The wide, flat nose with the thick stripe around it and the number 22 remind me so much of the Brawn… Happy memories for JB, hope he’s getting some of the same feeling from the first day testing it!
When they launched Ferrari, I took both shots from McLaren and Ferrari and placed them in Photoshop to match the perspectives and size. I was sure that McLaren’s rear must have been just looking that tight because of the angle and perspective. But after adjusting everything and matching size, perspective etc, McLaren’s rear was still MUCH slimmer than Ferrari’s. So that car definitely has some extremely tight packaging at the back. The curves are just beautiful. Looks amazing.
Here’s an overhead shot for comparison between the rear of McLaren and Ferrari. I’ve adjusted them a bit to match the size, angle, perspective etc. as much as possible. The point of interest is the packaging of the rear half of the car, so don’t mind if some other parts are slightly out of line.
Has Alonso jumped from the frying pan into the fire? It would feel extremely uneasy and demotivating for him to see Vettel and Ferrari dominate the times, though it’s early days still and the test timings cannot be thought to be representative.
I believe it’s called dazzle camouflage. It doesn’t conceal the user, like traditional camouflage; instead, it masks shapes and contours to prevent identification and things like that.
The picture of the steering wheels reminded me – have all teams switched to ones with displays this year? I remember thinking it was odd that Red Bull didn’t run one last year.
Vettel becomes the first active F1 driver in at least 8 years to drive a contemporary Ferrari F1 car wearing Arai helmet. Perhaps Schuberth’s association with the Scuderia has ended? It’s therefore surprising that Alonso is continuing with his Schuberth helmet, making him the first active F1 driver to drive a contemporary McLaren F1 car wearing the German helmet. Alonso had shifted from Arai to Schuberth when he joined Ferrari because of the helmet maker’s deal with the team. I was expecting him to return to Arai helmet since he had always used Arai helmets and McLaren also seemed to have a deal with the Japanese helmet manufacturer. We’ve seen Jenson Button and Sergio Perez change from Bell to Arai helmets when they joined McLaren. Was thinking Alonso may change back to Arai, but perhaps Arai no longer has any deal with McLaren…
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
2nd February 2015, 8:44
The wide, flat nose with the thick stripe around it and the number 22 remind me so much of the Brawn… Happy memories for JB, hope he’s getting some of the same feeling from the first day testing it!
Need to squeeze that spot on its nose though.
nidzovski (@nidzovski)
2nd February 2015, 10:27
“Need to squeeze that spot on its nose though.” :D
apeman (@apeman)
2nd February 2015, 8:52
The back half of the McLaren is unbelievable. How the hell have they managed to fit everything in?!
nidzovski (@nidzovski)
2nd February 2015, 10:28
It’s a tight packaging and that could bring them glory or a catastrophe. We will see however if that Honda is any good as well.
Supremacy (@supremacy)
2nd February 2015, 20:57
Yeah they seem to have taken an ALL OR NOTHING type approach here.
Biggsy
2nd February 2015, 12:31
When they launched Ferrari, I took both shots from McLaren and Ferrari and placed them in Photoshop to match the perspectives and size. I was sure that McLaren’s rear must have been just looking that tight because of the angle and perspective.
But after adjusting everything and matching size, perspective etc, McLaren’s rear was still MUCH slimmer than Ferrari’s.
So that car definitely has some extremely tight packaging at the back. The curves are just beautiful. Looks amazing.
Mach1 (@mach1)
2nd February 2015, 13:12
Erm, I think they must have forgot to put the engine it.
If it is just not just a perspective thing, it is amazing….
Fishingelbow (@fishingelbow)
2nd February 2015, 16:22
Ron was always a tight ar..te, so it’s just logical that it would carry over to the car!
nidzovski (@nidzovski)
2nd February 2015, 10:31
What could be the problem that Red Bull is trying to solve? Is it cooling, flex wing, stability, downforce ….?
gunusugeh (@gunusugeh)
2nd February 2015, 10:46
once Newey gone, they are trying not to rely on aerodynamic at all :D
nidzovski (@nidzovski)
2nd February 2015, 15:21
Maybe they don’t need front wing at all :P.
nidzovski (@nidzovski)
2nd February 2015, 11:09
Or damaged front wing without spare3 one.
