All you should know about the BMW Sauber F1.09

This article was written by Stew, found of BMWF1blog.com, a place where you can get your Formula 1 “fix”.

I guess you could say the 2009 F1 season is underway now for BMW Sauber. It was the F1.09 unveiling today in Valencia Spain that officially starts the new season off. I for one have been waiting to see this car since seeing a glimpse of what it may resemble back in December testing.

There was little fan fare this year, just a simple ‘here it is, do you like it?” Shortly after the unveiling, Robert Kubica took the car out for an official photo op spin or shakedown as it’s more commonly called.

Willy Rampf

“Developing a new Formula One car is always exciting, but this time there was something even more special about it. We really were starting from scratch.”

“First and foremost, the switch from grooved tyres to slicks means more grip, of course, but it also moves the balance of forces further forward: removing the grooves gives the front tyres proportionally a greater contact area and more grip than the rear tyres.”

Back in February of 2008 work on the F1.09 started and started with a clean sheet. This car as all other F1 cars this year was designed from the ground up as a result of the great change in aerodynamic rules for 2009 and does look quite different than we are use to, but I have to say that although it is different, I like it.

Just one look and the differences from last season and they are of course dramatic. The nose is much higher and wider than the F1.08 and earlier. The front wing, a component where a lot of time was spent in the past working on airflow and downforce creating a sort of work of art is now basic and functional. The rear wing is much higher and slimmer than previous in order to comply with the new regulations. The car is also completely void of any aerodynamic add-ons such as the ‘antlers’ of 2008 and any other air deflectors.

KERS and slicks have added a little more excitement to the design process. Slicks of course will provide much improved front-end grip allowing designers to add more weight up front.

Once again it was technical coordinator Willy Rampf and his team of engineers charged with the initial development of the car and now further development will be transferred over to managing director Walter Reidl.

Mario Theissen

“In the three years since the BMW Sauber F1 Team was formed, we have always met the goals we set ourselves and are confident that we can do so again this season,” says Theissen. “However, no matter how motivated the team may be and how much development work they have behind them, gauging their progress against the competition has never been so difficult. You can plan your level of performance, but not your results.”

Technical Specs of the F1.09

Chassis: carbon-fibre monocoque

Suspension: upper and lower wishbones (front and rear),inboard springs and dampers, actuated

by pushrods (Sachs Race Engineering)

Brakes: six-piston brake callipers (Brembo), carbon pads and discs (Brembo, Carbone Industrie)

Transmission: 7-speed quick shift gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch

KERS electronic system, BMW Sauber F1 Team

Chassis electronics: MES

Steering wheel: BMW Sauber F1 Team

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

Wheels: OZ

Dimensions: length 4,690 mm

width 1,800 mm

height 1,000 mm

track width, front 1,470 mm

track width, rear 1,410 mm

Weight: 605 kg (incl. driver, tank empty

BMW P86/9 – technical data.

Type: naturally aspirated V8

Cylinder angle: 90 degrees

Displacement: 2,400 cc

Valves: four per cylinder

Valve train: pneumatic

Engine block: aluminium

Cylinder head: aluminium

Crankshaft: steel

Oil system: dry sump lubrication

Engine management: standard ECU (MES)

Spark plugs: NGK

Pistons: aluminium

Connecting rods: titanium

Dimensions: length 518 mm

width 555 mm

height 595 mm (overall)

Weight: 95 kg

Max. engine speed: 19,000 rpm