F1 2017 Car Launch/testing topic

[pixelboy]

And they have turned the shark fin into a wing of sorts!

Oh no it's not, it looked flat on the top but I don't think it is.

[Big Kev]

Nah it's just painted yellow along the top edge.

[Vilante]

I'm diggin' the livery. It's been a while since I've said that about an F1 car. It's not even very good, but there is something to it.

[pab]

The design just needs some (IMHO) white.

[wabbit]

And they have turned the shark fin into a wing of sorts!

It acts exactly like a wing. It's fantastic aerodynamically.

[KNAPPO]

Honest question

Whats the point of the shark fin?
Is it for stability or controlling flow to the rear wing.

I didnt miss these a few years back when they got so big they connected to the rear wing. Its one of the only aesthetics of the new cars that I dont really dig.

[Duke]

Honest question

Whats the point of the shark fin?
Is it for stability or controlling flow to the rear wing.

I didnt miss these a few years back when they got so big they connected to the rear wing. Its one of the only aesthetics of the new cars that I dont really dig.

as far as i know it acts like rudder to keep the car pointed straight, stable & to control yaw particularly in a spin, same as they do on LMP cars.

[KNAPPO]

as far as i know it acts like rudder to keep the car pointed straight, stable & to control yaw particularly in a spin, same as they do on LMP cars.

Thanks Duke, thats what I thought and basically what I meant about it being for stability. They would look better without them in my opinion but its not the worst aero piece to ever find itself on an F1 car.

Its interesting that the Williams one is much smaller than the ones on the Sauber and Renoo.

[Dr. Pain]

It also keeps the air flow clean to the rear wing. It's got a surface to travel across rather that going turbulent.

[wabbit]

[Big Kev]

Its interesting that the Williams one is much smaller than the ones on the Sauber and Renoo.

I'm beginning to think the Williams was just a livery launch. CGI of essentially last years car with this years wings and logos. I think there will be some vast changes during testing though once they all start to see what each other is doing.

[Duke]

Wonder if Max will start a new trend for Helmet livery launches...?

[Big Kev]

Some interesting stuff going on on the side pods. The vertical planes only go half way and there are some extra slots on the barge boards.

The sharkfin looks a bit basic.
They've kept their nostrils but painted the nose so that it looks like the cock jobs from a couple of years back, which is a shame.

[Big Kev]

[Duke]

Now we have Dan's helmet job.

[KNAPPO]

Fair hump on that FI nose at the front axle line.

[w00dsy]

Fair hump on that FI nose at the front axle line.

it's like they made Ricciardo into a car

[KNAPPO]

Longer version of the clip Kev posted above.

[Big Kev]

[w00dsy]

Is it just me or is that really long?

[Vilante]

It's very shapely!

[KNAPPO]

Is it just me or is that really long?

I read they were getting longer as well as wider.

Looks good to me, like the less obtrusive shark fin, makes the car look more visually balanced.

[Nigel]

Is it just me or is that really long?

Thought the same thing, reminded me of a skateboard.

[Duke]

Best looking car so far for me.
Can't quite make it out as it has some interesting things going on with the bodywork just behind the front suspension & in front of the sidepod intakes.

[KNAPPO]

has some interesting things going on with the bodywork just behind the front suspension & in front of the sidepod intakes.

Yeah thats one interesting turning vein thats inline with the top wishbone and above the bargeboard.
Top side on pic it looks like part of the paint work and very small vertically, but from above its quite large and sculptured.