Australian F1 Grand Prix - China Daily preview

Sunday's Qantas Australian Grand Prix ushers in what could be termed 'Formula One 2.0' - a revolutionary upgrade designed for today's MTV generation. Technology has always been at the core of F1. For 2011 it has been employed to create, some might say synthesize, a better and more accessible show - through increased overtaking.

So we welcome back KERS and say hello to MRW or DRS and - probably most importantly - DCT.

Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, as on a hybrid road car, capture energy usually dissipated as heat under braking - and provide a boost on the straights. It is worth a quarter of a second per lap. KERS was introduced in 2009 to highlight F1's role in the development of efficient motor vehicles. Back then only McLaren and Ferrari used it regularly, so it also provided a performance differential (particularly from the start line). This year, after a one-season hiatus by common agreement, it's back for all bar the three newest teams (HRT, Lotus and Virgin) who can't afford it.

The new Moveable Rear Wing (or Drag Reduction System) is more dramatic. Drivers within one second of the car ahead have the option to reduce the aerodynamic drag of their rear wing by 10percent for a defined 600m stretch of the circuit. A dashboard light tells the driver when he can use the system and white lines on the track will give TV viewers a clue about who is close enough (the measurement is made at the corner before the overtaking zone).

Whilst KERS and the MRW will keep the drivers busy operating switches, watching lights - and dealing with cars whose top speed is suddenly increased by about 15 kmh - its likely that the tires will produce more drama.

Replacing Bridgestone as the sole supplier to F1, Pirelli has intentionally created rubber which quickly loses performance. After the softer layer wears away, drivers will be running on a harder compound which might be slower by as much as five seconds each lap.

These Dual Compound Tires are a brave move from Pirelli. Unusually high degradation at last year's Canadian Grand Prix created an exciting race and highlighted the role the tire supplier can play in creating excitement.

Expect to see many more pit stops - certainly three and perhaps four for each car - with resultant congestion and drama in the pit lane.

Understandably, preseason talk has been dominated by these technological three (and four) letter acronyms. Fear not: on Sunday the focus will return to VET (Sebastian Vettel), the four other world champions on the grid (ALO, BUT, HAM and MSC) - and those gunning for their first crown.

After a successful career on the track, Matthew Marsh now works at JMI - the world's leading motor sport marketing company. He can be reached at: mmarsh@justmarketing.com

(China Daily 03/25/2011 page22)