Tommy Scragend
2nd February 2015, 12:37
@nidzovski That’s exactly what it is – see ESPNF1.
American F1
2nd February 2015, 15:46
Comment from another site: “looks like Red Bull only gives you one wing!” HA!
Wim van de Kimmenade
2nd February 2015, 12:04
Any pics of the 33c car?
sumedh
2nd February 2015, 13:32
I like the camouflaged front wing Red Bull have today. Much better than yesterday’s camouflage!
Joao (@johnmilk)
2nd February 2015, 18:10
Yes. This is proper camouflage. Maybe a ninja type of wing
Greup
2nd February 2015, 13:42
Red Bull finally perfected their Stealth Front Wing. Now we will never see how much it flexes.
electrolite (@electrolite)
2nd February 2015, 13:42
Well the Sauber and Ferrari certainly look better out on track!
Biggsy
2nd February 2015, 14:15
Here’s an overhead shot for comparison between the rear of McLaren and Ferrari.
I’ve adjusted them a bit to match the size, angle, perspective etc. as much as possible.
The point of interest is the packaging of the rear half of the car, so don’t mind if some other parts are slightly out of line.
http://s1.postimg.org/w3hduinsv/f1_comparison_01.gif
Biggsy
2nd February 2015, 14:16
Sorry that gif doesn’t seem to work.
Here’s a working gif:
http://i.imgur.com/plzHOkZ.gif
The Blade Runner (@)
2nd February 2015, 14:52
Thanks for this.
The McLaren really is size zero! It needs to all work though otherwise it’s a waste of time
Supremacy (@supremacy)
2nd February 2015, 21:06
Thanks!
Baron (@baron)
2nd February 2015, 15:21
Well, the answer to “McLaren’s tight packaging” is clear, following another humiliating debacle on day 2. They forgot to put the motor in….
Honestly…It’s a shambles.
PT (@pt)
3rd February 2015, 6:16
Has Alonso jumped from the frying pan into the fire? It would feel extremely uneasy and demotivating for him to see Vettel and Ferrari dominate the times, though it’s early days still and the test timings cannot be thought to be representative.
Dan Brown (@danbrown180)
2nd February 2015, 15:23
That Red Bull livery reminds me of WW2 Battleship Camouflage: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4152/4962651916_9a6c3d6a71_z.jpg
It could well be done like that to disguise the shape of the body work.
Mach1 (@mach1)
2nd February 2015, 21:54
@danbrown180 It is, car manufacturers do it all the time, it is nothing new.
I am suprised so many people on here have not come across it before
Diego (@ironcito)
3rd February 2015, 4:53
I believe it’s called dazzle camouflage. It doesn’t conceal the user, like traditional camouflage; instead, it masks shapes and contours to prevent identification and things like that.
Simon (@s162000)
2nd February 2015, 15:33
Great pictures Keith :-)
Patrick
2nd February 2015, 16:06
Where’s the pics of Max Verstappen ?
mateuss (@mateuss)
2nd February 2015, 17:41
Good thing McLaren are going to change their livery.
In pictures form the eye level the car looks like HRT.
Baron (@baron)
2nd February 2015, 17:45
It’s not going nearly as well as the HRT used to!
Ciaran (@ciaran)
2nd February 2015, 18:09
The picture of the steering wheels reminded me – have all teams switched to ones with displays this year? I remember thinking it was odd that Red Bull didn’t run one last year.
PT (@pt)
3rd February 2015, 6:11
Vettel becomes the first active F1 driver in at least 8 years to drive a contemporary Ferrari F1 car wearing Arai helmet. Perhaps Schuberth’s association with the Scuderia has ended? It’s therefore surprising that Alonso is continuing with his Schuberth helmet, making him the first active F1 driver to drive a contemporary McLaren F1 car wearing the German helmet. Alonso had shifted from Arai to Schuberth when he joined Ferrari because of the helmet maker’s deal with the team. I was expecting him to return to Arai helmet since he had always used Arai helmets and McLaren also seemed to have a deal with the Japanese helmet manufacturer. We’ve seen Jenson Button and Sergio Perez change from Bell to Arai helmets when they joined McLaren. Was thinking Alonso may change back to Arai, but perhaps Arai no longer has any deal with McLaren…