That picture with last years car sums it all: 2009 challengers all are ugly as… well, look at the picture and tell me with a straight face that they don’t look like an indy car :(
Haplo, I’m used to the look very much except those well known, ugly, out of proportion rear and front wings. I wish, FIA will soon realize this and will change the wing dimensions next season ;)
Actually, that comparison is my favourite picture of the new BMW, because it just made me realise that 2009 cars are actually very good looking! I’m even starting to get accostumed to the wings. The thousands of appendages on last year’s car look horrendous to me now. And the front wing is a bit big, but Williams’ is also, and I didn’t notice many complaints.
Pedro, it is not about the look instead how efficient the appendages were? With aerodynamics in picture teams did their best to gain all the advantages they can, now FIA is taking aerodynamics out of the equation to encourage closer racing.
We’ll all get used to the looks when the car produces the maximum with the imposed regulations for the year. But, the regulations should also give certain technical freedom, otherwise what is there for the teams to do? nothing but designing the car with the FIA specifications :) and just look for a better driver to move forward.
That 2009/2008 picture I thought showed just how beautiful the new cars are (including the tall rear wing, and the front wing looks cleaner even though it is longer). The 2008 car looks pig ugly next to the new, it’s like my kid has been ripping it apart but leaving bits hanging off.
I love this new breed of cars, back to the clean lines of old with some seriously beautiful sculpting of the sidepods. The wings don’t look nearly as bad as expected, and if they improve the racing I’m all for them.
The car looks good, but on a closer look… it seems BMW has also chosen to have that one-sided camera mount on the engine cover. There is something technical involved in it… BMW also has the protruding exhaust, but not as much as the Ferraris ;)
Phew! They managed to do a good one, actually! Just except the ugly front wing, but on the other hand Willy Rampf claims this front wing is the next greatest thing after the internal combustion engines … so let’s see :-)
Also have a closer look to the overhead and side shots – that front wing has some quite interesting flaps behind ;-) ya, it looks 100% Albert2 designed (read: 0 aesthetics), but seems to really have some smart ideas below the surface ;-)
Damn looks amazing..!
Notice the exhaust outlet is visible.. Similar to Ferrari..
All the other F1 cars (the Renault, Williams, McLaren and Toyota) – shows that their exhausts have all been mounted in-board.
@mani (09:31)… masses of aerodynamic grip (appendages) and little mechanical grip (grooved tyres) really hurts overtaking to the point where it is nearly impossible to stay close enough to make that move under braking (which is a seriously short zone at the end of the straight). We need badly to reduce aerodynamic (remove all appendages) and increase mechanical (slicks) grip so they can follow close again like in the good old days before refueling (glad that’s gone next year as well).
I agree aerodynamics prevented the cars from following each other closely, but my point was just to say all that matters to the teams is to gain those last few tenths of a second over their rivals and not the looks… so, in spite of being ugly they have chosen to have those appendages in the past years.
I’ve always been a big fan of simple designs, but F109 looks a bit underdeveloped compared to let’s say McL. I mean being a dedicated BMW fan I’d be very glad to see the shovels on the sides of the front wing doing their job better than MP4/24’s nicely curved equivalents, but frankly I doubt that’s the case… I’m not saying I don’t like it though, especially the side view is great, a bit like Kubica if you know what I mean. Hope it’s gonna be as fast as it looks to be.
Keith: What’s the story with the exhaust on the F60 (and apparently on F1.09 too)? Is the rumour true that the pipes should all be covered by the car’s body? What do the regulations say about it?
I hope the front wing isn’t the next big thing, because if it is that good performance wise others will start copying it, and it isn’t the best looking of the ones we have seen so far.
It would be good if all the different designs gave simliar levels of performance so teams aren’t tempted to copy other team’s cars. I prefer it when there is more to tell the cars apart other than the livery.
Regarding the BMW livery, to me it has always seemed a bit plain. I don’t dislike it, but I don’t like it either.
I think this is gorgeous – every season I become a little bit more of a BMW fan – if they actually have made this fast and at at forefront of the field then I think I’m going to become an outright BMW fan. They’d be legends!
Its interesting to read the reactions of people here since most people like it but hated the interim car. Yet I agree with Sumedh – it’s hardly changed! And it does seem quite simple: no sneaky bargeboards, turning vanes and its not as tightly packaged at the rear as, say, the Ferrari or Williams.
The only things to note are that its the 2nd two-element front flap wing and that the nose is quite wide like Williams and Renault.
Yep another new helmet design there – and he’s gone in the opposite direction to Alonso in having one that will really stand out in the cockpit. I quite like Heidfeld’s new style actually.
