The nose looks similar but according to Noble they followed suit with the other teams this year in raising the bulkhead and they got the smooth looking nose back by using the new "vanity panel." Analysis: Why evolution was no option for McLaren (AutoSport.com)
The new Ferrari looks interesting. The nose has to have the plate on it. The front wing has some interesting vents. The outside edges of the floor in the center of the car are curled up to pull in the air flow. It has the fins on the lower inside of the front wheels and ductless brakes. They have really refined the exhaust shape to curl the flow down. It would be interesting to see the back end.
Video - has some back end shots but you'll have to pause it right quick to catch them. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ZQaa1ENoM&feature=player_embedded]Ferrari F138 photoshoot video - YouTube[/ame]
Force India also unveiled their car today, but not their second driver yet. Sahara Force India - News - Sahara Force India unveils the VJM06 at Silverstone
Jump to 5:30 for the car. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaghots8YMw]Presentation of the Sauber C32-Ferrari - Sauber F1 Team - YouTube[/ame]
Wow, I find it hard to believe that RIM (Blackberry) has the $$$ to be an F1 sponsor these days, when it's fighting for it's corporate life..... As to the cars, they look like a slightly more convoluted version of last year's car, so till they hit the track, it's difficult to understand what's changed. About the only clear outward change is on those who have adapted the beauty panel on the nose. And I have to say, it does look better! I thought that since MBZ did so little developemnt work on their cars during last season (or at least that's how it looked!) that they would have some sort of radical new........something...... that would vault them to the front of the grid. I'm not seeing anything radical yet.... When do they hit the track for the first time before the season starts? Isn't there usually a test in Valencia or somewhere before the season starts?
Don't know why it took me so long to notice the big change in color on the Sauber. Peter Sauber was intent on sticking with his favorite white and blue (mostly white) livery but I guess now he's stepped down things can change a bit. Also notice they've taken a different approach with the new nose rule. It's shaped along the top like the broken nose of last season but with sides that follow the contour of the modesty panel so it's smooth in profile. More interesting though is the 15cm (I think that's what I read) lateral shrinkage on each side pod to improve aero. I hope they didn't cram things together so tightly in there that they'll have cooling issues like Williams did when the did the same to the rear end of their car.
I don't know if non-subscribers will have access to this article but I'll definitely be looking for it. F1 in The New Yorker (MotorSportMagazine.com)
This is going to be a good season. I've been a Red Bull Racing fan for a long time. Hopefully Vettel does as good as last season and Webber wins more races. I'm anxious to hear some of Kimi's humor.
Jerez test day 1 is done. The word of the day on day 1 is reliability and as far as I know 3 cars succumbed to teething issues sufficient to stop them on track. Button's McLaren stopped due to a fuel pump issue, the Marussia stopped for reasons unknown to me and Rosberg had to stop quick because the back end of his car was on fire (!), reportedly due to a wiring loom issue.