The first pictures of the Caterham CT01 have appeared ahead of its official publication tomorrow.
Caterham issued an official image of the new car after pictures of it which were published in a magazine were leaked online.
The CT01 features a distinctive stepped nose, a consequence of new rules aimed at lowering the noses of the cars.
More information on the 2012 F1 season
2012 F1 cars
Browse all 2012 F1 cars articles
Luke
25th January 2012, 10:55
Yikes!! Thats one odd looking nose!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:06
Argh, my eyes! The goggles do nothing!
Slr (@slr)
25th January 2012, 11:35
Haha :)
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:41
See, there’s a Simpsons quote for every situation. It’s pretty much all you need in life, especially if you work at an IT desk.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th January 2012, 14:23
couldn’t agree more!
Osvaldas31 (@osvaldas31)
25th January 2012, 11:37
It’s the ugliest F1 car nose, I’ve ever seen. Will see, if others can beat Caterham in this category.
Bleeps_and_Tweaks (@bleeps_and_tweaks)
25th January 2012, 12:36
It’s not exactly a looker thats for sure. But to be honest I couldn’t care less, I just hope its quick. Caterham are easily my favourite new team, I think they’ve done a great job so far starting from scratch.
It will be interesting to see if Mclaren, Ferrari, RBR are able to implement the new regulations without having to adopt such a radicle step on the nose. Other F1 forums have been debating whether the MP4-26 and F150 would almost meet the 2012 nose specs already, so hopefully they won’t have to change too much.
Matt Pepprell
25th January 2012, 23:22
Even more so that the Williams walrus nose? (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Montoya_2004_Canada.jpg)
matt88 (@matt88)
26th January 2012, 9:50
that walrus nose was quite cool, this is hideous! Reminds me of an old Fiat Multipla…
http://img.automobile.de/modellbilder/Fiat-Multipla-28775_haessliche_autos_kw52-2010_2.jpg
PJ (@)
25th January 2012, 12:11
It looks like it was beaten in with a hammer.
robk23 (@robk23)
25th January 2012, 15:46
It looks more like Johnny Vegas sat down on the nose!
TY
26th January 2012, 2:34
i think a nose job is in order!
ajokay (@)
25th January 2012, 12:13
I think I’ve only ever seen one F1 nose that was uglier.
John H (@john-h)
25th January 2012, 12:41
Haha! Classic.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 12:41
@ajokay I knew it was going to be Prost!
peru
25th January 2012, 18:47
keith, have you posted the car’s unveil dates yet?
Mike (@mike)
25th January 2012, 23:11
He did recently in this article.
Some are still unknown.
peru
25th January 2012, 15:33
that was a good one, i was expecting it, but very good nevertheless.
You have to agree that that was one of the fastest as well.
drmouse (@drmouse)
25th January 2012, 15:41
LOL @ Prost comparrison.
It is one FUGLY nose. Almost as bad as mine…
PT (@pt)
25th January 2012, 18:10
A World Championship-winning nose too, unlike what Caterham is likely to be!
Pato Milan
25th January 2012, 15:49
My eyes…
When they first said the front noses were going to be lower in 2012 I expected/wanted something like this
Why can’t they have them even lower and have a smooth decrease in height instead of a sudden 7.5cm drop?
vjanik
25th January 2012, 16:11
exactly.
Looking at the new CT01 i dont think the new regulations have solved the safety issue at all. I was expecting something like the Brawn nose. Something that would prevent the cars from launching (webber in valencia) or hitting the driver in the head with a sideways collision.
I hope this is a one off, and the rest of the teams come up with something more natural.
montreal95 (@montreal95)
25th January 2012, 23:49
But it did solve the safety issue. The nose is now lower than the cockpit sides.
and even a Brawn type nose wouldn’t prevent the car from taking off.
PT (@pt)
25th January 2012, 18:15
@Pato Milan
I wanted something like that too, but after reading Scarabs interpretation I was expecting something like. The days of good looking F1 cars are fast disappearing, friend. I think even a street luge looks better than this!
graham228221 (@graham228221)
25th January 2012, 19:15
that Mclaren looks like a sad elephant.
But that Caterham nose…. it’s just so wrong :/
Pato Milan
25th January 2012, 19:41
For me a good looking F1 car would have a low thin nose, the wing lengths and height from before 2009 with no winglets on the body, no barge boards, no turning vanes, no nonsense things on the wheels (covers or Ferrari’s rims), overall a lower height. Imagine, an F1 car with the current length and proportionate front and rear wings, plain body and low like in the old days…
Dreaming is always nice….
PT (@pt)
25th January 2012, 20:27
…and also wide with fat rear tyres.
Chrizz
25th January 2012, 18:41
Well,… if all F1 noses are going to look like this, I think I am only going to watch the Izod Indycars season this year!
Chrizz
25th January 2012, 18:48
No, just kidding, though the nose of this Caterham CT01 is genuinely ugly. Now that I’ve seen this car, I’d bet this team won’t improve on last season’s championship position.
Concerning the Indycars: their new Dallara DW12 is seriously good-looking. It throws away that box-like mid/rear end shape. Don’t care whether they’ll be slower than the old car. I think they’ll get quicker over time.
DVC (@dvc)
25th January 2012, 21:23
To quote Martin Brundle, “They all look good in the Winner’s circle.”
Design the fastest car and aesthetics be damned.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
26th January 2012, 0:04
Agreed on The DW12. I really like it! Especially from the front. Indycar will hopefully take a step forward this year.
I like all of this new Caterham, except that bloody nose. It’s worse than Prost, and way worse than the old Walrus nose BMW, I actually kind of liked that one.
