^^^^ That's more like it!!!

 

It is also noteworthy that while the front nose does tapper alot, it is not stepped...in short, the FIA crash requirement was met with a smooth nose...therefore, stepping was not the only solution as suggested by others...but I shall B silent.

Later, Ken

 

Hmm, nothing mentioned about the McLaren MP4-27 having that ugly wart nose. Maybe their aerodynamicists don't know as much as Caterham? Or, is it that they have a sense of style as well as design? See for yourself:

http://en.espnf1.com/mclaren/motorsp...ory/69005.html

 

Thank god, that McLaren has to be one of the nicest looking F1 cars in recent years, what a difference from the Caterham, hopefully its fast, lets go JB!!

 

^^^^ As visual appeal goes, and at least looking like it'll be a fast car, that's the most promising McLaren I've seen since their 2008 car.

 

^ Agreed, this has to be McLaren's year for the Constructors, as long as Newey doesn't come up with some insane innovation for the new Red Bull

 

you cant really tell a car's performance just base on looks. Ferrari's F1 cars usually looks good but they don't always perform.

 

^ Agreed.

 

Agreed! BUT...in a race series where engine's are frozen, you have one tire supplier, etc., and aero continually plays a larger role in the equation year after year, then I honestly believe that you can tell a lot more than usual about a F1 car's potential performance based on "looks". Certainly no guarantees, but I think you can tell the players from the wannabee's straight away.

 

If you look at Motorsport over the last 100 years, generally, the best looking cars have also been the best performing ones. While there is no direct correlation between style and function, it would seem that designers for have a panche for good design also have a sense of artistry about them as well. In a previous post, I gave multiple examples over the last 60 years of championship dominating cars that also were very easy on the eyes.

The issue here is what has been said a few pages back. There was an assertion that Caterham had spent amount of time engineering their car, especially the nose, aerodynamically. Quite the contrary, Caterham did what they did in response to the FIA mandate of lower front, structural crash protection. If the FIA had not issued this directive, nobody in their right mind would have designed a stepped nose like Caterham's.

McLaren has always had a sense of style in addition to designing mostly superior cars than their competition. This goes back to the days of Bruce McLaren and has continued with the ownership by Ron Dennis. Of course they will assume the challenge given to them and give us an elegant design. This is part of their DNA. Regarding Ferrari, it is antithetical for them to design ugly cars in part because they are Italian and in part because of the DNA in Ferrari cars from designers like Pininafarina, Scaglietti and other epic Italian firms.

Ferrari at the moment is groping in the dark. Their last world championship was in 2007. They are desperate to win, hence the possibility of designing a wart nosed wench looking car. While counterintuitive to their DNA, they will do what is necessary to win and will put function over form. Still, I would surprised if the new Ferrari looks as bad as the Caterham.

 

I am sure most of you guys know about Scarbs blog but for those who don't here is a cool analysis of the new MP4-27

Oh, and as far as that stepped nose, we will see come Melbourne who has the upper hand. If Ferrari's car is as ugly as they claim, that is what I expect to see. And if it performs as well as Ferrari hope, watch McLaren follow suit

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/0...rcedes-mp4-27/

 

This is true, think about the last championship winning cars... The Red Bulls: good looking cars if not the best previous to this McLaren, Brawn GP: good looking minus the paint scheme (imo), The 2007-2008 cars were all ugly so lets eliminate those, The Renaults: good looking cars, etc.

But aggressive designs do yield some good pace, it just happens to be for some random reason that the good looking, sleek cars end up being championship winners. There most likely isn't any relation but for some reason it just seems that way.

Nice find! that is an awesome article

 

willitas, good site your recommended. I am always on the lookout for analysis and commentary that is up to date. The one thing we all have to remember is that when a team does hit on something that works really well, because of the restricted testing, it often takes a number of races before another team can debut it and make it work. It is risky business to make a major change in design once into the season. And, without having track time, teams are basically left to do testing during practice on Fridays. For my part, I would really like to see the FIA open up testing again so that the teams can arrive with the best package possible. Had Ferrari and McLaren been able to test out new parts before races, they may have given Red Bull a better challenge than they did.

 

True, but you never know what else Newey would have been able to come up with to retain, or possibly even extend their performance advantage. Stands to reason that if he can outperform the competition in the offseason, then he can likely do it midseason as well.

 

I love Scarbs blog, hell I make a small donation every year I love it that much haha

Here is another blog I sometimes read, but honestly, unless you are an engineer or math major you won't understand a whole lot of it like me haha

http://mccabism.blogspot.com/