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Really? That's the best you can come up with? That it's not quite same shade of a colour that a racing team last used about 50 years ago? I'm sure they're going to be devastated by your razor-like insight into marketing and colour palette choice.
Yes!
I do colouring-in for a living so know about these things! 😀
[quote=the-muffin-man ]and it's not even the right orange.
Also agreed - though even the right orange would look a mess two tone with the black.
Of all the colours they could have chosen, the only obvious reason for orange is because of heritage, in which case it should be the right one.
You don't think the colour is to do with Honda's new advertising colours? Strange....
[quote=eddiebaby ]You don't think the colour is to do with Honda's new advertising colours? Strange....
I have no idea - hadn't seen them using orange, and it doesn't appear at all on their website that I can see. What's more, the most obvious Honda logo is on a black bit. Could you point out where orange is linked with Honda for me?
Maybe Andrew Benson is wrong too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39075183 (if indeed the white is the Honda bit, then they're missing out, none of us has even noted the white!)
"! Important information" in orange
So to summarise, only Mercedes have come up with a half decent looking car to date?
...And even that's pretty damned ugly 😆
[quote=Kryton57 ]So to summarise, only Mercedes have come up with a half decent looking car to date?
They've launched two?
The T wing makes it fugly by default, and a shark fin won't exactly improve the looks so that's merc off the "exciting new car" list too.
I'm not surprised the cars are looking as they are, with the new regs, the teams are essentially trying to create an inverted aeroplane, which is never a good place from which to start.
I wouldn't mind if they reverted the regs back to the early/mid 90's personally, they were rather pleasing to the eye back then.
As for the orange and black combo, strikes me that they're using the black to make the car look slimmer than it actually is, but I haven't looked for any dim's, so it might be similar to the Ferrari, which looks really slim to the tail.
I'm not surprised the cars are looking as they are, with the new regs, the teams are essentially trying to create an inverted aeroplane, which is never a good place from which to start.
I'm not sure I understand your point here. Hasn't that always been the case? And why would it be a bad place to start?
I wouldn't mind if they reverted the regs back to the early/mid 90's personally, they were rather pleasing to the eye back then.
That was technology rather than regs, so there's no going back now! Limiting locations and numbers of aero devices would be a good start though
@shermer - more wings and flaps than car, hence more aeroplane than car and trying to make it look like a car becomes difficult, which is essentially how @legend managed to interpret my not very eloquent post.
IIRC, a number of years ago it was decided that the lack of wheel to wheel racing and overtaking was due in most part to aero tech. It just seems to me, in my now occasional glance at the pinnacle of motorsport that they've forgotten that this year.
Surely the scariest thing about that maclaren is the fact they are sponsored by sap, surely that means that they will only ever have 1.5 cars at each race and 200 of the wrong size spanner.
On a serious note the ferrari is not attractive but the maclaren is hideous
IIRC, a number of years ago it was decided that the lack of wheel to wheel racing and overtaking was due in most part to aero tech. It just seems to me, in my now occasional glance at the pinnacle of motorsport that they've forgotten that this year.
I agree! I'm worried that we are going to go back to the dull processional racing that used to bore the crap out of me in the 90s
Ah, the old SAP jokes... 😉
Keen to see how they actually look on screen
Couldn't resist.
The best side of that ferrari is from above as far as i can tell.
Minging, the lot of them. You can build a better looking racing car out of Lego.
Interesting that McLaren have moved away from the MP4/ prefix - by going orange at the same time, I guess they simultaneously tip the hat to one aspect of their history and turn their back on another.
What do we feel about the shade of red Ferrari use? 🙂
Pondo - IIRC the Philip Morris deal was around a few years before Ron took on the team and brought Project 4 into the naming, so the MP4s never raced in orange.
Ferrari have been through a few reds in the past, so I think the tifosi are less anal than mclaren fans... Maybe Ron's influence is bigger than we think 😉
I don't think Williams got the memo about the bargeboards!...
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And Renault seem to be the only ones who've made the sharkfin look a little sexy. The Williams one is dreadful.
Does no one at the FIA have any sense of taste and proportions?
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/02/25/pictures-williams-officially-present-their-new-f1-car/
Sorry, didn't mean to suggest they had - McLarens hadn't been orange for a long time before His Ronness took over. Just thought it was interesting that they've acknowledged their roots but at the same time given the cold shoulder to their most succesful era. I shed no tears for Ron (always thought he was a bit of a tool, although there's no doubting he's been fantastically successful), just thought it noteworthy that they've change to prefix, as Ron did when it became his sho.
that williams looks quite basic (lacking aero) compared to the ferrari & merc.