My feeling is that the pieces on the show car aren’t going to be raced. Often, the teams just put on a basic wing, aero configuration for the show car so the team doesn’t give away their design too early. I can’t see why Rampf is so excited about the new front wing, it looks very plain. I agree with everyone that out all of the cars displayed so far, the McLaren looks the most developed by far. Personally, I like the livery of BMWs, the pearl blue with white is simple and elegant. As an avid BMW Sauber fan, I hope that this car can actually take them to a title, at least allow them to contend for one.
I totally agree that we needed more wheel to wheel racing, and overtaking was near impossible and all that. But F1 is the pinnacle, the top of the line, and the form of the cars has to be determined by their function, and last years cars were the culmination of 50 years of development in many areas. They just cut aero off just like that! And we ended with slicker looking cars, but also underdeveloped, plain, dull, and boring ones. They really look like any other lower formulae.
Why couldn’t just put slicks on and get on with the thing is beyond me.
Here’s an interesting idea, lets have a vote but considering our ages, I bet most of the people that like the new cars are above 35, and the ones that like last years are below 35… or something like that.
One of the best looking car developed under new rules and introduced so far. And it seems like BMW-Sauber is well ahead of other teams in terms of testing new spec. Kubica covered 73 laps today without any technical issues on a dry track:-)
looks like last years car but a little bit different…
lets move to a new era,take of the wings (overtaking)
and put a big shark fin on the engine cover (sponsors)
wings are so old school and no good for racing
LOL! :-) Then Renault can use the NYC cab design and paint scheme :-) Extreme cost cutting that is, besides cabs put on a good show and Hollywood likes them :-)
Heidfeld tends to have better helmets than most (and like Kimi, he changes it every season) and after two boring schemes, this one goes straight up the grid. Nice lid.
ajokay
20th January 2009, 8:50
I like it, very much. They’ve certainly managed to maximise front wing coverage though.
Along with the williams, a very siple, clean shape that looks as if it’ll be fast.
Also has the least curvy and radical of the sidepod shapes we’ve seen so far.
chris
9th February 2009, 17:05
is it me, or do all the teams seem to be going back to the 1990s style aero?
Gusf1
26th March 2009, 19:05
Yes, 1990´s style! I like most the 2008 designs.
K.R
20th January 2009, 8:51
some Videos :
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg-3DxNNEKs
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u1s4zZUfn3M
Eddie Irvine
20th January 2009, 8:53
it’s ugly, i’m sorry but I don’t like it, actually I can hardly remember a good-looking BMW
DG
20th January 2009, 8:54
I’m still not sure about the general rear wing specification, it looks as if it will fall off once the cars get up to speed…….
Adrian
20th January 2009, 9:03
What a bulky front wing….
K.R
20th January 2009, 9:03
p.s: Isn’t this BMW illegal because they have the same excaustpipes as Ferrari has, they need to be covered, is it?
Haplo
20th January 2009, 9:04
That picture with last years car sums it all: 2009 challengers all are ugly as… well, look at the picture and tell me with a straight face that they don’t look like an indy car :(
mani
20th January 2009, 9:13
Haplo, I’m used to the look very much except those well known, ugly, out of proportion rear and front wings. I wish, FIA will soon realize this and will change the wing dimensions next season ;)
Pedro Andrade
20th January 2009, 9:19
Actually, that comparison is my favourite picture of the new BMW, because it just made me realise that 2009 cars are actually very good looking! I’m even starting to get accostumed to the wings. The thousands of appendages on last year’s car look horrendous to me now. And the front wing is a bit big, but Williams’ is also, and I didn’t notice many complaints.
I quite like this car!
mani
20th January 2009, 9:31
Pedro, it is not about the look instead how efficient the appendages were? With aerodynamics in picture teams did their best to gain all the advantages they can, now FIA is taking aerodynamics out of the equation to encourage closer racing.
We’ll all get used to the looks when the car produces the maximum with the imposed regulations for the year. But, the regulations should also give certain technical freedom, otherwise what is there for the teams to do? nothing but designing the car with the FIA specifications :) and just look for a better driver to move forward.
Dougie
20th January 2009, 10:52
@haplo… You are joking!?! Yeah??
That 2009/2008 picture I thought showed just how beautiful the new cars are (including the tall rear wing, and the front wing looks cleaner even though it is longer). The 2008 car looks pig ugly next to the new, it’s like my kid has been ripping it apart but leaving bits hanging off.
