Caterham CT-01 launch

[prisonermonkeys]

It's that time of year again: launch season. As per tradition, we'll establish a thread for every car launch twenty-four hours in advance. The first team out of the gates is Caterham, with the CT-01 being launched online and on the cover of the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing magazine some time tomorrow (depending on local time zones, your mileage may vary on this). Because tomorrow, January 26, is a national holiday here in Australia, I spent the day scouring news agencies for an early release of the magazine, but so far there has been no joy. And I haven't found anything online either, except from a report from scarbsf1 that the team had abandoned the 'blade' airbox design and gone for a conventional rollhoop.

So, until something pops up online, feel free to speculate away!

Full launch schedule:

January 25 – Caterham CT01
February 1 – McLaren MP4-27
February 3 – Ferrari (TBA)
February 3 – Force India VJM05
February 5 – Lotus E20
February 6 – Red Bull RB8
February 6 – Sauber C31
February 7 – Williams FW34
February 7 – Toro Rosso STR7
February 21 – Mercedes W03
February 21 – HRT F112
March 1 – Marussia MR01

 

[Seismica]

I feel that this years car is where they will make their big break into the midfield. Last year they were so close, yet so far, they still had a lot to learn and the car still had a lot of room for improvement.

That said, I still think it will be quite a conservative design; I can't see them going for unconventional sidepod setups like Mclaren's 2011 car, or the more rearward sidepods rumoured to be on this years Ferrari.

I can't wait to see it. This is probably the car that will define whether they have the potential to be competitive in F1. If they're still in no-mans land behind the midfield but infront of the backmarkers, I fear they will just decline into nothing.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I can't wait to finally see the first car of the 2012 season! Somehow though, I don't think this will be the one which will bring the team their first point/s but I think they will be just that little bit closer, certain closer than HRT or Marussia. That's just my guess anyway.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

First photo:

Sorry for the poor quality - I picked it up from another website, and it appears to have been taken with a mobile phone.

More will be added as they become available. Which is right now. A quick warning: it's not pretty.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

More will be added as they become available. Which is right now. A quick warning: it's not pretty.

Ugh.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I have a theory about that. Back when the regulations were announced, a lot of the teams complained that their cars were going to look ugly. They really just wanted the raised noses back because that would improve airflow over the spoiler, producing more downforce. This staggered nose is such an inelegant and basic design (the MP4-26 nose is a fine example of what they should be doing) that I can't help but wonder if the teams are deliberately making ugly cars to try and get such an overwhelming reaction that the FIA relents and reverts the ruling.

 

[PeterJB]

Looks like a giant stood on the nose cone.

 

[Alex.]

That is staggeringly ugly. I expect they all will be.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Another angle:

It's not actually that bad from the side. The drop is still there, and it’s still noticeable, but it doesn’t have the same shock as the three-quarter view.

Also, notice the wide sponsorless space on the sidepod …

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

The nose looks like a radical version of what Red Bull have been doing for years. Finally one of the 3 backmarkers have done something innovative to get us talking!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The nose looks like a radical version of what Red Bull have been doing for years. Finally one of the 3 backmarkers have done something innovative to get us talking!

Actually ... that's just the rules. The 2012 technical regulations state that everything forward of the bulkhead (roughly where the front axle would go) must be no more than 55cm above the ground. However, everything behind the bulkhead may be a maximum of 62.5cm above the ground. No doubt the FIA were hoping that more teams would do what McLaren did with the MP4-26, but it appears that this step in the middle of the nose is the most-popular solution.

 

[Robin]

nose job gone wrong!

Looks quite chunky, I'm not sure what to think...

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Actually ... that's just the rules. The 2012 technical regulations state that everything forward of the bulkhead (roughly where the front axle would go) must be no more than 55cm above the ground. However, everything behind the bulkhead may be a maximum of 62.5cm above the ground. No doubt the FIA were hoping that more teams would do what McLaren did with the MP4-26, but it appears that this step in the middle of the nose is the most-popular solution.

Maybe I should've just read the rules instead of getting excited by the nose cones need to be lower part, the same problem is still there with these kind of noses the original problem of cars getting air after nose to wheel collisions will still be there.

