Half of the 2009 F1 grid has now been launched providing us with some insight into the different design directions taken by likely front-runners of 2009.
Here’s how the freshly-launched Renault R29 and Williams FW31 compare to the Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota that appeared last week.
Front views
It seems Toyota’s high, narrow nose it a bit of a departure from what the rest of the field are practising. Renault’s blocky front nose reminds me of the 1995 Benetton – and that wasn’t short on success.
Williams, like Ferrari, has extra flaps inside of the front wing endplates, though the FW31’s are squarer than the F60’s.
Side-by-side
The R29 is the first 2009 car to appear with a ‘shark fin’ wing on the engine cover. Renault were one of the first to adopt these devices last year after Red Bull. However as there’s no studio side-on picture of the R29 it isn’t shown above (here’s a good picture of the R29 in profile).
Williams on the other hand has a far smaller engine cover. There’s probably more to it than them not having as many sponsors as their rivals.
Williams also has an aggressive interpretation of the rules governing wings and flip-ups in front of sidepods, although the dark colour of the interim livery makes it hard to see. Here’s an enhanced version:
Top-down view
Williams also haven’t produced studio pictures of the FW31 but they have released some detailed technical drawings (find them all here). I’ve used the top-down image below, although its usefulness for making comparisons is limited by it being a flat image rather than a photograph of a three-dimensional car.
Over to you
If you want to manipulate these images to conduct your own comparisons you can find the original Photoshop files on the F1Fanatic drop.io.
Could you do a better job with the 2009 F1 car liveries? Send your designs in here.
MacademiaNut
19th January 2009, 21:06
The front wing of the Williams appears to be visibly higher than the rest.
It is also pretty interesting to note that Renault also has a nice body work that covers the exhaust, similar to McLaren.
gabal
19th January 2009, 21:38
It could be that Ferrari with their open exhaust is in violation of technical regulations and all teams would have to have covered exhaust.
David - BR
19th January 2009, 21:23
Aesthetically the Ferrari looks good apart from the rear (and the stupid barcode). But the McLaren is exceptional, I think, the body-line one continuous flat sine-curve from the downward slanting cut-away portion of the rear endplate, rising up to the cockpit and dipping again to the nose. Looks fast, anyhow.
Arnet
19th January 2009, 21:53
Hey, Keith, I am unable to click through to larger photos. Is it on my side, or is it a site issue? Keep up the great work!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
19th January 2009, 22:13
Works fine at my end, mate, what browser you using?
Chaz
19th January 2009, 22:41
Mmm! Does the Williams back wing comply with the new regulations…
Arnet
19th January 2009, 22:41
Firefox. I get a grey box with: “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.” On the top. Will attempt a restart.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
19th January 2009, 22:52
Could you post the link you’re trying to reach please?
Arnet
19th January 2009, 23:52
Restart didn’t work.
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16402
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16401
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16400
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16403
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16399
Hollus
19th January 2009, 23:54
I also have the problem with the larger pictures and I am also using firefox.
If I click on pic of the williams “bargeboards” it goes to this link
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16403
but there is no pic.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 0:25
That is odd – I just tried the link and it worked for me. Perhaps try doing a hard refresh (Ctrl-F5), if that doesn’t work I’ll have a look at the cache and redirects.
ajokay
20th January 2009, 17:16
I have the same issue. Firefox 3.0.5, XP SP2
Jitman
20th January 2009, 0:13
There have been rumours on other websites that the Ferrari have an illegal design for the back (as they exposed their exhausts outlets).
Is this true..? Could we have a comparison between the back of all the F1 cars launched. Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.
Love this site..!
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090119145200.shtml
Hollus
20th January 2009, 0:31
I just tried it again, CTRL+F5 didn’t do the trick either.
For the sake of testing I tried it in explorer with the same result, no picture and “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.” in its place. Can it be some geographic issue? I am writing from Canada.
