As of this hour we now have 6:2 stepped vs not with Sauber's C31 entry:
Here R pics:http://www.planetf1.com/photo-galler...439/Sauber-C31...my boys R ready!

Later, Ken

 

I didn't think it was possible for Sauber to make their paint scheme even worse than it has been the last two years but they did. Seriously, their sponsored by Telmex, why don't they use light blue and white and do something cooler, it honestly makes the car look like ****

 

Ready for what? Eating dust?

 

looks like ferrari wont be the only one with ugly nose.

 

I don't like how RBR only put up two pics of their car and none of the rear, should suggest they are really going to be trying to hide something back there.

Thoughts on this open channel within the "step" of the front? Real or photo shop magic to try and fool others ...

 

^ that's the new F-duct.

 

Eh? How do you get 6:2? Looks like McLaren is the only team so far without a stepped nose.

Even Newey called the RB8's stepped nose ugly and conceded that it wouldn't be there if it wasn't a necessary evil of their design.

l8r)

 

Maybe he means the other way, i.e. 2 WITH an angular ledge(Ferrari and Sauber), and 6 not quite?

 

http://youtu.be/g_H9GAQNJgA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58Mk...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgW-a...feature=relmfu

 

See earlier quote from Haug...Merc will probably also have a smooth nose...also, others have suggested Toro Rosso will have a stepped nose to...therefore 7:2 so far.
Regarding the rear, McLaren used plastic pieces to hide what they have back there and Ferrari as well...we really won't see what they have actually done and how effective it is until Melbourne.

Edit: Confirmed TR: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97362
Later, Ken

 

I finally got around to watching "Senna" last night. Simply amazing driver. The stats and clips online don't do the guy justice. Wish I had been interested in F1 as a child to have been able to watch him run at least one complete race.

The part I liked the best is when Jackie Stewart essentially accuses him of being wreckless, and causing too many accidents, and Senna's response was "As a racing driver, you are at risk all of the time. If you no longer go for a gap that exists, then you are no longer a racing driver, because we are competing to win." That seemed to sum up his life and eventual death right there. Always pushing it to the limits, and unfortunately, as they said at the end, his luck finally ran out. Very sad to say the least.

However, it did make me think of all of the greats in the time that I've been watching F1, and it seems like history repeats itself, because even today you have two types of winning drivers. The calculating Prost style, like Button and Alonso, and then the all-out speed style, like Raikkonen, Hamilton, etc. Seems like the only guys that I've seen embody both styles is Schumacher though, which I think his career results would support, and possibly Vettel after all is said and done.

 

James Allen suggests: "...one wonders whether this inlet duct, which will harvest a lot of air given it’s size, is channeling additional airflow to the rear, possibly to work with the diffuser in some way [or] It could be to cool the KERS, which was a major headache for the team last season."

However, it appears that the real focus should be not at the front of the car but the the rear for it is here that some R going to B looking to C whether Ferrari, McLaren and RB, who have hidden this portion from view, R pushing the rules to far...this from Lotus:"..."For us, it is clear that the exhaust gases may not be used to alter the car's aerodynamics,...We may see some strange things at the back of some cars which we will have to discuss, but let's see, ...Our position at the moment is that there is no controversy, but we are watching very closely how far the competition is going and how much the FIA will allow"...Uhoooh,I smell another possible FIA reinterpretation of their own rules coming...but I digress...again.

Later, Ken

 

I would be surprised if it did channel airflow all the way to the rear, since it would essentially serve as an F-duct, which I believe is still a banned technology.

 

^ As long as it's not driver operated, I don't think there'd be anything illegal about it.

Gotta love Kimi being on top of the time sheets all morning long. That's shut up a lot of the haters (and unfortunately en-bold the fanbois).

l8r)

 

One of the best movies I've ever seen. "Ole ole ole ole, Senna, Senna"

And nice to see Kimi on top of the time sheets for the first test!!