UKFan (@)
25th January 2012, 20:54
I dont remember his name but a williams engineer said that the cars would look odd if FIA continued with the 50cm nose rule.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
25th January 2012, 21:35
How will this sell Caterham cars? Guess I’ll stick with my people mover…
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii)
26th January 2012, 21:11
Hmmm,some teams are really sticking their noses into it!!! *vomits*
ajokay (@)
25th January 2012, 10:55
And people are saying the new IndyCar chassis looks odd.
This just looks awful.
Havergal
25th January 2012, 10:57
Indeed. What’s the old saying about if it looks fast it is? That doesn’t look fast.
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
25th January 2012, 11:01
Remember 2009 BMW? Looked like snow plow, raced like one. Beware Caterham ;)
TimG (@timg)
25th January 2012, 12:19
It’s an old saying but it was mostly said before wind tunnels became widely used – the new saying is something like if it’s fast it’s beautiful.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 11:31
@ajokay Actually the more pictures of the new IndyCar I see on the thread the more it’s growing on me.
ajokay (@)
25th January 2012, 11:49
I like it in the first place, but even then it’s still growing on me. The haunches at the back of the sidepods… it looks like a cat primed and ready to pounce. It’s very back-heavy which makes it look even more prepared to launch itself forward in a flurry of noisy speed.
It’s a beautiful car.
This Caterham… it looks like a green and yellow sack of marbles. Lumpy.
PJ (@)
25th January 2012, 12:09
@ajokay I’m sure you hate the massive gap in the livery (sidepods) as much as I do.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th January 2012, 15:45
To be honest (and unlike the Indycar), the only thing that looks wrong is the nose, the rest of the car is quite OK
The rear view looks fine!.
PT (@pt)
25th January 2012, 18:24
The Dallara IndyCar DW12 chassis looks much better than this, and the nose, which is the most prominent part of an F1 car, is balanced and proportionate. This one looks more like this crocodile –
PT (@pt)
25th January 2012, 18:26
oops, the link didn’t come. Here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gavialis_gangeticus.jpg
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 10:56
Oh, look. It’s vomit-green. Coincidence?
TommyB (@tommyb89)
25th January 2012, 10:57
Ewwwwwww!
DGB123 (@dgb123)
25th January 2012, 10:57
I think I just got sick in my mouth!!!!
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
25th January 2012, 10:57
Mutated whale from Mars. And looks like render (again).
Tom Haxley (@)
25th January 2012, 11:04
Definetly a render, look at the tyres
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
25th January 2012, 10:58
on second thoughts, i kinda like it.. it’s distinctive
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th January 2012, 12:11
But all of them will probably look like this! :P
Actually, I think the livery exaggerates its contours a little bit. The yellow stripes on the nose end just before the bulges, which doesn’t exactly help.
For example, this drawing by Craig Scarborough shows what he expects the 2012 cars to look like, and whilst it’s not as pretty as the 2010 and 2011 cars, I don’t think it looks as ugly as the Lotus.
Having said that, we’ve only seen two angles of this car so far. It might not be that bad.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th January 2012, 12:12
OK, link didn’t work! Try this. :)
BasCB (@bascb)
25th January 2012, 12:29
Pretty much the same, save the Caterham being launched with its 2011 spec wings.
TheBrav3
25th January 2012, 17:14
If the new ferrari and mclarens have this crash structure infront of the sidepod i will be calling them the bat cars this year! http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/139897/f1-drawing-ferrari2012-inline.jpg
Mike (@mike)
25th January 2012, 23:16
@TheBrav3
As that is taking advantage of the safety rules to increase aerodynamic performance I suspect that will be looked at by the FIA.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 10:58
I have a theory about the sheer ugliness. Back when the regulations were announced, a lot of the teams complained that their cars were going to look ugly. They really just wanted the raised noses back because that would improve airflow over the spoiler, producing more downforce. This staggered nose is such an inelegant and basic design (the MP4-26 nose is a fine example of what they should be doing) that I can’t help but wonder if the teams are deliberately making ugly cars to try and get such an overwhelming reaction that the FIA relents and reverts the ruling.
John H (@john-h)
25th January 2012, 12:46
It’s a nice theory, but the whole of the cars aerodynamics is designed by how the flow is effected by the nose and the front wing. There’s no way any team will want a change to the regulations until next season, and their not going to run an inefficient car for all the races just to get the FIA to change their minds.
Personally, I have a problem with the regulatons that show a rectangular zone where no body work can be. Alll they had to do was make this zone trapezoidal, and these cars would both look alright, and also not pose a threat to the heads of other racers. This is the FIA we are talking about though.
realracer (@realracer)
25th January 2012, 12:55
Deliberately making ugly cars?
I’m sure glad your not an F1 car designer, you’d make the likes of Ferrari and McLaren go into administration.