Yup, either they've run out of money and are saying they're keeping it simple or (let it be so) they've got something they think is worth hiding before the first test
For those who were asking about F1 testing coverage on TV - here is what Sky are doing (I don't know about any other broadcasters)...
Looks like they forgot to paint some of the Haas
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the-muffin-man - Member
For those who were asking about F1 testing coverage on TV - here is what Sky are doing (I don't know about any other broadcasters)...
Thanks for that! I haven't got Sky though unfortunately! 🙂
I think the Haas scheme is my favourite so far. Car still looks like a kids idea of more winglets/aero is bestest.
I wonder how much those new front wings cost, I seem to remember a few years ago someone from Williams saying they were £125K a pop.
So surely the best designer of the modern F1 era can come up with something good...
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Maybe we'll find out when someone turns the lights on..
Front of the nose looks like it's ready for a hoover attachment to be plugged in 😕
Quite like the HAAS though.
Is it me or does the front wings on every car seem way out of proportion to the resat of the car? Makes them look heavy!
Torro Rosso looks nice!...
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http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/02/26/pictures-toro-rosso-present-their-new-car-for-2017/
Toro rosso, best looking car of the bunch by a mile 🙂
At least the McLaren will go faster than last year now button has taken to the beach full time now.
Mingers, all of them. Whoever allowed the regulations to let people run shark fins needs sacking 🙂
Agreed, the Toro Rosso looks the best by far. Nice to see that they'll finally be looking significantly different to the Red Bulls too! I never could tell them apart on track lol
never could tell them apart on track
You're in good company...neither could Crofty half the time 8)
Here we go.... who's secretly hoping for McLaren (Honda) to clock up a ton of laps while Merc struggle to get out of the pit lane?
I am, but I'm not going to bet on it.
Looks like there is at least 4 teams running a 'T' wing lol
Daniel Ricciardo's already broken down, perma-grin now absent!
McLaren also down, with an 'oil-systems issue'. Not much good news re: reliability so far!
Shermer - was going to post the same thing...
(from Autosport live feed)"Bad news for McLaren. Honda has found an oil systems issue, which requires a full investigation. The team plans to run again today, but "due to the difficult access location, it will take several hours to resolve"."
Haven't we been here before?
We have! Also watching the Autosport live feed. Piccie of Haas' attempt to camouflage that massive fin:
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Any radio commentary anywhere?
Not that I know of..
The McLaren revival looks to be a bit of a damp squib. So far, we've a livery that no-one likes, no title sponsor(s) and a fault which means that only one hundredth of Merc's total lappage has been completed so far. That's really going to hurt the team in the opening rounds.
To be fair to Zach Brown, most of the reasons behind McLaren's malaise were down to corporate in-fighting and Ron Dennis' genius for falling out with important people, but you'd have hoped that after two seasons together, McLaren and Honda could make engine and chassis play nicely.
Tenner says that Alonso will be thinking about packing his bags.
Tenner says that Alonso will be thinking about packing his bags.
Yeah, I actually think he might not see out the season this year. Maybe not even half way.
2 T-Wings for Williams...
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Merc looking Bombproof again, but Ferrari also looking OK. I thought Renault would have been higher up the time sheets.
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Are those pull shocks I see on rear suspension??
most of the reasons behind McLaren's malaise were down to corporate in-fighting and Ron Dennis' genius for falling out with important people, but you'd have hoped that after two seasons together, McLaren and Honda could make engine and chassis play nicely.
I don't think that's true, Mclaren have had a duff chassis for years now (pre-Ron Dennis' return) and Honda have been dreadful since they came back into F1. TBH I can't see Mclaren being a force in F1 for a long time yet, and possibly ever again.
legend - Member
Are those pull shocks I see on rear suspension??
not sure but people on f1tech are saying there's a lot more chassis roll on the williams than previously
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and some speculation on the t-wings
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Postby bhall II » 27 Feb 2017, 16:54Now that I've seen the Williams version, I submit that T-wings reduce downforce coefficient at high speeds.
At low speeds, they'll do next to nothing, simply because they're too small. But, at higher speeds, their wake will be sufficient to redirect air flow away from the rear wing, reducing its efficiency.
Image
It's not the same thing as reducing downforce. Downforce will still increase with speed; it'll just happen at a slower rate above a certain airspeed threshold. Moreover, such an effect would be particularly useful now that the aero coupling of the rear wing to the diffuser is much stronger.
I should imagine Ferrari will be reasonably satisfied.
If that is indeed what the T wings are doing, which certainly appears plausible, then I'll forgive how they look for the wonderful engineering thinking involved. Effectively they're tuning the downforce curve - presumably the idea is that their angles/positions will be changed for each circuit in order to tune the speed at which they kick in to be just above that of the fastest corner where more downforce is essential (not necessarily the fastest corner where more downforce makes a difference - I'd imagine it's worth taking a slight hit on that for improved speed on all the straights).