I love this new breed of cars, back to the clean lines of old with some seriously beautiful sculpting of the sidepods. The wings don’t look nearly as bad as expected, and if they improve the racing I’m all for them.
Gusf1
26th March 2009, 19:03
Damn right!!
mani
20th January 2009, 9:09
The car looks good, but on a closer look… it seems BMW has also chosen to have that one-sided camera mount on the engine cover. There is something technical involved in it… BMW also has the protruding exhaust, but not as much as the Ferraris ;)
Tom
20th January 2009, 9:10
Maybe it’s a trick of the light, but the front wing flaps look way bigger than the other cars – is that the part the driver can adjust?
A no-nonsense car, you can bet it’ll be fast. A lot of sponsors’ logos have gone missing from last year’s car haven’t they?
SamS
20th January 2009, 9:19
is it me or does it just look a little bit dull….
Kester
20th January 2009, 9:25
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bmw_f109-6.jpg
I don’t know if it’s just me but how much better does a F1 car look without all those appendages everywhere?
ukk
20th January 2009, 10:18
Phew! They managed to do a good one, actually! Just except the ugly front wing, but on the other hand Willy Rampf claims this front wing is the next greatest thing after the internal combustion engines … so let’s see :-)
Chaz
20th January 2009, 10:22
Not bad at all. That back wing looks deceptively low on some photos…
ukk
20th January 2009, 10:25
Also have a closer look to the overhead and side shots – that front wing has some quite interesting flaps behind ;-) ya, it looks 100% Albert2 designed (read: 0 aesthetics), but seems to really have some smart ideas below the surface ;-)
Jitman
20th January 2009, 10:47
Damn looks amazing..!
Notice the exhaust outlet is visible.. Similar to Ferrari..
All the other F1 cars (the Renault, Williams, McLaren and Toyota) – shows that their exhausts have all been mounted in-board.
Gheen
21st January 2009, 1:23
I’m completely with you: it looks amazing!
Dougie
20th January 2009, 11:00
@mani (09:31)… masses of aerodynamic grip (appendages) and little mechanical grip (grooved tyres) really hurts overtaking to the point where it is nearly impossible to stay close enough to make that move under braking (which is a seriously short zone at the end of the straight). We need badly to reduce aerodynamic (remove all appendages) and increase mechanical (slicks) grip so they can follow close again like in the good old days before refueling (glad that’s gone next year as well).
mani
20th January 2009, 13:50
I agree aerodynamics prevented the cars from following each other closely, but my point was just to say all that matters to the teams is to gain those last few tenths of a second over their rivals and not the looks… so, in spite of being ugly they have chosen to have those appendages in the past years.
sumedh
20th January 2009, 11:16
Till last week; I thought that the BMW livery was the worst of all.
But now Renault have unveiled their fruit-salad R29 ! !
the F1.09 isn’t much different than the interim car; I feel. But seems less developed than Mclaren’s car.
Browny
20th January 2009, 11:36
That has to be by far the most boring livery in F1- at least Toyota changes their livery a little bit each year, and the red adds a bit of colour.
Plus, the front wing is as square as a box. It looks rubbish… in my opinion
Stevo
20th January 2009, 11:42
It doesn’t seem to have as many sponsors as the 08 car, are they missing anything other than Credit Suisse?
ajokay
20th January 2009, 11:54
Intel seems to have gone missing too.
Michel S.
20th January 2009, 12:46
@ajokay:
Intel is still there — see the rear wings. Dell, on the other hand, is missing.
Becken
20th January 2009, 12:54
I think Dell has gone too and Intel has less insertions in the car than last year!
ajokay
20th January 2009, 13:37
Ahh yes, I was looking more towards the front of the car, so I missed the Intel on the back wing. Definately less Intel than last year though.
sajonaraman
20th January 2009, 13:16
I’ve always been a big fan of simple designs, but F109 looks a bit underdeveloped compared to let’s say McL. I mean being a dedicated BMW fan I’d be very glad to see the shovels on the sides of the front wing doing their job better than MP4/24’s nicely curved equivalents, but frankly I doubt that’s the case… I’m not saying I don’t like it though, especially the side view is great, a bit like Kubica if you know what I mean. Hope it’s gonna be as fast as it looks to be.
Keith: What’s the story with the exhaust on the F60 (and apparently on F1.09 too)? Is the rumour true that the pipes should all be covered by the car’s body? What do the regulations say about it?
the limit
20th January 2009, 13:45
This car reminds me very much of the 2001 era BMW Williams, paint scheme and all. A very, very good looking car. Far better than the Renault.