“Oooh lets invest hundreds of millions of pounds, and put our blood sweat and tears into making an ugly car, so the FIA can let us make a nice looking one,were not here to compete, no not at all”
Sheer Stupidity on your part @PM
Solo (@solo)
25th January 2012, 19:29
The only thing sillier in this article than that nose, is this idea you just posted.
galzo33 (@galzo33)
25th January 2012, 10:59
Ugly looking car. one questioin why are the noses that low
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:03
Because the FIA wants to clamp down on high noses. They’ve been getting higher and higher for the past two years, and the FIA is concerned that in the event of a head-on collision – not unlike the Liuzzi-Schumacher crash in Abu Dhabi back in 2010 – the nose of one car could pick up on top of the other, there were would be little to stop the driver from receiving a Formula 1 car to the face. No doubt they intended that the 2012 cars would look more like last year’s McLaren, but because of the wording of the 2012 rules, only everything forward of the bulkhead (the point along the front axle) needs to be 55cm. Everything behind it can be 62.5cm, and so Caterham have clearly gone in for this split-level nose.
galzo33 (@galzo33)
25th January 2012, 11:04
ok thanks
M7
25th January 2012, 11:13
I believed it was more to do with counteracting any lift generated when a high nose hit a wheel (like webber vs kovalainen at valencia ’10) – although there were probably several factors
Scootin159
25th January 2012, 15:03
Any nose->wheel contact will involve one of the cars getting airborne – even worse if the front wheel makes contact to a rear wheel. This isn’t an issue unique to F1, but rather any form of open wheel racing (everything from your local kart races to Dan Wheldon’s crash last year).
N7 (@m77)
26th January 2012, 8:34
the nose height will accentuate the problem. that post wasn’t just my speculation, there was fact behind it – for backup, this is a quote from mike gascoyne yesterday: “They want to limit the heights of noses for the shunts when a car hits another car’s tyre and (risks) taking off.” [from bbc f1 website]
matthewf1 (@)
25th January 2012, 11:14
So do the regs allow for a slope to merge these two heights, or does there need to be an immediate change in height, like Caterham have gone for?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:22
@matthewf1 – The regulations do allow for a slope, provided that the point over the front bulkhead is no more than 55cm above ground. I think this is what the FIA intended all along, and to my mind it would be the best solution because the Caterham design has a 7.5cm step in the middle of the nose. That can’t be particularly efficient aerodynamically.
matthewf1 (@)
25th January 2012, 11:26
thanks
Sangeen Khan
25th January 2012, 12:39
Actually,I think the V shape makes up most of the 7.5 cm difference.Along the middle,its not that much.
Adam (@adamdaly82)
25th January 2012, 13:32
You should really get on the phone to Caterham then to let them know that their months of wind tunnel analysis and cfd have been wrong.
Mike (@mike)
25th January 2012, 23:24
@adam PM is provided a detailed opinion on the technical aspects of the car. This is interesting.
What have you provided?
Also, on topic.
@Prisoner Monkeys
I think there must be a reason that the step costs less than the gain it provides. I suspect it will be controlling airflow around the side of the drivers head. But I suspect scarbs would have a more examiined opinion.
For me, I’m most interested in the back of the car, which for the most part is blacked out. It is possible to see where the suspension struts are headed and to be honest, it looks rather simple.
I suppose from Caterham a rather conservative approach is to be expected.
Adam (@adamdaly82)
25th January 2012, 23:43
@Mike I would much rather trust Caterham, their team of engineers and the 6 months of design and development that has gone into this car. Opinions are great but there are too many internet hacks about who think they know best.
Mike (@mike)
26th January 2012, 15:00
@Adam
I honestly can’t see your problem.
More interpretations of the technical aspects can’t be a bad thing.
And exactly what part of his comment do you think was wrong? I think you’d be crazy if you said the step (in itself) was aerodynamically efficient. However, there must be, as you suggested, a reason the Caterham designers have done this. Prisoner monkeys comment creates a chance for us to speculate as to why!
Personally, I’m fairly sure in my mind that it’s to allow maximum airflow under the car, this increases the speed at which the air flows and thus, should lower the pressure under the car and increase the cars overall down force.
What do you think? or have you read any interesting ideas about it?
Adam (@adamdaly82)
26th January 2012, 20:32
@Mike Nothing wrong with opinions or theories. The more the better. What I didn’t like though was the assertion that he knew better than the Caterham designers.
Nobody likes the look of the new nose but there is obviously a reason for it. To me, a more gradual slope to the tip of the nose would provide a better airflow over the top of the car but my degree is not in aeronautical engineering so I am happy to bow to the experts greater knowledge.
M7
25th January 2012, 10:59
they wont get much prettier…
Banburyhammer1
25th January 2012, 10:59
Has the car beeen in a punch up or something?
Tommo N7 (@tommothfc)
25th January 2012, 11:00
Nosecone is disgusting! Seems the the equivalent of a human having a broken nose.
verstappen (@verstappen)
25th January 2012, 11:00
If you want to have a controlled launch, maybe you shouldn’t be committing pictures to paper…
About the car, I’m obviously intrigued by the nose and I wonder if this is what Ferrari calls ugly…
guido (@guidof1)
25th January 2012, 11:38
thats exactly what i thought
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 12:44
@verstappen
Indeed. On the other hand, they seemed quite pleased to be trending on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/TWCaterhamF1/status/162138797847494658
BasCB (@bascb)
25th January 2012, 12:50
I bet they are, Fernandes tweeted something like that.
I guess its hard to trump a million people looking on Twitter and the net searching for the first pictures for a good viral, isn’t it?
John H (@john-h)
25th January 2012, 12:50
Indeed. This has got us talking. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out this leak is deliberate.
McLarenFanJamm (@mclarenfanjamm)
25th January 2012, 13:06
It’s not a leak. It’s just people receiving their copies of F1 Racing early. Frankly, I’m surprised nobody expected this.
Shimks (@shimks)
25th January 2012, 11:01
Chunky!
Isn’t it the general consensus that because of the rules changes, all cars are going to look a little less pretty compared to 2011?
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
25th January 2012, 11:03
Shocking at first but I’m pretty sure most of the cars will have noses like that. We’ll get used to it, just like we did with every other regulation change that apparently made the cars ‘ugly’.
