Work of Art

[935k3]

I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and my eyes find the new Ferrari F138 F1 car a work of art.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Probably the ultimate in 'form follows function' applied to surface vehicles.

[58 Impala]

I love F1, I'm a big fan. This year's Ferrari looks much better than last year. Most of the teams got rid of or smoothed out the stepped nose design on their new cars.

Edited February 2, 2013 by 58 Impala

[Harry P.]

I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and my eyes find the new Ferrari F138 F1 car a work of art.

Please tell me you're being sarcastic.

[Erik Smith]

That's what happens when you don't care what a car looks like.

[935k3]

Please tell me you're being sarcastic.

Not one bit. I am true beliver in every thing F1 is. The technology, the passion and the history. Where would automotive development be if everything was like the dinasours NASCAR runs?

Edited February 2, 2013 by 935k3

[Foxer]

This Form Follows Rules, then tries to make it function.

[Chuck Most]

Let me get back to ya... I just can't get past that blunt bow at the moment, much less soak in the rest of it.

[AzTom]

Abstract art?

[Terry Sumner]

Kinda reminds me of a road grader in the front.....

[jeffs396]

These incredible machines are like Mike said, designed & built to the specs of the rule book, then thoroughly tested by computer, in wind tunnels (both scale models and 1:1) and finally limited (by the rule book) on-track testing (which officially starts next week prior to the seasons start in 40 days).

Some teams do a better job of making them 'pleasing to the eye' (I think they look best in bare carbon myself, but they gotta have liveries), here's a linky to the four teams that have officially launched this years cars so far:

http://www.formula1.com/gallery/launches/

[CadillacPat]

Functional?, sure, Ferrari designed it.

But Beauty?? Maybe a technical work of art.

This looks like,

A) One of those 4 blade Schick Razors,

A vending machine laying down on its back,

C) A Street Luge

C) If only it did have some of the styling of early NASCARs

Certainly, these races are not about the looks of the automobiles,

But it was not so long ago that they were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CadillacPat

[mrmike]

I can't seem to understand the design of the current F1 cars. How are the drivers suppose to see past their feet? The foot box looks too high.

[JunkPile]

Ferrari does not care if I like the design of their current race car. I am OK with that. They seem to know what they are doing.

[Psychographic]

925k3, you live in Mechanicsburg and didn't post a pic of a 410, shame on you!

[Greg Myers]

Edited February 2, 2013 by Greg Myers

[935k3]

925k3, you live in Mechanicsburg and didn't post a pic of a 410, shame on you!

Are you saying I have a famous 1/2 mile dirt track near my house?

[935k3]

I can't seem to understand the design of the current F1 cars. How are the drivers suppose to see past their feet? The foot box looks too high.

The nose is high to allow as much air under the car to the leading edge of the splitter. The front suspensions is also angled to allow free airflow through that area. The drivers legs are somewhat elevated when seated in the car.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Everything about the appearance of the Ferrari F138 screams 'CFD' (computational fluid dynamics), which is how all the aerodynamic surfaces of F1 cars are designed now. CFD incorporates a virtual, in-computer wind-tunnel as part of the program, itself created from empirical data collected from actual wind-tunnel testing and correlated into useful formulae over many years. Different CFD programs produce interestingly different results, and the prototype shapes are verified in full-scale, real-time wind-tunnels. Ferrari was getting inconsistent data from its own wind-tunnel during development of this design, and has shut it down for upgrades. Ferrari development is currently working to get consistant, repeatable test data from testing in a borrowed wind-tunnel facility (Toyota's)

[bbowser]

Kinda reminds me of a road grader in the front.....

LOL!

[Harry P.]

Everything about the appearance of the Ferrari F138 screams 'CFD' (computational fluid dynamics), which is how all the aerodynamic surfaces of F1 cars are designed now. CFD incorporates a virtual, in-computer wind-tunnel as part of the program, itself created from empirical data collected from actual wind-tunnel testing and correlated into useful formulae over many years. Different CFD programs produce interestingly different results, and the prototype shapes are verified in full-scale, real-time wind-tunnels. Ferrari was getting inconsistent data from its own wind-tunnel during development of this design, and has shut it down for upgrades. Ferrari development is currently working to get consistant, repeatable test data from testing in a borrowed wind-tunnel facility (Toyota's)

All the explanation in the world doesn't make it any less ug-lee!

[Guest]

Please tell me you're being sarcastic.

What Harry said. Looks like Picasso designed it.

[Psychographic]

While I don't care much for how F1 cars have developed cosmetically, you can't argue with this.

With that said, I don't think speed has a lot to do with the excitement of racing.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Psychographic

[brad4321]

In the world of cars, there is nothing sexier than Formula 1 cars, in my opinion. (Pro Mods would be my runner up.) It doesn't matter what era we're talking about, F1 cars are simply gorgeous. Everything F1 is gorgeous, and thats just one reason it is my favorite sport. As far as this car goes, I guess I'm happy the stepped nose is gone, though it never bothered me as much as others. I dont love the livery. I'd rather see a brighter red and no black or white strip.

Edited February 3, 2013 by brad4321

[JM485]

I think the new McLaren looks the best so far, but that is my oppinion. Wonder how Mercedes will handle Hamilton this year.