Gheen
21st January 2009, 1:24
Yes!
PJA
20th January 2009, 14:10
I hope the front wing isn’t the next big thing, because if it is that good performance wise others will start copying it, and it isn’t the best looking of the ones we have seen so far.
It would be good if all the different designs gave simliar levels of performance so teams aren’t tempted to copy other team’s cars. I prefer it when there is more to tell the cars apart other than the livery.
Regarding the BMW livery, to me it has always seemed a bit plain. I don’t dislike it, but I don’t like it either.
John H
20th January 2009, 14:13
I think we’re going to see them get through at least 100 of those front wings.
Even if they’re fast, they’ll just get snapped off at the start or over a kerb.
Kevin M
20th January 2009, 15:10
The cost cutting seems to have really hit them; it appears they’ve used a guardrail as the outer elements of the front wing.
sainaa
20th January 2009, 15:44
This is the best looking so far.
Gheen
21st January 2009, 1:26
I agree. I like the livery and the nose design, and when viewed at an angle, like on those pics, it looks great!
GR
20th January 2009, 15:54
I think this is gorgeous – every season I become a little bit more of a BMW fan – if they actually have made this fast and at at forefront of the field then I think I’m going to become an outright BMW fan. They’d be legends!
Seedy001
20th January 2009, 15:55
Its interesting to read the reactions of people here since most people like it but hated the interim car. Yet I agree with Sumedh – it’s hardly changed! And it does seem quite simple: no sneaky bargeboards, turning vanes and its not as tightly packaged at the rear as, say, the Ferrari or Williams.
The only things to note are that its the 2nd two-element front flap wing and that the nose is quite wide like Williams and Renault.
I guess they might be holding quite a bit back…
ajokay
20th January 2009, 17:11
On a side note, it seems as if Quick Nick has been at his helmet with a green felt-tip.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 20:45
Yep another new helmet design there – and he’s gone in the opposite direction to Alonso in having one that will really stand out in the cockpit. I quite like Heidfeld’s new style actually.
Kubica
20th January 2009, 17:30
My feeling is that the pieces on the show car aren’t going to be raced. Often, the teams just put on a basic wing, aero configuration for the show car so the team doesn’t give away their design too early. I can’t see why Rampf is so excited about the new front wing, it looks very plain. I agree with everyone that out all of the cars displayed so far, the McLaren looks the most developed by far. Personally, I like the livery of BMWs, the pearl blue with white is simple and elegant. As an avid BMW Sauber fan, I hope that this car can actually take them to a title, at least allow them to contend for one.
Haplo
20th January 2009, 17:38
Oh you’re serious! Amazing!
I totally agree that we needed more wheel to wheel racing, and overtaking was near impossible and all that. But F1 is the pinnacle, the top of the line, and the form of the cars has to be determined by their function, and last years cars were the culmination of 50 years of development in many areas. They just cut aero off just like that! And we ended with slicker looking cars, but also underdeveloped, plain, dull, and boring ones. They really look like any other lower formulae.
Why couldn’t just put slicks on and get on with the thing is beyond me.
Here’s an interesting idea, lets have a vote but considering our ages, I bet most of the people that like the new cars are above 35, and the ones that like last years are below 35… or something like that.
Gheen
21st January 2009, 1:27
Lol. I think so too.
Nefastis
20th January 2009, 19:00
One of the best looking car developed under new rules and introduced so far. And it seems like BMW-Sauber is well ahead of other teams in terms of testing new spec. Kubica covered 73 laps today without any technical issues on a dry track:-)
Rob ijbema
20th January 2009, 19:47
yawn…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 19:54
Not going to be painting this one, then?
Rob ijbema
20th January 2009, 19:53
looks like last years car but a little bit different…
lets move to a new era,take of the wings (overtaking)
and put a big shark fin on the engine cover (sponsors)
wings are so old school and no good for racing
ukk
21st January 2009, 8:28
LOL! :-) Then Renault can use the NYC cab design and paint scheme :-) Extreme cost cutting that is, besides cabs put on a good show and Hollywood likes them :-)
Rob ijbema
20th January 2009, 19:54
now i’m excited!!
Paul
20th January 2009, 20:43
Heidfeld tends to have better helmets than most (and like Kimi, he changes it every season) and after two boring schemes, this one goes straight up the grid. Nice lid.
staggaington
21st January 2009, 12:40
i think it can do worlds of good if they just made the front wing more curvy and not as bulky!
Used trucks
10th February 2009, 6:19
Red Bull RB5 – 2009 F1 car is looking much better then this model …
not much difference in the looks as from last years model