Steph (@)
25th January 2012, 11:53
Yack! I did like the 09 BMW so I should like a more straight shape but with the shade of green and yellow it just looks ghastly and something Lego could have designed.
yr
25th January 2012, 12:46
yep exactly..with the regulations I kind of expected this nose for some time now so no suprise. I dont know how others haven’t expected to see a nose like this.its ugly but I think most teams wil have something similar. We are all probaly going to have to get used to seeing our favourite team our drivers car noses look like this.
Mike (@mike)
25th January 2012, 13:53
Did you expect it? A few people are saying that now but I didn’t read one prediction on this site about it before.
yr
25th January 2012, 22:13
Scarbs had some sketchs up..and the ferrari renderings sported a similar nose. Doesn’t mean that if it wasn’t on this paricular site it didn’t happen. Come to think about it keith had the link to scarbs with regards to this years design trends on one of his round ups in the past couple of days.
Mike (@mike)
26th January 2012, 15:15
Ah that’s quite true! I apologize :D
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:04
It’s not actually that bad … from the front.
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
25th January 2012, 11:13
Finally an angle to be pleased about. Reminded of the TF110?
tandrews (@tomand95)
25th January 2012, 11:19
from that angle it looks like the Mercedes W02 nose from last year.
bag0 (@bag0)
25th January 2012, 13:08
Yeah, i think they stole a nosecone from W02, and than joined it to a RB6/RB7 monocoque. They had to hammer the cone down a bit to fit. :D
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
25th January 2012, 11:06
if we ignore the nose.. the rest of the car is quite nice! green.. but nice
barkun (@barkun)
25th January 2012, 11:08
oh my !!
Caterham what have you done !!!
That nose cone seems to be ‘pasted’ on it from a different car
barkun (@barkun)
25th January 2012, 11:10
on second thoughts.. it looks like a crocodile !
.. an ugly crocodile actually !!!
King Six
25th January 2012, 11:16
More specifically, the Gavial or the Indian Gharial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavial
:)
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:23
A gharial, actually.
barkun (@barkun)
25th January 2012, 11:25
the colour is there too !!
maybe we can expect it to be fast in (very) wet conditions..
BasCB (@bascb)
25th January 2012, 12:33
LOL!
coefficient (@coefficient)
25th January 2012, 12:01
Actually, it reminds me of a fish that Jeremy Wade caught on river monsters one time. An aligator gar I believe it was called.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=alligator+gar&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=gyBojvQTsgqstM:&imgrefurl=http://trulyparanormal.blogspot.com/2011/01/alligator-gar-or-gator-garatractosteus.html&docid=_xX3l1e7d8sp8M&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YaxXnpCqfAI/TTbEUQeNTrI/AAAAAAAAL_M/SVYFmgpVDwg/s1600/gator%252Bgar%252Bweb%252B2.JPG&w=800&h=533&ei=we4fT6XbK4ap8QPlp9ilDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=534&vpy=221&dur=6883&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=150&ty=168&sig=103360303241999271231&page=3&tbnh=148&tbnw=197&start=22&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:22&biw=1024&bih=533
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 12:46
@coefficient Perhaps use http://www.bitly.com or something for a link that long next time!
sam3110 (@sam3110)
25th January 2012, 11:09
Reading between the lines in various leaks etc. it would appear that Ferrari haven’t staggered it as much as this, but the lines of the nose and cockpit will be smoother, with the humps on either side.
GeeMac (@geemac)
25th January 2012, 11:09
Ok, if you ignore the nose, it’s actually not a bad looking thing. Loving the very tiny sidepods.
tandrews (@tomand95)
25th January 2012, 11:10
Wouldn’t a staggered nose like that cause a lot a drag in a straight line? The 2011 car’s nose was not that high, http://www.formula1.com/wi/597×478/sutton/2011/d11bra1691.jpg would that still be allowed in the 2012 regulations?
tandrews (@tomand95)
25th January 2012, 11:14
oops, looking closer i can see the nose only was humps on the sides and not a straight wall of elevation, that answers the drag question.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:17
@tomand95 – No, it would not be. The 2012 regulations state that everything forward of the bulkhead may be no higher than 55cm. Everything behind the bulkhead may be up to 62.5cm. That’s a difference of 7.5cm between the two cars. Besides, you cannot simply take the nose off one car and put it onto another. Cars are designed holistically, which is to say that the every part of the car works in unison with every other part. That’s why HRT were unable to qualify in Melbourne last year; they put the front wing of the Hispania F110 on when the F111 front wing failed the crash tests. But because the front wing was designed for a different car, it didn’t work as well with the aerodynamics as the F111 front wing would have, and so the car was very slow – too slow to qualify within 107% of Vettel’s pole time.
tandrews (@tomand95)
25th January 2012, 11:30
yeah i was wondering if a similar nose design could have been used, of course as you mentioned and different nose that hasn’t been developed with the car would not match it’s aero package, resulting in a slow car. I wonder what sort of clever designs teams can come up with?
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
25th January 2012, 11:11
The horror!!!
Just kidding.
Matt
25th January 2012, 11:11
It looks a product of the new crash test…
But seriously it is a pure copy of what Scrabs has predicted, don’t you think?
matthewf1 (@)
25th January 2012, 11:15
lol
JSY_Nick (@jsy_nick)
25th January 2012, 12:04
I saw the ScarbsF1 predicted designs yesterday, then seeing the Caterham today it looks almost identical. Scarbs really knows his stuff!
Tom Haxley (@)
25th January 2012, 12:54
How hasnt he got a job in F1? Or has he?
