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[audis4gasm]

Hello,
I'm a bit new to F1, but I do know that a lot depends on the car, as most of the drivers are pretty talented. So what are some of the current best cars in F1? Regardless whether they're in the best shape at the moment or not, because obviously new cars need a lot of adjustments

[acosmichippo]

I'm hardly an expert, but it appears the best car is clearly Red Bull's. Then McLaren, then Mercedes or Renault. Then Ferrari.

[myownalias]

In order right now, the top cars are:

1. Red Bull - Designer Adrian Newey is an absolute genius; just having him in your team makes the car quicker.
2. McLaren - Despite their win in the last race, the Woking based team are still very much second best unless they can bring something special to Turkey.
3. Ferrari - They have the raw pace but seems to be struggling with their aero at the moment, expect them to come strong during the European leg of the championship.
4. Renault - The French outfit have a fast car and some innovative design but have struggled with part failures and driver errors.
5. Mercedes - Showed some good pace in China but still have a long way to go; like Ferrari they should gain some ground in Europe as development parts are easier to come by.

[German F1-Fan]

In order right now, the top cars are:

1. Red Bull - Designer Adrian Newey is an absolute genius; just having him in your team makes the car quicker.
2. McLaren - Despite their win in the last race, the Woking based team are still very much second best unless they can bring something special to Turkey.
3. Ferrari - They have the raw pace but seems to be struggling with their aero at the moment, expect them to come strong during the European leg of the championship.
4. Renault - The French outfit have a fast car and some innovative design but have struggled with part failures and driver errors.
5. Mercedes - Showed some good pace in China but still have a long way to go; like Ferrari they should gain some ground in Europe as development parts are easier to come by.

I would say this order is correct.
But there are some big gaps between the teams.
If Kers working at the car of RedBull like it should work, they will be much better than now.
Ferrari have got a nice pase for the rave, but not for the qualifiying.
Mercedes have got a nice pase if everything is working, but they have got a long way to go.

[scotty]

Red Bull have the outright fastest over a single lap, but that doesn't make it the best. McLaren = more reliable, more powerful, better to tyres, just as fast in race pace, etc...

[myownalias]

Red Bull have the outright fastest over a single lap, but that doesn't make it the best. McLaren = more reliable, more powerful, better to tyres, just as fast in race pace, etc...

But if Red Bull had a reliable working KERS system, they'd disappear into the distance I believe, KERS has been Red Bull's only reliability issue so far this season!

[darwin dali]

Red Bull have the outright fastest over a single lap, but that doesn't make it the best. McLaren = more reliable, more powerful, better to tyres, just as fast in race pace, etc...

But if Red Bull had a reliable working KERS system, they'd disappear into the distance I believe, KERS has been Red Bull's only reliability issue so far this season!

I'm sure they're working on it feverishly to have it bullet proof for Turkey.

[scotty]

Red Bull have the outright fastest over a single lap, but that doesn't make it the best. McLaren = more reliable, more powerful, better to tyres, just as fast in race pace, etc...

But if Red Bull had a reliable working KERS system, they'd disappear into the distance I believe, KERS has been Red Bull's only reliability issue so far this season!

Yup, but while it remains an issue, my point still stands i think.

[myownalias]

Red Bull have the outright fastest over a single lap, but that doesn't make it the best. McLaren = more reliable, more powerful, better to tyres, just as fast in race pace, etc...

But if Red Bull had a reliable working KERS system, they'd disappear into the distance I believe, KERS has been Red Bull's only reliability issue so far this season!

Yup, but while it remains an issue, my point still stands i think.

I think the jury is still out; we'll see in Turkey; the first two races Vettel was untouchable I believe, Malaysia was closer but I still believe Vettel managed the gap rather than being actively caught!

[sennasational]

I have to say at this point; this years McLaren is very much this years car. It is completely different design to last years and so the potential for improvement should be pretty large. Red Bull have been evolving their design for at least 3 seasons now (and more like 5 really) so i think we're seeing it at it's limit. That being said it is by far the best car in the field but i believe their reign is coming to an end.

You never can tell what Newey has up his sleeve though.