Alejandro
20th January 2009, 3:47
Same here FF and IE ““Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.”” from Costa Rica
mani
20th January 2009, 3:59
Hi Keith, I face this problem too, while I try to open the very first pic of this post! Find the link below,
https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=16402
And, could you please write an article about the Ferrari exhaust system? f1-live claims it illegal, but why? (refer the link provided by Jitman)
Polak
20th January 2009, 5:45
I really like the Williams from an aesthetic point of view. The Ferrari and McLaren are neck and neck, but I don’t like the silver/red livery of the Mc. Renault and Toyota have a blocky looking front. I hope the BMW won’t turn out like that as well. It looked pretty bad in initial testing but that was just a 09 aero spec car.
Keep them comming
Arnet
20th January 2009, 5:58
I’m pitching in from Canada too, although I can’t see how that might bean issue.
anirudh
20th January 2009, 6:41
Williams looks like batmobile !
ukk
20th January 2009, 7:48
the Williams seems to be generating most drag from the current cars – largest radiator openings, bulkiest front suspension and brake cooling … hope I’m wrong
oricon
20th January 2009, 8:50
Keith
same “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.” here.
from Malaysia, using Google Chrome..
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 9:20
Is this happening on other articles as well, or just this one?
Matt Fallon
20th January 2009, 10:00
Happening to me too i’m afraid Keith.
I’m in England, and have IE7
sumedh
20th January 2009, 11:10
Same problem at Chennai, India as well. For all pictures
Curiously; the link says “https://www.racefans.net/?attachment_id=164xx”.
Generally; the browser address reads: “https://www.racefans.net/2009/01/20/bmw-f109-unveiled-pictures-2009-f1-car-launches/bmw_f109-7/” or something like that. Never is the word “attachment” mentioned.
Mussolini's pet cat
20th January 2009, 10:07
Let’s hope that with the news that RBS have lost so much money recently that they dont decide to pull out of Williams. Doubt they’d survive if that happens..
Jitman
20th January 2009, 10:41
Its only in this article Keith
Alejandro
20th January 2009, 15:23
Only this article
Alejandro
20th January 2009, 15:30
I should add I’ve had other issues with the site. Last weekend I would frequently get something like ‘500 internal server error’ when trying to access any of the pages. It went away but now it just came back when trying to edit my last comment
Alex-Ctba
20th January 2009, 15:31
I think this is not a geographic issue. Same problem.I’m from Brazil…Anyway, great article!!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 16:50
Sorry about the problems guys – I will try to get them fixed, but I’m not very technical so if anyone has any thoughts do let me know. You can always get in touch via the contact form or Facebook if you prefer.
Mario
20th January 2009, 17:36
Hello to all F1 fanatics :)
Please use following links for large pictures:
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/renaultr29_williamsfw31_front.jpg
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/f60_tf109_r29_fw31_front-470×308.jpg
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/f60_tf109_mp424_fw31_side_2.jpg
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/f60_tf109_fw13_mp424_top.jpg
Nirupam
20th January 2009, 19:25
Keith,
I am in Kolkata/India and having the same problem. Why dont you put the enlarged pics in different folder rather than embedding them as attachment? I think that should work fine.
sumedh
20th January 2009, 19:30
I second Nirupam. Making the pictures an attachment is causing problem.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th January 2009, 19:56
That would massively increase the time it takes to put stuff online. I think this is a redirection problem or something similar.
chunter
20th January 2009, 19:56
Good comparisons; the Williams looks like it has something…
yosu
20th January 2009, 21:38
The Williams is the best looking.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
21st January 2009, 0:10
For anyone having trouble viewing some images, Maiesky sent me an email to suggest this solution. Please let me know if it helps:
Arnet
21st January 2009, 1:51
That works fine, except the second link doesn’t click through to hi-res. Awesome pictures, and I have to say the Ferrari looks downright sexy from above…..
Maiesky
21st January 2009, 10:21
Right, for second link I did a mistake, please use https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/f60_tf109_r29_fw31_front.jpg
Stealthman
21st January 2009, 13:09
The Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are easily the best-looking out of the cars unveiled so far. :D
reon
9th March 2009, 21:52
renault in testing only were it was last year
look of car to me more out the 80s,does not look like
2009 f1 car ,how goes better than it looks i don’t think it will.i think renault gone backward agin
the car just don’t look much , hmm
Swrxgdwp
8th May 2009, 11:36
jKGnkb comment5 ,