F1andy83
25th January 2012, 23:25
Maybe cater ham read f1scarbs lol
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 11:13
Ferrari said their new car was going to be ugly as well… what hideous new breed of cars will we be subject to this year?
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
25th January 2012, 11:21
@Keith-Collantine The platipus generation?
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
25th January 2012, 11:22
My apologies, it’s too much of an insult to the platipus…
Girts (@girts)
25th January 2012, 11:16
Oooh, it’s such a cutie!!!
Seriously, I have no problem with the look of it although it might take some time to get used to the unusual nose.
Gareth (@gazz1989)
25th January 2012, 11:17
To goagainst popular opinion……. I actually quite like it :D I like the differences in the cars from one season to the next.
plutoniumhunter (@plutoniumhunter)
25th January 2012, 11:18
It’s a sad day for Formula One.
stubie
25th January 2012, 11:20
Yikes
Looks like a mechanical avocado anaconda swallowed a duckbilled platypus
Derfel17 (@derfel17)
25th January 2012, 11:21
I think it’s a fake!
black (@black)
25th January 2012, 15:57
we all wish that’s fake!
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 11:23
The car as a whole looks nice, but that nose, my god… I sure hope it’s the only car that will get to look like this! Although it might pressure FIA to change regulations somewhat to get the cars prettier again, at least I hope so…
I think the FIA wants the actual nosetip pointing down in 2014, right? Can anyone confirm that?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:25
According to scarbsf1, most of the teams will do this.
It would mean redesigning the entire front end of the car. Which would be expensive.
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 11:31
I was talking about future seasons. But like I said, I seem to remember the nosetip needs to point down from 2014 onward. Am I correct?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 12:29
I have no idea.
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 13:11
Just found it on Scarbs F1: “This reduction in height starts in 2012 with the front bulkhead limited to a 55cm height and then in 2014 the nose tip must fit into a zone 25cm high.”
Here’s hoping that will make the cars a lot less ugly!!
bgrade (@bgrade)
25th January 2012, 11:24
um, yeah, i’m sure we will all grow to accept the new look, kind of like the way we love our ugly pets.
Solo (@solo)
25th January 2012, 21:30
Haha! That’s how i feel too. Ok it’s a little ugly as a nose but i can grow to love it.
M7
25th January 2012, 11:26
looks ok side-on at least!
Girts (@girts)
25th January 2012, 11:39
Yeah, as long as the races are held during nights and the cars ain’t get filmed from the front, the 2012 season has every chance of becoming a true beauty contest :)
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:26
It’s not actually that bad from the side. The drop is still there, and it’s still noticeable, but it doesn’t have the same shock as the three-quarter view.
Also, notice the wide sponsorless space on the sidepod …
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
25th January 2012, 11:27
Do Caterham know that this picture were published??? what’s wrong with the nose???
JK (@justingt5)
25th January 2012, 11:28
Just as ScarbsF1 said a 2012 car would look like pretty much. Not a fan of that new nosecone though. It just looks stupid!!!!. Nice job on the side pods, very neat. A nice RBR looking engine cover, with the large tail funnel open at the back to vent air onto the lower plain of the rear wing.
davey (@djdaveyp87)
25th January 2012, 11:29
The sidepods seem very interesting and is it just me or will that little lip between the nose and bulkhead generate downforce right over the front axle?
It looks different, but very interesting. I this car could pop them into the mid-field. I hope it does, the big gulf to the back runners is getting annoying!
Nikos
25th January 2012, 11:35
This car looks like it borrowed Alain Prost’s nose.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
25th January 2012, 13:20
Haha, yes! It’s a pity the Prost team isn’t still going, that’s how a Prost car should look!
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
25th January 2012, 11:37
Looks good from the side. I have a problem with the yellow stripe at the back though, looks completely out of place. Why not have it running with the lines of the car? They could even just do away with it and have the stripe on the front running around the cockpit and over the airbox and engine cover.
Bendanarama (@bendana)
25th January 2012, 11:39
I… erm… quite like it actually. That design definitely has character.
BBT (@bbt)
25th January 2012, 11:44
Its OK, most will be like this, we’ll grow to love them when they race
BrawnGP (@brawngp)
25th January 2012, 11:44
Please god… don’t let the mclaren be as ugly as this….
Jay Cooper (@coop)
25th January 2012, 11:58
I’m praying exactly this!!
Rob Wilson (@rob-wilson)
25th January 2012, 13:15
Haha, my thoughts as well!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 11:45
I saw this image posted over at Autosport, showing how the other cars might look. And honestly, they’re not as bad as first expected. I think the problem with the CT-01 is that the front of the nose is flat, but everyone else might go for a bit of an angle, and so they all end up looking like the Virgin VR-01.
WillP
25th January 2012, 14:43
Am I reading that image correctly in thinking that last season’s McLaren would have been pretty much compliant with the new regs already?
In that case, it doesn’t have to look as awful as this Lot… Caterham.
Tom Haxley (@)
25th January 2012, 14:52
They are pretty close thats for sure.
The standout (or not) of the mclaren is the top of the bodywork is already below the top of the wheel – something different from all the other cars by the looks.
Hopefully they wont have to change it too much so it still looks nice :)
BBT (@bbt)
25th January 2012, 11:46
PS I don’t see the point of the new nose(s) if they are going to have a step and be horizontal and not slope down. Its still pretty high really.
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 11:56
Exactly, the FIA probably did not expect this… if anything, a nose like this one looks even more like a stabbing weapon than they did last year.
Also, it’s painfully obvious how the FIA are making the cars uglier year by year, just looking at the front page. The Renault R30 with Raikkonen in it looks brilliant compared to this hideous thing.
