Scirocco Central

Let's stick it all in one place this year I think

First car pic is out. The Caterham CT-01 has been leaked. Not sure about the duck bill nose but I think they'll all be like that after a change to the nose height rules this year. More pics as I get them. Most of the teams will launch in the next 10 days or so.

Pirelli have also revised their colours a little. I think the band round the tyre is a bit thicker too for easier identification.

Luca has also said that this years Ferrari is ugly!? So again all cars will look a bit odd again.....so they can get round the rules no doubt

My god. F1 cars are getting uglier. The '08 Mclaren / RB was the nicest for me.

McLaren have shown their car today







interesting exhaust outlets

they look awful except the Mclaren. Wonder who has went the right way this time? Wonder how they know to all design the horrid front end? Is it the computers who actully design it around what is fed in ie the rules?

Nah new rules.

The nose has to be something like 55cm off the ground and the end of the cockpit a minimum of 62.5 and the change in height has to take place over 15cm (or something like that) so they all have this big step. McLaren is different I think because their cockpit sits higher than everyone elses.

They're all fugly other than the Macca. Be interesting to see how Adrian Newy sees the shape of the new Red Bull.

Thick and fast today. Sauber, RBR and Toro Rosso later.

Interesting little vent in the nose step. What's Newey up to this time.... )

Well the Macca wins the prize for looks, let's see how fast they are tomorrow.

so I wonder if Mclaren have got it wrong....watching the live tests on the bbc website just now.......what the heck are Merc up to with not bringing their new car but still using last years in the test???!!!

I`m I missing something as to why Mercedes is using last years car in testing?

There's two schools of thought.

One is that the earlier they show the car, the less they can change before the start of the season. Once they turn up to the first test they've already passed the crash tests and so the basic dimensions are set. But if they wait then they have longer to see what other people have done an put an extra 2 weeks in to development. They can use the old car to evaluate the new tyre compounds and some internal components.

As for McLaren, their car has had a lower tub than everyone elses for a year or two now so their maximum height is already less than that allowed so they don't need a step in the nose. Arguably they're already ahead of the game.