 

[Ardius]

Nose is horrible, the sidepods are interesting though, seems they have placed the engine exhausts very wide in an effort to make the sidepods shorter and allow more air into the rear?
It also looks like it has a long wheelbase - possibly in an effort to also make the most of the area behind the sidepods?

Generally though its one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen, surely the rest of the grid will look better than this?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Generally though its one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen

Cover up the nose, and it actually looks pretty good, though.

surely the rest of the grid will look better than this?

It's believes that all of the teams will be doing this. However, I think that what really kills the CT-01 is the way that the platypus nose is flat. I saw this picture posted over at Autosport, which shows how many of the other cars would look like with the angled nose, and they're not nearly as bad:

And if that's what they're going to look like, then they all remind me of the Virgin VR-01:

So maybe it's not going to be as bad as first thought. Maybe Caterham are the only ones who have beaten their car with an ugly stick.

 

[J-PaP]

Reminds me of this:

Yes it's ugly but I'll still be supporting them this year! Hopefully it can secure them Q2 every race.

Though the rear half of the car is definitely interesting. Reminds me of the Red Bull somewhat.

 

[Ardius]

Actually after now seeing this picture on Autosport:

Its slightly more bearable to look at.

 

[Hun200kmh]

LOL Ardius!

Anyways, here is what F1technical has to say about this car:

One day ahead of its official launch, a picture from F1Racing magazine was leaked on twitter, showing the entire CaterhamF1 CT01 car. The car, as expected, features a striking nose with a bump, a feature necessary to comply with changed regulations.

The new caterham confirms the dropping of the roll blade as instead the team have chosen to opt for a regular airbox.

Although the car is pictured with the 2011 front and rear wings fitted, the image clearly shows the new nose cone. The particular shape is the result of changed regulations which aimed at lowering the tip of the nose to a maximum of 550mm above the reference plane.

While the change would still allow for elegant nose designs, it is likely more teams will have similar nose cones as all are eager to get as much air under the car as possible. This undercar airflow helps produce downforce at the floor and its diffuser, an area which will already see reduced downforce because of the banning of blown diffusers.

So, it's very unclear if in 2012 we will see the grid filled with strange crocs or nice looking cars

 

[prisonermonkeys]

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Oh yay! New 2012 car release season, lets have a lo....OH DEAR LORD! No.

That was quick!

 

[Seismica]

Despite the awful nose, it does look like a big improvement on last year. The bodywork around the rear suspension reminds me a little of the RB7, which it's clearly modelled off (After all, they're using Renault engines and Red Bull gearboxes, may aswell package it the same right?). It's difficult to see properly though as it sort of fades into the darkness, and the side view isn't a great indication of how tightly packaged it is.

I think it's a huge step forward. The only question is, can the midfield teams from 2011 make enough of a step forward to out-do them?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm surprised Famine doesn't have it in his avatar already ...

 

[DaxCobra]

That is a really nice looking car apart from the nose.

Love the sidepods.

Damn though that nose looks ugly...

 

[Seismica]

Even if they all come out with designs like this, only the Caterham will be made fun off because they released their's first

I wonder if any teams will put eyes on their car. I'm betting on HRT.

 

[DaxCobra]

Even if they all come out with designs like this, only the Caterham will be made fun off because they released their's first

I wonder if any teams will put eyes on their car. I'm betting on HRT.

The McLaren of 2011's nose was quite similar and that was good looking, I am sure the new McLaren car is stunning, just like always.

/fanboy

 

[Liquid]

Bang!

 

[sumbrownkid]

Why are the shark fins are gone? Regs?

 

[gorsad]

It looks like it's come back from an FIA crash test. On a side note, scarbsf1 was right about how the nose would go up after the mandatory limit, didn't think it look that ugly though.

 

[astrosdude91]

Why are the shark fins are gone? Regs?

Yes. Basically.


It's quite shocking to look at, but ambitious none the less. Hopefully they'll actually score some points this year. Bout time one of the new teams were good for something other than being new.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I wonder if any teams will put eyes on their car. I'm betting on HRT.

Why did that make me think HRT will paint the car like this:

?