BBT (@bbt)
25th January 2012, 11:48
I’m still trying to work out what is going on with those sidepod
sato113 (@sato113)
25th January 2012, 11:51
@keithcollantine what do you mean these images are revealed early? the f1racing mag with them in it arrived on my doorstep today!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th January 2012, 12:17
@sato113 Caterham said the first pictures would be published tomorrow.
Ivano (@)
25th January 2012, 11:55
Why don’t they just return to the 2000 and 2001 car designs. The Ferraris and McLarens then were stunning, and the aerodynamics still permitted alot of over taking, even without DRS.
I really don’t like this non streamed restrictions to the cars.
BTW, I actually like the new Indy cars.
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 12:07
I sure wish they would…
DavidS (@davids)
25th January 2012, 12:13
Or a return to pre-90s style noses, where the front wing is directly connected to the nose, rather than connected by vertical supports. There would be an interesting compromise between front wing height and feeding the assortment of aerodynamic devices that are largely obscured from view.
Carlitox (@carlitox)
25th January 2012, 12:41
That would compromise the air flow underneath the car. That’s the reason they were invented for, to improve downforce under the nose and to the sidepods.
WillP
25th January 2012, 14:47
True, but since every kind of technical development which aids aerodynamics appears to be worth banning these days, it sounds like exactly the reason why they should go back to pre-90s noses.
rpiian (@rpiian)
25th January 2012, 11:56
Woah! Ugly stepsister. I expect most teams will look like this or worse.
DavidS (@davids)
25th January 2012, 11:58
If F1 cars look like drivers, this is either a Prost or a Kubica.
Randy (@randy)
25th January 2012, 13:10
You take that back right now!
As i am from Poland i take huge offence in this comparison. :D
coefficient (@coefficient)
25th January 2012, 12:06
Looks really long to me!
bpacman (@bpacman)
25th January 2012, 17:29
Me too – I’ve been browsing until the fourth comments page to find someone mentioning its length. It looks twice as long as last year’s car. and longer than the 2012 car drawn by Scarbs.
Are they trying to fit both Trulli and Petrov in there?!
King Elessar (@kingelessar)
25th January 2012, 12:15
Wow What A Hideous Looking Car!!!!!!!The Great British Racing Green Ruined…….I Hope Other Teams Have Better Designs……
schooner (@schooner)
25th January 2012, 12:17
I had high hopes for this car as I really liked the livery. Oh well.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th January 2012, 12:19
http://s1-04.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/503013062.jpg
As posted by Autosport’s Pablo Elizalde.
Chalky (@chalky)
25th January 2012, 12:25
Oh My, very odd! I’m sure my kids to build something prettier in Lego.
I know they have to go by the FIA regs, but it’s looks like they split the cars parts up to different teams and they all came into one warehouse and fitted them together without telling each other what they were making.
Normally I now say “Can’t wait to see what XXXXX looks like”, but I’m not sure now.
scribbler (@scribbler)
25th January 2012, 12:30
It really does look like a Caymen from the front
VoiseyS (@voisey)
25th January 2012, 14:07
The car or the Reptile?? I have the car, and it’s a damn sight prettier than that Caterham…!!
Dj xo2 (@dj-xo2)
25th January 2012, 12:38
Platypus…..I am so scared. On the upside photos might include a few more grid girls…..
Flying Lobster 27
25th January 2012, 12:42
In the future, F1 cars will look like staircases from the side. A step from the ground to the wing, the wing will be moved forward so you can get a step up to the nose, then a step in the middle of the nose, a step at the cockpit area (where the driver’s head is), the air intake will be pushed back so that it can take the shape of another step, and finally, the rear wing height will be raised so that it looks like another step.
This generation of F1 cars are going to make the raised floor and the “lorry flaps” of LMPs look really good. And the Toyota TS030 is goooooorgeous!
Carlitox (@carlitox)
25th January 2012, 12:48
That looks like a duck. But… as long as it is effective…
No, seriously, I have some hopes on Caterham. I can see them with some points this year, not many, but let’s say five or so.
AA
25th January 2012, 12:49
Looks like a badly built lego car. I thought the ‘lower nose’ rule would bring us back to swooping noses ala the 7-up Jordan. This thing is ugly.
Philip (@24hourjog)
25th January 2012, 13:02
No wonder they photographed it in the dark!
Randy (@randy)
25th January 2012, 13:04
Oh my, kill it before it lays eggs!
Seriously though, thumbs up for Caterham for their commitement, this shows how they are full on aero development, not sacrificing it for the looks. I’m sure sticking with that fugly nose was a very difficult decision. Let’s hope this won’t follow the path of other ugly F1 cars which in majority were also hideously slow (as far as i remember from examples).
aka_robyn (@)
25th January 2012, 14:13
I vote for that in the photo-caption competition that is going on inside my head right now. ;-)
just.daz (@nemo87)
25th January 2012, 13:10
this is a sad day in F1..
out of the ‘bottom field’ teams lotus/caterham have always been my favourite. their 1st car was a bit of a Bathtub but last years was one of the best looking on the grid.. an now. i cant even begin to put into words how ugly the front end of this car is BUT.. if its what it takes to get them into the mid-field then GO CATERHAM!! ..even if you are a little bit ugly
Roald (@roald)
25th January 2012, 13:16
It’s not like they really thought out of the box. In fact, this is exactly what the 2012 rules regarding the nose say, taken very literally.
just.daz (@nemo87)
25th January 2012, 13:23
;)
totally agree with you.. maybe they coluld have sloped the nose more..? instead of such a drop..?
i think its just those red bull style banks or whatever you want to call them that make it stand out so much..
still it may look good on track.. or not :)
hey (@hey)
25th January 2012, 13:14
I got used to the W02 quite quickly, so imagine I’ll get used to this. It’s only the suspension points that make it bulge.