[Bubbie]

If you are talking just about the cars so far this year...

Redbull is #1
McLaren is coming on strong, but is still #2

Renault so far is better than the Ferrari. Stupid mistakes by the Renault drivers and poor strategies have stopped them from being higher in the constructors championships. I would love to see Alonso in a Renault if he had stuck it out in that team. Or if RK was still on the grid. The car itself is mighty.

Ferrari and Mercedes are fourth and fifth.

I expect Ferrari to get it's act together very soon. With one of the best drivers on the grid, if they can get the car sorted they will start to get some great podiums in the coming weeks.

[audis4gasm]

isn't the Red Bull car still a Renault though? shouldn't that be fast as well?

[Bubbie]

Red Bull has a Renault engine. The Aero is their own - and arguably what makes them the best car.

[bigpat]

I have to say at this point; this years McLaren is very much this years car. It is completely different design to last years and so the potential for improvement should be pretty large. Red Bull have been evolving their design for at least 3 seasons now (and more like 5 really) so i think we're seeing it at it's limit. That being said it is by far the best car in the field but i believe their reign is coming to an end.

You never can tell what Newey has up his sleeve though.

As much as I like McLaren, I have to say I believe the Red Bull is still THE car so far.
You correctly observe the Red Bulls as being evolved, but don't think that this years car is anything but new from the ground up. Obviously the philosophy being the recent cars has been very sound, so why change for change sake? Everyone else has either copied them, or gone out on a flyer to try to catch them. Designing a different looking car, doesn't mean more scope to develop it. After all, the Mclaren really improved after they introduced a new floor and exhaust based on.... the RB7.

If you look back at Newey's career, all his Williams( 91-94, 95-97) and later the Mclarens (97-2005) were all evolutions of the previous years cars.

History shows the most quick cars, from the best design teams are all evolved over time. Other examples besides Adrian Newey are:

1984-87 Mclaren by John Barnard
1987-92 Mclaren by Gordon Murray
1989-91 Ferrari by John Barnard
1991-95 Benetton By Rory Byrne
2000-06 Ferrari by Rory Byrne
2004-06 Renault by Bob Bell/Tim Densham

To me evolution is the sign of a fundamentally sound car. I see this years Renault R31 as a straight development of last years handy R30.

Cheers,

Pat

[sennasational]

I have to say at this point; this years McLaren is very much this years car. It is completely different design to last years and so the potential for improvement should be pretty large. Red Bull have been evolving their design for at least 3 seasons now (and more like 5 really) so i think we're seeing it at it's limit. That being said it is by far the best car in the field but i believe their reign is coming to an end.

You never can tell what Newey has up his sleeve though.

As much as I like McLaren, I have to say I believe the Red Bull is still THE car so far.
You correctly observe the Red Bulls as being evolved, but don't think that this years car is anything but new from the ground up. Obviously the philosophy being the recent cars has been very sound, so why change for change sake? Everyone else has either copied them, or gone out on a flyer to try to catch them. Designing a different looking car, doesn't mean more scope to develop it. After all, the Mclaren really improved after they introduced a new floor and exhaust based on.... the RB7.

If you look back at Newey's career, all his Williams( 91-94, 95-97) and later the Mclarens (97-2005) were all evolutions of the previous years cars.

History shows the most quick cars, from the best design teams are all evolved over time. Other examples besides Adrian Newey are:

1984-87 Mclaren by John Barnard
1987-92 Mclaren by Gordon Murray
1989-91 Ferrari by John Barnard
1991-95 Benetton By Rory Byrne
2000-06 Ferrari by Rory Byrne
2004-06 Renault by Bob Bell/Tim Densham

To me evolution is the sign of a fundamentally sound car. I see this years Renault R31 as a straight development of last years handy R30.

Cheers,

Pat

I absolutely agree the best cars have certainly been developed and evolved over multiple seasons, I hate McLaren's lack of continuity in their designs from season to season but there has to be a point where you have gotten the absolute most out of the car you have been designing for several years. I think RBR are nearing that limit and it's just down to everyone else to play catch up. Their potential for improvement is small compared to some of the other teams