Formula 1 2009: The Launch Season

[Ardius]

If they didn't think they could use them, they wouldn't have designed them in the first place. Williams are hardly in a position to throw away money into designs that they can't use.

 

[Tired Tyres]

F1 teams are famous for their interesting interpretations of the rules!

 

[Ardius]

True, we shall see what the other teams say about them.

Williams are certainly pulling out everything, first with the interesting diffusers and now this.

 

[mu22stang]

That spec element on the front wing doesn't look very spec either. I could just be ignorant to a loophole though.

I got a better look from another angle and retract my previous statement.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It's a little barren between the cockpit and the front wheels, though ...

 

[Only_in_f1]

Yep it looks very very plain.

 

[Ardius]

After watching the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix on youtube recently (finally someone uploaded the full ITV coverage), I've realised this livery reminds of a combination of the 1997 Williams and Arrows liveries:

 

[orimarc]

F1 car, 1997.

F1 car, 2009.


In four words: Both look stupid fast.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

In four words: Both look stupid fast.

It might have looked stupid fast, but the 1997 Arrows was crazy slow. What was its best result? A podium in Hungary, a fifth place at the Nurburgring and everything else was downhill from there.

 

[PeterJB]

It appears to just be the Arrows with the colours reversed.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Here it is.

 

[Metar]

That's a Force India?! Holy hell, that's better than their previous cars. Finally an ever-so-slightly complicated design instead of their usual bores. At the height of last year's aero-crazed cars, the VMJ01 was the simplest design around...

 

[wrcsti]

That's a Force India?! Holy hell, that's better than their previous cars. Finally an ever-so-slightly complicated design instead of their usual bores. At the height of last year's aero-crazed cars, the VMJ01 was the simplest design around...

It helps to have the time to look after the oponents cars.

 

[Metar]

Not in this timeframe - the time from the Ferrari's launch to the FIF1's launch is around the time it takes to manufacture a tested car... And the FIF1 also has some very unique ideas: The mirror-mounts are a brilliant idea, and their sidepod-shields and exhaust-openings are pretty unique, too.

 

[PeterJB]

It looks like it came out the late 90's! Looks better than the old one though.

 

[superwally]

Doesn't matter if it is 1997 or 2009, I'll never get used to the high nosed look of modern F1 cars, although they are more visually appealing to me now than they used to be. The rising arch of the nosecone from the middle of the car to the front is just plain wrong to my eye.

 

[Metar]

Doesn't matter if it is 1997 or 2009, I'll never get used to the high nosed look of modern F1 cars, although they are more visually appealing to me now than they used to be. The rising arch of the nosecone from the middle of the car to the front is just plain wrong to my eye.

I'm with you on that one. I suppose they could've mandated a return to the lownose designs with the 2009 regulations-overhaul, but missed it: Instead of a spec section producing no downforce, why not force the nose to replace that section? Just as neutral, and hence just as insensitive to wake as the flat spec-section.

 

[J-PaP]

i'd really like to see the back. Definitely an interesting car. What engines is FI using this year?

 

[Metar]

Mercedes - the whole package, including KERS and gearbo.

 

[Ardius]

i'd really like to see the back. Definitely an interesting car. What engines is FI using this year?

Mercedes-Benz, thanks to their deal with McLaren.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I don't really know what to think. The nose in particular reminds me of the Renault, if it were designed to be something more sensible, and from the side the rear wing looks very square. Speaking of the rear end, it's decidedly lacking in colour; something completely arbitrary, I know, but as I'm not expecting Force India to do anything dramatic this season, I don't really know how to judge it.

 

[Metar]

Renault? It's a nose as high as the Red Bull - it's the complete opposite of the Renault.

 

[corporatesteve]

I cannot wait for the STR4 debut on march 4th...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Renault? It's a nose as high as the Red Bull - it's the complete opposite of the Renault.

For some reason, it just reminds me of it. Probably the way the nose is arrow-straight and very linear, unlike the Concorde Nose of he RB5.

 

[KSaiyu]

2nd best looking for me, after the Williams. Doubt it's going to do much this season though.

 

[Bram Turismo]

And the FIF1 also has some very unique ideas: The mirror-mounts are a brilliant idea, and their sidepod-shields and exhaust-openings are pretty unique, too.

I also liked those looks of that front wing.

I think this car is one of the better looking cars of the grid. Loving the livery, and some components really look nice 👍 The rear wing seems HUGE though, and the engine cover looks outdated, but I hope this car can deliver 👍

 

[PeterJB]

Vettel has dominated testing today!

http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/8783/

 

[Bram Turismo]

I think those times are surprising, yet not revealing. The fact that the Mclaren is so far off the RBR, and the Ferrari as well, makes me even more sure that we haven't seen anything at all about anyone's pace untill the first round of the new season starts...

 

[Metar]

We can, however, notice that in last year's testing, cars were only a second faster than today's RBR. That means the actual gap at the season opener won't be more than half a second off.

 

[senamic]

All the best for FIF1! That car looks wonderful, hope the team can find some speed this year. But I still like the RB myself.