De la Rosa: 2009 will see more overtaking

Tuesday 18th November 2008

Although Pedro de la Rosa reckons next year's Championship will see more overtaking, he has warned again fans expecting a bumper increase.

Formula One has largely been criticised in recent years for the lack over overtaking as cars tour the tracks in a procession with only a few passing moves taking place.

However, next year's Championship will see a change in the aerodynamic regulations, which de la Rosa reckons should improve overtaking.

"Yes, definitely," the McLaren test driver told Autosport when asked for his thoughts on overtaking in 2009.

"Considering this is Formula One - if people think the introduction of KERS and the reduction in downforce and slicks is going to transform Formula One, then forget it.

"It will still be a wide car, there will still be aerodynamic effect and offline will stay dirty. It will be easier, but it won't be MotoGP. And people need to understand that.

"The changes are headed in the right direction. The difficulty comes from having so many changes and a massive reduction in testing for next year.

"It will make fine-tuning your car between the races very difficult. It's going to be very interesting - and there won't be enough time to test everything."

However, it's not just the aerodynamics that are changing. Next season will all see the return of slick tyres, which were dropped from the sport in 1997.

"Obviously, the slick tyres give you a lot more grip - so although we will be running with reduced downforce, the overall grip of the car won't be that different to what we had," de la Rosa added.

"But it's the balance front to rear that will change - the slick tyres have a very strong front-end going into the corners and they have very good traction coming out.

"Overall, to simplify things, I think the slick tyres will give us lap time in the low-speed corners and because of the reduced downforce we'll be slower at high speeds."

Your Comments

Gordan

"Why in the HELL is Pedro talking about anything has he ever passed anyone?? him & Webber talk way too damn much & have no dubs ( opps wins ) to show for it GOD is that how it is in Europe? Guys who do nothing still run at the mouth! Win then talk that's how it goes in the good side of the Atlantic! 2nd is for Loser or the French hahaha "

summerss

"robson I didn't expect someone with an IQ of less than 1 to understand drag and downforce. I also find it extremely worrying that you know so much about drag queens. It does explain your warped mind though."

robson

"no summerarse it doesn't clear things up. is a drag queens slower down the straights because of the frilly dresses they tend to wear? also how do they get around corners?"

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