Bookoi (@bookoi)
25th January 2012, 13:15
MINE EYES!
Looks horrible but I guess if its closer to the front the team will think its a stunner.
I was hoping they’d change the livery a bit to move on from the whole Lotus fiasco and create a new identity under the Caterham name. The same livery but with yellow sidepods, something like that….
Karl (@muddytalker)
25th January 2012, 13:17
Looking at those pictures, it seems to make the regulation to make noses safer by lowering them useless. I say this because the nose is so sharp now that it could possibly pierce another cars monocoque or alternatively a crash barrier/tyre barrier.
If the FIA want safety, then just ban raised noses full stop.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th January 2012, 15:40
The noses are designed to act as buffer zone’s when they hit anything solid, while the sides of the cockpit are designed to resist objects from entering in a sideways impact @karl, making such a scenario highly ulikely.
Mike (@mike)
25th January 2012, 17:55
The nose will have no capacity to penetrate the cockpit. It would simply crumple.
BrawnGP (@brawngp)
25th January 2012, 13:19
Lets all hope that this is the only ugly car and it will stay at the back of the grid and off our screens
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
25th January 2012, 13:19
You wouldn’t want to watch F1 with HD if all the cars are as ugly as this! Could be bad news for Sky…
KNF (@knf)
25th January 2012, 13:21
It’s not exactly going to win any beauty contests, but there have been some uglier designs in F1 before… those crazy BMW Sauber F1.06 vertical winglets, the Williams FW26 “Walrus” and let’s not forget the “coffee table” and “tea tray” designs of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
The real shocker is that it looks like the nose was drawn by an Etch-a-Sketch instead of the 3D CAD software package which was actually used…
Janni (@motorsportjohn)
25th January 2012, 13:27
Looks like it’s been designed by Jeremy Clarkson… With a hammer :-)
just.daz (@nemo87)
25th January 2012, 13:44
like!
lauromoura (@lauromoura)
25th January 2012, 13:50
A non-f1 follower coworker thought it was inspired by the Fiat Multipla :)
http://i.imgur.com/t9NYk.jpg
Janni (@motorsportjohn)
25th January 2012, 13:53
Non-f1 follower, or caterham f1 designer? The uggliest car ever, coincidence that they look alike?
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
25th January 2012, 13:50
More Top Gear fans eh? :) Sweeeeeeeet!
realracer (@realracer)
25th January 2012, 13:39
If all the cars, are going to look like this, this year,then I’m glad I can only watch 10 races this year, I think I’ll retire my F1 watching career, and sign a contract to go to Indycars.
Walton174 (@walton174)
25th January 2012, 13:52
The only thing i like about this is that formula1.com called it a “platypus-style nose”… Aussie pride!!
They also say it is expected to become common-place, i sincerly hope it doesnt :/
VoiseyS (@voisey)
25th January 2012, 14:10
The design might be ugly, but at least it’s got everyone talking about the car. Lots of free publicity and hype for Caterham.
Maybe they will make use forget about the nose when they announce Petrov as replacement for Trulli tomorrow…
Sangeen Khan
25th January 2012, 14:16
Where are the exhausts?
Mads (@mads)
25th January 2012, 14:29
I like the back end of it. Looks like a mini RB7, though with the same engine and gearbox it seems logical to use the same philosophy for the rear bodywork.
Oh and the font. It looks quite good actually. Very sharp and fast.
No really it doesn’t.
It looks like this: http://www.kcvs.ca/martin/phys/phys241/images/truck_vs_car_crash.jpg
The Caterham apparently just stopped a bit faster then the Seat, but other then that its exactly the same.
Mads (@mads)
25th January 2012, 14:30
oh wait what happened there? It wasn’t meant as a reply to anyone…
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
25th January 2012, 15:32
I usually like the new designs and approaches year on year in Formula 1. Like in 2009, a lot of people thought that the new designs were ugly, but I loved them.
This, however, I’m not sure I could grow to love that. Although, at the same time, I do like it when different teams have different designs. For example, the skinny-nosed RB5 compared to the Brawn, and the 2011 McLaren sidepods. So I hope some teams have gone for some innovative new designs :D
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
25th January 2012, 15:44
And just to add to that, I thought the 2010 (Lotus as it was then) wasn’t very good looking, as it was quite boxy. The 2011 one, however, was very sleek and the first pictures I saw of that were fantastic.
But it seems that this years is worse than the 2010 car (from the front at least). I at least hope it’s quick.
Mahir C
25th January 2012, 16:22
So thats what Luca di Montezemolo meant when he said this years Ferrari is no looker!
Marcus (@jadedwriter)
25th January 2012, 16:37
Is it too late for them to trademark the name “Gatorham?”
KNF (@knf)
26th January 2012, 2:03
It DOES look a bit like a crocodile from the side, maybe the Caterham team can have some fun putting teeth and eye decals on the car.
Divorce lawyers in mumbai
25th January 2012, 16:45
I wanted to follow along and allow you to know how , very much I appreciated discovering your web blog today. I would consider
it a honor to do things at my workplace and be able to make real use of the tips discussed on your web site and also get involved in visitors’ feedback like this !
Fixy (@)
25th January 2012, 17:12
I’ll repeat the comment I made on ScarbsF1.wordpress.com:
Chris (@chris)
25th January 2012, 17:25
23
d3v0 (@d3v0)
25th January 2012, 17:32
Apparently this is the result of the new regulations.
