New look for F1 2009… and it’s ugly!

Williams F1 2009мебели

The racing season maybe over for another year but Formula One never stops and with new rules being implemented for 2009, the first signs of the new look to the single-seater racing car have being unveiled during testing at Barcelona.

In a bid to improve the spectacle and make overtaking easier, the sport’s governing body have drafted in a set of new aerodynamics regulations – as well as reintroducing slick tyres – to Formula One next year.

Williams was the first team to incorporate the new 2009-spec aero kit with a hybrid version of last year’s FW30. The front wing has been lowered in height and extended in width in a bid to get rid of the understeer effect when following another car. The driver can actually adjust the wing angle with a lever or switch inside the cockpit to change the level of downforce if needed.

As for the rear wing, the increase in height and a reduction in the width will create more drag, so that the slipstream effect can be achieved. In addition, the level of grip has been reduced to make it more of a challenge for the driver.

More on the 2009-aero spec can be seen in this detailed technical drawing taken from Autosport magazine (shown below). The mock-up of the Ferrari looks reasonable and in reality, the Willliams F1 car seems good.

Autosport magazine F1 2009

But prepare to be shocked with what BMW Sauber has come up with during the first week of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.

BMW Sauber 2009

BMW Sauber 2009 2

BMW Sauber 2009 3

This hybrid BMW Sauber looks horrible! The front wing is out of proportion, no thanks to the retro-looking flat nose that magnifies the appalling mess… As for rear wing, it looks tiny when you view the Formula One car from the back. Sure, it is refreshing to see slick tyres back on a racing car after ten years running on grooves, but somehow the overall appearance is difficult to consume.

I really hope the FIA have done the correct approach in making these cars easier to overtake as the look behind these Formula One cars are ghastly. Perhaps I should hold back my first impressions when all the teams have sorted out their aerodynamics for the new season in time for the first race in Melbourne. But it’s hard for the designers to improve on the limitations that have been set in the rulebook…

6 thoughts to “New look for F1 2009… and it’s ugly!”

  1. WTF!!!? That is truly awful! It’s like we stepped back in time to the 70’s. Great we all thought, slicks are back. But could at least have the wheels bigger than my girlfriends Aygo!

    Still at least they will look the part for the std engines. Then it’ll just be like F3!

    http://www.tmspromotions.com.au/images/f3b.jpg

    This can only be a good thing if we get some great racing and overtaking. Otherwise, F1 has gone utterly barking mental

  2. Its the front wing. The Ferrari mock up looked great, but everything I have seen since looks awful. If the actual nose wasn’t so wide I don’t think they would look so bad, and the horrible wheel covers need to go as well.

  3. If you thought the BMW Sauber was nasty with its 2009-spec aero, you don’t want to see what Honda has come up with… See Jenson’s new motor – http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.php?photoID=115810&catID=631

    Even Christian Klien says the BMW Sauber he tested at Barcelona is the ugliest Formula One car he has ever seen.

    “I never saw such a sexy car,” joked Klien after testing. “It looks very, very new to everybody. To me, for the moment, it’s the worst (looking) Formula One car I have ever seen. It just doesn’t fit together. But we will get used to it. There will be a lot of modifications until the first race in March.”

    Read the full article here – http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72176

    Bring back the old look now!

  4. what the fugly. First when I saw the rear wing I thought the car had been in a crash.

    Then you sire, inform me this is the new look for 2009. Screw it, I’m banning these models from Yas island they’re not welcome.

    I’m quite interested to see the new season though. I do feel a little sad they seem to be going backwards than forwards specially since F1 is a technology forward sport.

  5. I don’t think those front wings look too bad, I mean a wing is never going to be a sexy piece of kit. It’s the back wing that irritates me as it’s completely out of proportion to the rest of the car.

    But, seeing as I’m not an F1 fan I’ll not be sending in petitions to FIA demanding change.

  6. Yeah, the front wing is not so bad. It’s the rear wing and the rest of the car that looks awful.

    But for me, I wonder how much the slicks make the cars look dated. I mean it’s been many years that grooved “slicks” have been with us, and seeing completely bold tyres is a strange look. So I think that doesn’t help.

    But they still look incredibly dated and have a very std look. This is just so not what F1 is about, and that should never be messed with. Not matter what cost saving lunacy ideas the FIA have.

    How about cutting the drivers costs eh?

    Or the stupid mobile houses all the teams turn up with, at every venue, all over the world……no wait sorry, where would all the glory hunting celebs/fatcats/politicians/Bernie drink champagne at?

    F1 can spend as much money as it wants imo. IF they make the money back, then what’s the problem? You will always have teams that can spend the money better than others, so I think you wil always have 2 or 3 teams that are better than all the rest, no matter the budget,cars or anything else you try to curb expenditure on.

    The only thing that I want? Cheaper tickets. Donington is only minutes away from me, and I’d love to go, but not for £100+ for the weekend. My only hope is my employers (Toyota) have reduced rates for us.

    But as i said, this whole aero package and limitation thing might just help F1. IF it makes for better races, and more overtaking, then we will forgive and forget ( but I doubt it very much ). One thing that MUSt be addressed, is the steward enquires. With all these limitations, the driver WILL take risks, and WILL push his luck. So all the crap we have seen in the past, will have to change. Bring in an ex-driver who know’s his stuff and all will be good/better.

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