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[Gilles 27]

Lol either a giant anteater or a tapir i think! The Renault definitely seems to have a shorter wheelbase than the other cars. It's been bugging me for a while, surely this means their center of gravity must be higher? The Ferrari and particularly the McLaren look huge! The McLaren looks sooooooooooo long! I would not want to be involved in an overtaking maneuver at Monaco in that!

[Hexagram]

Even though the pictures are not to scale you can really see the shorter wheel base of the R30. Renault powered cars will definitely be starting with less fuel on race day.

[Gilles 27]

Yeh that's right! I forgot about that, Renault are supposed to have good fuel economy with their engine aren't they. Mercedes are supposed to be good at saving fuel when in the pits and stuff but have quite a high consumption when at race pace. I don't know how anybody knows this stuff but it's what I have been hearing. It would certainly fit as the Renault seems to have a short wheelbase (therefore presumably a small fuel tank) and the McLaren out of all the cars seems to have a very long wheelbase (presumably then with a large fuel tank.

[racechick]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

[darwin dali]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

It's the shark fin design we're talking about. Presumably it gives those cars an aero advantage (at the expense of lateral stability in corners if the wind blows hard ).

[racechick]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

It's the shark fin design we're talking about. Presumably it gives those cars an aero advantage (at the expense of lateral stability in corners if the wind blows hard ).

Which sort do you think will be best? The bad in strong wind ones wont like it at silverstone

[darwin dali]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

It's the shark fin design we're talking about. Presumably it gives those cars an aero advantage (at the expense of lateral stability in corners if the wind blows hard ).

Which sort do you think will be best? The bad in strong wind ones wont like it at silverstone

We'll find out - patience is a virtue as hard as it sometimes seems to be

[Frosty]

I bets the Virgin is faster than the Lotus

[scotty]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

The big fins on the engine covers? They direct a bit more air to the rear wing when the car is going round a corner, supposedly helping increase downforce at the rear. However for me it can't make that much of a big difference if teams are still choosing not to use them. I think the decision is therefore partly motivated the general handling characteristics of the car (with regards to the balance - ie whether it has a tendancy to over or understeer) and simple driver preference. These fins apparently sometimes cause the car to have understeer which isn't to every driver's taste - in 2008 Ferrari started to run the fins halfway through the season, only for Raikkonen to eventually ditch the development and seemingly go faster than he did with it!

Tried to avoid as much jargon as poss there, hope that explanation helps.

[Frosty]

I wonder if many teams will develop the snow plow if it proves successful on the McLaren and Williams.

[scotty]

I wonder if many teams will develop the snow plow if it proves successful on the McLaren and Williams.

What's that then?

[racechick]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

The big fins on the engine covers? They direct a bit more air to the rear wing when the car is going round a corner, supposedly helping increase downforce at the rear. However for me it can't make that much of a big difference if teams are still choosing not to use them. I think the decision is therefore partly motivated the general handling characteristics of the car (with regards to the balance - ie whether it has a tendancy to over or understeer) and simple driver preference. These fins apparently sometimes cause the car to have understeer which isn't to every driver's taste - in 2008 Ferrari started to run the fins halfway through the season, only for Raikkonen to eventually ditch the development and seemingly go faster than he did with it!

Tried to avoid as much jargon as poss there, hope that explanation helps.

Yes, that helped thanks. the McLaren has one and Lewis hates understeer But the mcLaren one has a little hole in it , so maybe it will be ok

[Jensonb]

I'm really not seeing what's so radical about the Williams. I keep hearing them go on about it, or James Allen or whoever saying it's revolution not evolution...But it's clearly based on the 2009 car!

Also...God the Virgin is weird looking.

[scotty]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

The big fins on the engine covers? They direct a bit more air to the rear wing when the car is going round a corner, supposedly helping increase downforce at the rear. However for me it can't make that much of a big difference if teams are still choosing not to use them. I think the decision is therefore partly motivated the general handling characteristics of the car (with regards to the balance - ie whether it has a tendancy to over or understeer) and simple driver preference. These fins apparently sometimes cause the car to have understeer which isn't to every driver's taste - in 2008 Ferrari started to run the fins halfway through the season, only for Raikkonen to eventually ditch the development and seemingly go faster than he did with it!

Tried to avoid as much jargon as poss there, hope that explanation helps.

Yes, that helped thanks. the McLaren has one and Lewis hates understeer But the mcLaren one has a little hole in it , so maybe it will be ok

I would imagine that because they've put the fin on from scratch that everything balance wise has been accounted for and so wouldn't have any unforseen problems... Tell you what though, on paper that McLaren is gonna be bloody quick at Silverstone and the like.

[Jensonb]

Great pics, thanks. Its interesting seeing them all together. Ok a question (im not technical remember so easy answers). Why do some cars go straight across(I mean between the sticky up bit behind the drivers head and the back wing) and some go down then back up. The Renault, mcLaren, sauber and red bull ones go straight across. (Its not red bull is it??) Anyway, why do they do that and whats the benefits of each.

The big fins on the engine covers? They direct a bit more air to the rear wing when the car is going round a corner, supposedly helping increase downforce at the rear. However for me it can't make that much of a big difference if teams are still choosing not to use them. I think the decision is therefore partly motivated the general handling characteristics of the car (with regards to the balance - ie whether it has a tendancy to over or understeer) and simple driver preference. These fins apparently sometimes cause the car to have understeer which isn't to every driver's taste - in 2008 Ferrari started to run the fins halfway through the season, only for Raikkonen to eventually ditch the development and seemingly go faster than he did with it!

Tried to avoid as much jargon as poss there, hope that explanation helps.

Yes, that helped thanks. the McLaren has one and Lewis hates understeer But the mcLaren one has a little hole in it , so maybe it will be ok

I doubt they would have added it if it was going to cause him troubles re: his driving style. He was the only confirmed driver throughout design and he's publicly stated he helped influence the design direction (Smart move on McLaren's part given the limited testing).