F1: 2010 launch - HRT

(HRT F1; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

Come On Down! You’re the very next F1 Constructor… As the former Campos Meta 1 Team broke cover last Thursday, just a scant 10 days prior to Bahrain, as the newly rebranded HRT F1 Team held a press conference in Murcia, Spain where it showed off its new Racecar along with confirming Karun Chandhok as their second driver, which has been widely expected… While I don’t know if Jose Maria Lopez was named as the Spanish squad’s Test/Reserve Driver or not, although this too was expected...

Yet I wouldn’t expect too much from either Bruno Senna or Chandhok as the chassis hasn’t turned a wheel in anger, nor run a single test session this year, so HRT will definitely be starting at a disadvantage… But then again, at least they made it to the party!

2010 Car launch: HRT F1

HRT F1 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Lotus

(Lotus T127; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

And then there were eleven Formula 1 constructors having rolled out their brand new shiny Racecar’s for the fast approaching Grand Prix season… As the newly reborn Lotus F1 Racing Team launched its 2010 Challenger, the Lotus T127 in London last Friday night to a crowd of some 500 strong, including Sir Stirling Moss and ‘BLOODY NIGE, a.k.a. Nigel Mansell.

The Mike Gascoyne penned Lotus Cosworth was actually shaken down by Malaysia’s Fairuz Fauzy, the Team’s Test/Reserve Driver, at Silverstone prior to the ritzy launch and the T127 model apparently borrows heavily upon Lotuses traditional colour scheme, while I’m certain that the squad’s Racing Drivers Jarno Truli and Heikki Kovalainen are itching to get down to work this coming week in Jerez…

2010 Car launch: Lotus T127

T127 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch – Red Bull

(Red Bull RB6; Source: grandprix.com)

Today prior to the beginning of the second round of F1 Pre-season testing, Red Bull Racing finally unveiled its 2010 Challenger, the RB6, becoming the final existing Constructor to join the party.

The RB6 like the Force India VJM003 is an evolution of last year’s chassis; albeit the RB5 had much better results then the latter’s VJM002. Mark Webber will have the honours of driving the new car first, getting the first two days of this week’s test session before ‘ZEBB, a.k.a. Sebastian Vettel gets behind the wheel Friday-Saturday.

Reportedly the only visible changes to the RB6 are its shark like front nose and protruding rear dorsal fin, while the obligatory changes necessitated by the new fuel tank and skinnier front tyres have been carefully considered…

2010 Car launch: Red Bull RB6

RB6 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch – Force India

(Force India VJM003; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

Despite rumours that Force India could be in the clutches of being “Wound-Up” for failure of filing Company documents in England, nevertheless the Team has today launched its 2010 Challenger, the VJM003, just one day prior to the second round of Pre-season Formula 1 testing to be held in Jerez, Spain, where Vitantonio Luzzi will have the honours of driving the new car first.

Mark Smith, the Team’s Designer claims that the VJM003 is an evolution of last year’s VJM002 chassis, which scored the India backed Constructor its very first Grand Prix Championship points, and the Team obviously hopes to build upon this.

“Tonio” Luzzi along with Adrian Sutil will continue as the Teams Race Drivers, with Paul Di Resta having been named as Force India’s Test/Reserve Driver and will get a chance at driving during selected Fridays…

2010 Car launch: Force India VJM003

VJM003 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Virgin

(Virgin VR01; Source: Joe Saward’s Gran Prix blog)

Last Saturday, while you’re esteemed No Fenders Scribe was caught-up in DannaCar-land euphoria… Let ‘Dat sink in a wee bit, eh? Across the Pond clever ‘Vurd Botcherer’s were noting sightigs of Virgins at Silverstone… Nah, Twasn’t NO Virgin Mary, nore Duh Sisters Georges ‘N Mother Mary… Uze knows, this years featured act on duhs Tastes-em Greatz, Lesser filling Fast Friday Speedway concert… Err, actually it was 2010 ‘Newby Formula 1 Constructor Virgin Racing shaking down its brand new Racecar: ‘Shaken not Stirred! Having skipped the traditional countless hours of Wind Tunnel modeling comparisons in order to be the very first New Team to rollout their first Racecar.

As I’ll be very interested to see how Nick Wirth’s latest 100% Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) F1 chassis performs this season, as Wirth has eschewed time honored traditions and instead solely designed his “Clean Sheet” (insert BAD Virgin jokes here?) VR01 Racecar 100% digitally… as Timo Glock had the honours of driving the new model first on a typical British winter day at the cosmetically altered Silverstone circuit, before new boy Lucas Di Grassi took over the following day in better weather, as the Team will now join the Formula One circus at Jerez for Round 2 of testing this week.

And lets remember that Wirth Research used the same method to create last year’s very impressive Acura ARC-01 LMP1 Racecar used by De Ferran Motorsports & Highcroft Racing in the American Le Mans Series, so the theory does appear to work…

2010 Car launch: Virgin VR01

VR01 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch – Toro Rosso

(Toro Rosso STR5; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

Joining the New Boyz Hit Parade was Scuderia Toro Rosso with its very first own constructed Formula 1 Chassis, the STR5, having spent the last four seasons deriving their Racecar’s thru the backdoor of Big Brother Red Bull, nee Red Bull Technologies in a partnership sharing agreement, which has come to an end beginning this season.