LH: "most likely we're going to be doing a lot more one-stoppers as there's less degradation, and there's going to be less overtaking. That's my estimation but I might be wrong."
08:07 The McLaren has stopped at the pit entry - mechanics rush to retrieve the MCL32 with Vandoorne at the wheel.
Great start to day 2.... 🙁
...just off to the bookies to stick £10 on Button being in the car in Australia! 😀
£10. Very conservative.
The McLaren revival looks to be a bit of a damp squib.
I dunno. Their motor now sounds like a motor. The off beat farting noise of last year has gone.
If they pursue a conventional route it'll be a better year.
Not if they (McLaren) keep making school boy errors like badly shaped oil tanks!
Not if they (McLaren) keep making school boy errors like badly shaped oil tanks!
Apparently they now have a prob with getting power to the power unit. Shouldn't that be the other way round? Lol
Need moar wingz!!
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Ming the Merciless - Member
Not if they (McLaren) keep making school boy errors like badly shaped oil tanks!
Wonder if that's down to Mclaren or Honda. Strange that it didn't show up in any of the running they would have done on the bench. Then again, it didn't show up 2015's issues either...
Alonso must really be kicking himself that he committed to McLaren for 2017 after being in the frame for Rosberg's vacant seat.
Van Doorne can't seem to get within five seconds of the top lap time recorded by Merc this morning. There's always a huge leap made during testing, but if Merc are this fast on day two and McLaren are watching everything from the pit lane, then it's a reasonable conclusion that 2017 will be yet another midfield at best year for them.
They clearly can't use the Honda engine to it's maximum, which will hold up the necessary understanding and development of the aero package.
Mercs times were on heavy fuel loads as well. They are making the rest of the pack look silly.
Its fine all the others are just taking it easy doing consistent times to compare the different options correctly. Come race day they'll switch to "sport" mode and all be giving Merc a run for their money.
[/rose tinted glasses]
If there isn't going to be a battle for the front lets at least hope 3rd to 8th places are similar pace so there is some mid pack action. I'm a Williams fan but mostly neutral so as long as there are some fights going on I don't really care what position.
Still looking forward to Red Bull upping the tempo!!
I bet young Mr Stroll feels a bit stupid!!
Ferarri put a very fast time in- best of the day, and on mediums too! I'd take taht as a good sign for the coming season...
Edit: I meant softs! Hamilton was on super-soft lol
I've said it before, but the Torro Rosso is stunning...
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Gutted for McLaren, they are pretty stuck and have to make the Honda relationship work as they have no other options for engine supply. Every season it's the same, very funny things aren't showing up on the dyno, it looks like the oil tank is a Honda produced part as well.
I've said it before, but the Torro Rosso is stunning...
They have certainly got a pleasing mix of red, blue and silver. In silhouette, from front side and rear, it looks like all the others.
Unfortunately, I tend to agree with LH as quoted on the previous page. Once the circus is back in Europe and early bouts of design cock ups have surfaced and been rectified, Saturday qualifying will be the decider of the race result as they all spend their Sunday trooping around the black bits in line astern. Quality sport and entertainment 😉
Good interview with Ross Brawn on Teds Notebook tonight.
Sounds like a man with a plan...or at least a man who's going to take his time deciding on and implementing the right plan.
Catch it if you can.
Good interview with Ross Brawn on Teds Notebook tonight.
It was.
And he didn't completely rule out trying to get the shark-fins removed before Australia. Can't see it happening, but it wasn't a definite 'no'.
And it sounds like fans will actually be thought about.
Trouble is that,at least until 2020, brawn can only make a difference if the strategy group follow him. If one of the top teams decides to protect its own interests then he's got nowhere to go.
Ideally we'd see liberty negotiate an early new concorde agreement which has the backing to take precedence over the current one, then that may allow them the freedom to develop the sport in their own direction. However as that will likely involve Ferrari losing tens of millions of dollars I can't see them supporting any change until they have to.
He accepted that things won't change massively until then and didn't want to rush things through anyway.
There are already talks with manufacturers about changing the engine formula - louder and simpler - but a return to big old V8's seems unlikely.
Just read about the testing. Mercedes miles ahead of the rest again, fastest and most reliable 😐
I think we'll only see when they do a qualifying simulation. Too many variables at the minute, but after close of running yesterday Ferrari [i]may[/i] run Mercedes close.
And one team has been told to change their suspension (and it won't be Ferrari!)...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-team-asked-to-make-suspension-changes-as-inspections-begin-878500/
Mercedes seem to be turning up the wick a bit, into 19s