It's new car time!

[WickerBill]

Car launch dates are coming up....

Monday - Lotus
Thursday - McLaren
Friday - Ferrari, Force India
Saturday - Sauber

Next week:
Sunday - Red Bull
Monday - Mercedes, Toro Rosso
Tuesday - Caterham


Of course, Tuesday - Friday next week is the first official test of the year at Jerez.

[j_d]

I await this time of year just like I awaited Christmas.

[WickerBill]

Agree. Last year, however, all of my presents except the McLaren looked like platypuses and I felt like it was alternate universe Christmas.

Here's hoping for prettier gifts this season.

[SteveH]

No more stepped noses.

[cameraman]

The stepped nose lives!!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBtv56OCYAAqrq1.png:large

[Elmo T]

Taking a page from Kimi's "Range of Emotion" handbook I see.

[cameraman]

Turns out that if you smooth out the nose of the car it weighs more and offers no aerodynamic benefit. So the stepped nose saves weight therefore the stepped nose will remain.

not sure if this will work...

http://pic.twitter.com/Ts0Yttgm

Mebbe now...

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii35/Cynops/Lotus-1_zps7730e73f.jpg

So how much of that image is photoshop and how much is actually car?

[WickerBill]

For all the rattling that was done about the Lotus / burn (Coke) sponsorship, that's a pretty small logo.

[WickerBill]

No more stepped noses.


YOU LIED TO ME

[Indy]

WTF? Fugly!

[KaBoom21]

Part Lego/part origami. Just hideous.

[Al Czervik]

Kimi's wheel:http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18cxc2dc1shckjpg/original.jpg

Note the SATNAV button, the Translate (anti mumble) rotary switch, the Jenson button, Mute button...

edit: Thanks to Jalopnik

[Gnam]

Is it an optical illusion or is the rear track that much wider than the front?

http://s1.postimage.org/52muhptbj/article_2269748_1739_CF37000005_DC_739_634x376.jpg

[Gnam]

The front is wider than the rear also too! :gomer:
n/m

http://s13.postimage.org/n5gagstxz/article_2269748_1739_AFDF000005_DC_642_634x318.jpg

[WickerBill]

http://images.planetf1.com/13/01/800x600/dms1331ja13_2893451.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/31/article-2271182-17446C99000005DC-3_634x432.jpg

[Elmo T]

Looks like those front wing elements spent too much time in the oven. :saywhat:

[stroker]

It would be interesting to see a list of each part for that McLaren and the cost to manufacture it. Then I'd like to see a chart of the invested costs of DEVELOPING each part and a ratio of the two numbers...

[cameraman]

I would think that McLaren's carbon manufacturing process is as efficient as it gets. I'd guess design >>>>>>manufacturing.

[Easy]

McLaren's ability to produce new parts at MTC may be unparalleled with the TTE factory out of F1* and Ferrari's wind tunnel down. It's why they can return to the front after being totally out to lunch 3x per season. :p

R&D investment well outruns manufacturing. Wind tunnel and CFD expenditures could build Bernie a yacht made of ultra light weight platinum.

[WickerBill]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QH182lJ_cebTTDji1j081Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/blogs/world-of-sport/946827.jpg

[WickerBill]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2013/2/1/1359745064568/Paul-di-Resta-Force-India-008.jpg

[WickerBill]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Sauber_C32_Side_01-886x626.jpg

[Elmo T]

This I like ^^^

[Andrew Longman]

This I like ^^^+1 :thumbup:

[Napoleon]

That is a good looking car.

[cameraman]

2012 vs 2013 Ferrari slider

http://www.thef1times.com/compare/ferrari.php

McLaren slider

http://www.thef1times.com/compare/mclaren.php

[Insomniac]

This I like ^^^

Definitely a change for better.

[stroker]

2012 vs 2013 Ferrari slider

http://www.thef1times.com/compare/ferrari.php

McLaren slider

http://www.thef1times.com/compare/mclaren.php

The only real change I'm seeing in both of those is that the leading edge of the nose on both is noticeably higher. The rear of the pods is slightly different near the exhaust but I'm not smart enough to speculate on why.

[Rogue Leader]

I kind of yearn for the good old days around this time. When the backmarkers would show up to the first race and subsequently explode on the installation lap during qualifying...

[Andrew Longman]

IIRC the Stewart cars both caught fire sitting on their grid debut. :rofl:

Oops.

[Rogue Leader]

IIRC the Stewart cars both caught fire sitting on their grid debut. :rofl:

Oops.

That was actually 1999, and yeah they had the new Ford Cosworth motors, that they both lunched on the grid lol.

[WickerBill]

I could start a new thread on testing, but I think I'll just keep it here. McLaren on top in first day, but more importantly for pre-season testing:

1. Mercedes caught on fire (wiring loom)
2. McLaren had oil pump issues
3. Grosjean and Maldonaldo didn't run into anybody


So far in day two, Lewis has had a big shunt (he's okay) after brake failure.

[Pilgrims Drop]

That was the wierdest wiring loom fire I've seen... and working with electronics I've seen a few :)

[Badger]

The only real change I'm seeing in both of those is that the leading edge of the nose on both is noticeably higher. The rear of the pods is slightly different near the exhaust but I'm not smart enough to speculate on why.

Ok, how do I find the slider for the other cars?

[stroker]

Ok, how do I find the slider for the other cars?

You got me. :confused: