Verified answer

Let me answer all your questions:

1- The car he is using? yes the Ferrari f2004 is the fastest car in F1 history.

2- The track has slightly changed but not the course just heights.

3- The conditions are never the same but they were close and definitely they can't cause a 4 seconds margin.

4- Yes the rules were changed so the teams stuck with the V8 2.4L engines instead of the V10 3.0L and other regulations so the cars are much slower now to keep it safe.

5- He was that good and so was Kimi Raikkonen whose fastest lap at Spa in 2004 was 1:45.108 but now he became old so his fastest lap at Spa this year was 1:47.930.

BTW: I hope you continue watching f1 after you know that the rules in 2011 will force the teams to use V1 0.1L engines generating top speeds around 100 km.hr

The rules and regulations are always changing in F1 so there is no real way to compare laptimes from four years ago to todays laptimes. Have you looked at other drivers laptimes from four years ago? They are all probably within a few tenths or hundredths of a second of Schumi's time because four years ago they probably used different tyre compounds, areo and engine regulations were different and some other stuff as well.

Don't forget the condition of the track, wind, etc. That's why sometimes you see different laptimes for the Friday practice sessions.

Besides, the engines were more powerful back then, half of the lap records were held by Montoya, Schumacher and Barrichello and most of them were set in 2004.

actually the F2004 or the 2004 ferrari was almost 2sec quicker than the 2008 cars.....

if you put an 2004 minardi against an 2008 mclaren(mp423) both would have an close race!!

The things have changed since then..and cras have been made deliberately slower...the engines were V10's in 2004 and now they are V8 (2.4l)....an the aerodynamics have also changed...!!

check this link-

http://formularacin.blogspot.com/2008/10/following...

Short answer... All of those things combined + the fact that they were then running with much more powerful engines.

Welcome to the world of F1. Enjoy every bit of it with your buddies over some snacks or drinks, its really something. Don't known eveything myself, but got hooked 2 years ago to the sport to some friends.

Tyres, aerodynamic and engine developments driver gaining new skills?!!

In general F1 aerodynamicists never stand still but the FIA now see it in their infinite wisdom to slow the cars down. As to make it 'safer' for us .Hmm,

Grrrrrr. . . .. .

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Rule changes

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