prix races.

Webber said it was a "massive decision" to switch engines, but agreed with the move.

"The cars were getting very quick at the end, especially at places like Monza. We had to do something," Webber said.

"It will be safer. We will be slower."

Webber said that unless the cars were slowed, spectators would have to be moved further back from the track in case something went wrong.

"If it kept going like that you would have to move the fans a kilometre away from the circuit," he said.

While Webber predicted the cars would be slower to start off with next year, he said the teams would find a way to develop the new engines until they were as powerful, or even more powerful, than before.

"The engine performance will accelerate very quickly," said Webber, who added the action would be as exciting.

"Around the corners, the cars will be exactly the same. The difference is massive for us (drivers), but it will be hard for fans to see."

Unlike almost every other team in pit lane, Williams will not have technical and financial backing from a major car company in 2006 after it split from engine supplier BMW at the end of this season.

The British-built team will use engines built by small outfit Cosworth.

Despite the fact that Cosworth has not been used in a competitive race car for many years, Webber is confident the engines will be up to speed at the start of the season.

"I think we are in good shape, engine-wise," he said. "The engine will put us in the hunt."

Webber said the Cosworth engines were ready and Williams would soon run a test car using this year's chassis and the new V8 engine. Williams will use Bridgestone tyres rather than the Michelins the team ran this season.

He said that all the teams would be experimenting with engines and that it would be impossible to tell who would be fast until the opening round on March 12.

"Bahrain is where the real bulls##t stops," Webber said.

The former Minardi driver, who had a strong finish to a disappointing year, stood by his decision to stay with Williams even though it is unlikely to match its former pace.

"It is easy to change girlfriends every two weeks, but at the end of the day you have to make it work," Webber said.

"We know what we have got to improve. I believe we can get back on track."

Herald Sun

The Motorsport Shop

www.gpshop.net

[jimmyk 0]

The Williams driver said the V8s would not sound as good as the outgoing V10 engines, with an engine note that was not as high-pitched.

"The V10 sounds better but we will get used to it," Webber said

I was of the understanding the V8s are revving at up to 21000rpm- i was hoping they would sound higher pitched than the V10s...maybe thats my limited mechanical knowledge! still cant wait to hear the difference!

[Taku 0]

welcome jimmyk

yes i too am interested to hear the difference. surely they can't sound better than the v10s which combined high pitch with throatiness. any engineering minds care to share their opinions on what they'll sound like? logic says they'll be a very screamy bunch of blocks.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Cars will be easier to drive, less mistakes for the drivers, bad for the sport. No-one has died in f1 since 1994, and f1 cars are much, much, much, much safer than they were then. I dont think safety is much of an issue in f1 these days, so no need for such a drastic change

[Senna 0]

I dont think safety is much of an issue in f1 these days, so no need for such a drastic change

Indeed.

[bajo39 0]

welcome jimmyk

yes i too am interested to hear the difference. surely they can't sound better than the v10s which combined high pitch with throatiness. any engineering minds care to share their opinions on what they'll sound like? logic says they'll be a very screamy bunch of blocks.

They will be higher pitched... Pitch is related to engine speed and the throatiness is dependent on bore and stroke which is staying the same. They should sound better!

Why would anyone ask a driver (or anyone other than an engineer) for their prediction as to lap times and engine noise?

[pumpdoc 2]

Why would anyone ask a driver (or anyone other than an engineer) for their prediction as to lap times and engine noise?

Got me....................

[bajo39 0]

Got me....................

Why ask a driver anything really? They're so full of hot air...