This weekend, the biggest and most well known motorsport of all time will zoom back onto our screen this weekend. The formula one season starts off with qualifying on the 28^th March and the first race on the 29^th March. For fans it has been such a long wait since the last season, which we all know Lewis Hamilton won. The question is though; will he be able to win it again?

 

Formula One is back, and it is fairer than ever. World champion Lewis Hamilton will be trying to defend his title over his 2^nd place rival, Felipe Massa, who last year lost out on the title by one single point. McLaren will be trying to win the constructor’s title this year, after Ferrari’s domination throughout these past few years, and Ferrari will be trying to defend and knock out all the opposition.

 

So, what is actually new and different this year to this magnificent sport? Lots of sporting and technical regulations have changed; starting with the tyres. This year, tyres have been changed back to slicks, meaning they have no grooves. They have focused more on mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic grip. The FIA, who make all the rules, say that the new tyres will increase grip by twenty percent. Aerodynamics will be affected and reduce the down force heavily because of revised regulations.

Also, the KERS system is new to Formula One this year and is one of the best tools available. The system recovers lost Kinetic energy from when the cars brake and stores it all in the mechanical flywheel or the battery. Drivers will then have the option to press the “Boost” button on the steering wheel, which will increase the power by 80 horsepower for about seven seconds. If drivers and teams use this, the weight distribution will have to be revised. The engine will also be revised because of this, decreasing revs from 19,000 revs per minute to 18,000. In addition, only eight engine changes can be made, otherwise they will be put ten places back on the starting grid.

 

The main thing to be changed, that will be visible to everyone is the aerodynamics of the car. Down force will be dramatically reduced and when a car is following another, they can overtake more easily due to less turbulence upon the car. The front wing will also become slightly wider and lower, which will help with cornering and grip.

 

An interesting thing that is happening this season is that the famous British driver David Coulthard will serve as this years reserve for Toro Rosso, Red Bull. Now at the end of his career, Coulthard will be commentating on this weekend’s race and be broadcasting for the BBC.

 

The sport this year has had vast changes made to the race and technical regulations, some of them changing rules that have been the same since 1997. Hamilton will have to push his car to the limit and Massa will be doing everything to stop him. This season is gearing up to be one of the best seasons, but will it live up to it? We will have to wait and see!