What’s your favourite Formula 1 version of 2017?
After the presentation sequence and the first two days of driving, the floor is now yours. Discuss and vote for your favorite car!
The interminable winter break has given way to the excitement of the restart.
It all started more than 10 days ago with the unveiling of the Williams FW40 through computer-generated images on the Internet. But everything accelerated the following week: we then actually caught sight of all the Formula 1 cars for this new season.
Do you prioritize aerodynamics?
Constantly seeking innovation, the year is significant in terms of regulatory changes. The busiest period since the advent of the hybrid era in 2014. Having become too easy to drive for many drivers, the single-seaters have undergone a profound facelift.
The main objective was indeed to improve the support of the cars, in order to increase the speed through corners. For the first time since 1997, the size of the single-seaters has been increased. The front wing gains 15 cm in width, the rear wing 20 cm. As for the chassis, the width gains can be up to 30 cm.
Furthermore, the overall size of the tires has been increased by 20%. And naturally, these Formula 1 cars will be much heavier. The minimum weight now goes from 702 to 722 kg. This gives us cars with very generous shapes!
In terms of technology, several development paths have been explored by engineers from different teams. The first points of similarity converged towards the appearance of a shark fin, an aerodynamic drift extending to the top end of the chassis. Another phenomenon is the attachment of another small T-shaped fin resembling a kind of large antenna. Mounted at the end of the rear hood, Mercedes seems to be pushing hard in the development of this feature. As a whole, the German team has not rested on its laurels, producing a devilishly well-crafted W08, with various appendages protruding from both sides of the German chassis.
Another bold car, the Scuderia Ferrari is also brimming with various types of winglets. Two small “seagull wings” have been installed at the top of the SF70-H. The Italian designers have opted for a more aggressive formula this year, notably with the presence of an S-Duct, which will direct airflow to the front of the car. Clearly, the Scuderia has drawn inspiration from the Mercedes W07, the 2016 world champion that mastered such a process.
Will you succumb to the beauty of the liveries?
Beyond that, enthusiasts of pure and hard aesthetics will also have their say in this vote. Two teams clearly stood out. The new McLaren-Honda has turned completely orange while the Toro Rosso has played with a new alliance between blue and red, in a combination that is reminiscent of the Prost Grand Prix cars from the late 1990s to early 2000s.
But some of you will choose the C36, Sauber’s new flagship, adorned with blue, gold, and white colors.
In any case, which team do you think delivered the most beautiful car on the grid? Feel free to vote, but also to debate among fans throughout this first week of testing!
And as is customary to say before each season: the most beautiful car is often the fastest car!
As a reminder, here are the introductions of the 10 teams participating in this 2017 season:
Translate: Williams
Translate: Toro Rosso
