2012 Car Launches & Pictures

[phil1993]

Mercedes - 21st February; had it confirmed

[iceman1]

[donald29]

The Force India is a good looking car. Shame about the bump nose, but from there back it looks really nice. Lovely side-pods.

The front of the Ferrari looks like it's made from Lego. Bulky.

[phil1993]

http://www.f1zone.net/news/gallery/2012 ... dia-vjm05/

We have updated the gallery with shots from all car launches so far

[blizzard]

What's up with these ugly nose cones this year?

My god they look awful!

I heard that they were coming this year, but why?

Can anybody answer this question?

Thanks in advance

[phil1993]

I believe it is because the front has to be no higher than 55cm but then the bit above (getting technical here) has to be minimum of 62.5cm. Everyone is working out why McLaren looks so different. Go on Scarbs's blog, he'll make sense.

[Omegablue]

Graceful as a garbage!

And if it wins, it will be winning garbage.

But honestly, as a Ferrari fan, I'm rather shocked. The entire car is neat and curvy, and then the nose cone is horribly blocky.

[Suomileijona]

The cars are so ugly! Only McLaren looks good. I really hope that the Lotus E20 won't be among those ugly ones!!

Many thanks for ugly pictures anyway.

[phil1993]

@byronf1: Word here is that exhaust gases and diffusers won't be a thing of the past. Prepare for controversy at Melbourne time.

@Jamesallenonf1: #f1 There are so many legality question marks around 2012 F1 cars apparently, that FIA's Charlie Whiting is going to attend Jerez test...

[frubbs]

can we expect "all or nothing" for McLaren this season, based on its unique nose?
i mean, the performance must be diferent between the bump nose and the smooth one.

[iceman1]

What's up with these ugly nose cones this year?

My god they look awful!

I heard that they were coming this year, but why?

Can anybody answer this question?

Thanks in advance

F1.com did a technical article explaining the new nose regulations:

http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2012/0/929.html

[KevC]

I believe it is because the front has to be no higher than 55cm but then the bit above (getting technical here) has to be minimum of 62.5cm. Everyone is working out why McLaren looks so different. Go on Scarbs's blog, he'll make sense.

Yep and that transition in height is only covered by a 15cm window hence the big ugly steps.

I guess there is also a trade off between air over and under the car. McLaren have chosen a smoother nose but less air under the car. be interesting to see who is right. I guess we'll know when Adrian Newey shows his hand

[KevC]

Gary Anderson on the BBC thinks McLaren have chosen the wrong nose.

[F1Fan88]

McLaren have fixed the exhaust in the lowest most rearwards position possible, the tail pipe then pointing steeply upwards and inwards. From the limited view it would appear to direct the exhaust plume towards the outer span of the rear wing.

[MavF1]

McLaren have fixed the exhaust in the lowest most rearwards position possible, the tail pipe then pointing steeply upwards and inwards. From the limited view it would appear to direct the exhaust plume towards the outer span of the rear wing.

Ferrari seems to direct the gases someway beneath the brake duct.

What I like about the new cars so far is that although the regulation changes didn't seem to be big, we've seen some very differrent design philosophies from two of the top teams already.