Way to go Failure International Automobile.
Joe (@joetoml1n)
25th January 2012, 20:16
Dont really see how its the FIA’s fault that Caterham have designed an ugly car. Yes they’ve banned high noses, but they dont dictate that cars have to have that “step”… Caterham could of just designed a lower nose if they were worried about winning a beauty contest. But as theyre not taking part in Britians next top model, they’ve gone for what they think is the most aerodynamically effiecient solution.
Mads (@mads)
25th January 2012, 21:07
Actually I think you said it yourself.
Caterham did what was the most aerodynamically efficient solution because that is what it is about.
If the fastest way around a track was to design a car that looked like a fiat multipla just fatter and with square and orange tyres, all that with a woolen tail hanging after it they would all do that.
The FIA is both responsible for the quality of the racing and the looks of the cars. The teams are responsible of making the fastest car they can, whether it is pretty or not isn’t important to them.
Mike (@mike)
26th January 2012, 15:14
Exactly! :D
Forza (@forza)
25th January 2012, 17:34
Beauty is relative here its the air flow and they’ve gone for simple solution with front end design. They maintained the space under the nosecone to allow air flow towards splitter. The rest of the car looks fine and particulary sidepods look good in that respect. The Rb components had influence on their design. The stop watch will show how good the car is.
suffolk (@suffolk)
25th January 2012, 18:06
It looked like a PR coup for Caterham to reveal its new design well in advance of the other teams. They now find themselves having to take all the negative flak associated with exposing the 2012 “ugly” technical regulations. It now appears to be a very brave decision.
No wonder the teams have not been falling over each other attempting to break cover first.
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
25th January 2012, 19:44
But then I doubt the car is physically ready. To be frank, I can bet it isn’t.
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
25th January 2012, 18:15
It has some kind of charm, If youre into strage noses like that!
Pika
25th January 2012, 18:23
And I tought I have seen all when the BMW 2009 was launched. This is worse. Awful.
What the fu%k are you doing with F1?
Jezson (@jezson)
25th January 2012, 18:39
Oh dear, that IS ugly. Look at the shape of it!… It looks like an unfortunate whale. It’s bloody long too.
ShaneB457 (@shaneb12345678910)
25th January 2012, 19:44
It reminds me of those finger biscuits..
Hairpin (@hairpin)
25th January 2012, 20:10
@ Randy – I’m sure sticking with that fugly nose was a very difficult decision.
That’s the rules this year.
Rob Wilson (@rob-wilson)
25th January 2012, 21:36
On first glance it looks horrendous, but now iv’e been coming back all day to have another look, i’m already getting used to it, it just takes some getting used to that’s all.
I remember being angry when the 2009 cars were testing because i thought they were so ugly and it was ruining F1, but after time you don’t even notice, this will be the same. Shock at first, indifferent in a couple of months.
electrolite (@electrolite)
25th January 2012, 22:43
Oh Jesus.
It isn’t just the nose that’s ugly for me – it’s everything else too! I think a better organised livery would have helped a lot too.
It’s not so much the step that happens on the nose for me, but the actual the tip of the nose is. That does it for me.
Lotus49 (@lotus49)
25th January 2012, 22:52
Right about the livery camouflage would have been better or deep brown.
Lotus49 (@lotus49)
25th January 2012, 22:50
My grandson drew a racing car the other day, with his new set of crayons. I have it on the fridge door now. Do you think I will be able, on his behalf, sue Caterham for copyright infringement? ;¬)
electrolite (@electrolite)
25th January 2012, 22:51
Who’s waiting for the announcement from the FIA that’s they’re thinking of changing the rules for noses now the cars have been built? It affects aerodynamics, of course…
manatcna (@manatcna)
25th January 2012, 23:50
I’ll just be happy to see all the cars racing.
montreal95 (@montreal95)
25th January 2012, 23:51
Ugly isn’t even the word to describe this monstrosity. However some seventies cars were even uglier IMO. So let’s stay positive and believe there are better times ahead.
manatcna (@manatcna)
26th January 2012, 0:28
Why are they showing No 20 on the car (image)?
manatcna (@manatcna)
26th January 2012, 0:29
OK – please ignore that
MinusTwo (@minustwo)
26th January 2012, 2:37
Personally, the main thing that struck mother than the nose, was the level of detail on the front wing… Looks like Caterham has a bigger aero budget than last year.
electrolite (@electrolite)
26th January 2012, 12:14
It’s more than likely a 2011 front wing. Nearly all teams wings during their launches will be old ones, so until the first test…
Harvs (@harvs)
26th January 2012, 4:08
Its all Neweys fault!
F1Yankee (@f1yankee)
26th January 2012, 8:17
when i heard “low noses for 2012” i was hoping for something like the great williams fw14b (contender best looking f1 car of all time). was it 2009 people were last outraged by ugly cars? i’m thinking of you, renault. before that, it was years of hideous wiglets, flip-flaps and doo-dads. very few recent cars in any category have been pleasing to the eye – the peugeot 908 and the new toyota, but definitely not the audis.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
26th January 2012, 8:23
Nice livery, I especially Luke the numbers.
The nose does look really, really bizarre. Just no fluidity to the CT01.
Looking forward to seeing if this will be an ongoing trend.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
26th January 2012, 17:03
That nose is uglier than mine. :o
Kingshark (@kingshark)
27th January 2012, 5:57
This picture explains this car thoroughly;
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/203/croczs.jpg
Tom (@)
1st February 2012, 19:16
Shame it doesn’t have mudguards, like a Caterham 7.
Aren’t they allowed in F1?!