Yet I’m not sure why all the fuss since after all they are the old Minardi Team, which previously built its own chassis in true Constructor fashion, nevertheless the Faenza based Team will be scrambling to bring their new car up to snuff, albeit having a leg up on the four new Teams who’ll be showing up at the last moment…

2010 Car launch: Toro Rosso STR5

STR5 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Williams

In typical Williams low key fashion, the Grove based squad passed on the traditional Gala Car launch festivities and simply made its FW32 debut by having ‘Rubino shakedown the new Racecar on Day 1 of testing at Valencia where he ran 75 laps before coming to a halt and causing the session to be Red flagged. Rookie Nico Hulkenberg will get his first chance behind the wheel on Wednesday…

2010 Car launch: Williams FW32

FW32 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Renault

(Renault R30; Source: Joe Saward’s Grand Prix blog)

The “Reggie” broke cover on its new R30 Racecar at Valencia, displaying a newer shade of yellow, harkening back to the auto manufacturers days as a true Constructor during the late 1970’s – early ‘80’s with its yellow ‘N black livery.

Also breaking cover at the new launch was the much anticipated signing of the Team’s second Driver, as Renault saw fit to go with Rookie Vitaly Petrov, who’ll be the very first Russian to race in Formula 1… And it didn’t hurt either that he reputedly comes with a $21m cheque!

2010 Car launch: Renault R30

R30 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Sauber

(Sauber C29; Source: grandprix.com)

On Sunday, Sauber, Err BMW Sauber cranked-up the Merry-go-round of upcoming 2010 Car launches by unveiling its new C29 “Powered by Ferrari” model in Valencia.

Staying true to its roots, the new Car sports a similar BMW-esqe blue ‘N white paint scheme and was presented devoid of any Sponsor decals, to which Peter Sauber stated he wasn’t worried… As I’d expect to see Japan’s Panasonic on the flanks of the new Racecar to coincide with new boy Kamui Kobayashi’s signing, while Pedro De la Rosa will be bringing Universia along with him, which just so happens to be associated with some Spanish Banking Company named Santander…

2010 Car launch: Sauber C29

C29 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - McLaren

(McLaren MP4-25; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

Having decided to not arise at Oh-DARK 30 in order to attempt watching the live sheet pulling exercise in Newberry, nor go outside to view the Full Moon… (Was that the ‘Ronster I heard abarkin?) Nevertheless, McLaren did launch its 2010 challenger the MP4-25 today, while I’m certain that ‘JENSE ‘N ‘JAGUAR (Button & Hamilton) along with Messer Whitmarsh said all of the repository “Right Things,” eh? Can you say PR-Speak?

No word on whether or not today’s launch date was chosen to coincide with the extra luminous Full Moon… Or if it had any effects upon the Team, as it apparently was a “Wide-track” Moon; as in wider is better, eh?

2010 Car launch: McLaren MP4-25

McLaren MP4-25 in pictures

F1: 2010 launch - Ferrari

(Ferrari F10; Source: grandprix.com)

As noted below, today the Prancing Horse followed in the footsteps of Mercedes GP by launching their 2010 Challenger, the F10, as the Scuderia seeks to reclaim it’s place at the head of the Grid in 2010 with either Felipe Massa or Fernando Alonso, along with also wrapping up its record 16th Constructor’s title. And while hoping to have given it a whirl next Dorr at Fiorano, conditions were deemed to icy today…

2010 Car launch: Ferrari F10

Ferrari F10 in pictures

Time to launch the Formula 1 Balloons

Err, its time to begin the traditional new season F1 Car launches, as news continues leaking out selectively over various Constructors plans.

January 25
So we’re back to the Good ‘Ol Dazes of the Schumacher era, as BRAWN GP, Err Mercedes GP was first outta the box to launch its much anticipated 2010 Formula 1 Challenger in its return of the Silver Arrows as we anxiously await the chassis’s nomenclature, before turning our attention to what Herr Schumacher’s helmet will look like?

F1 Car Launch: Mercedes GP

January 28
The Prancing Horse will play second fiddle to Der TERMINATOR’S return by launching its 2010 Challenger today, just three days after Mercedes GP at Maranello, which will most likely be followed by a brief Shakedown run around its Fiorano Test Track(?) before joining the others in Valencia.

January 29
McLaren will unveil its new MP4-25 replete with the No. 1 & No. 2 plates firmly affixed upon its front nose, with the last two year’s World Champions Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton on hand, while the ‘Ronster lurks in the shadows during the Woking PR blitz which will take part live Online McLaren’s website, when debuting at Vodafone’s London HQ.

NOTE
You can catch the launch live on McLaren’s Official website at 1100 local time… Which I believe is sometime in the wee early morning hours over here, eh?

January 31 - February 1
Reportedly four rival Constructors will unveil their new Racecar’s at Valencia, a day ahead of the first official Test session. Breaking cover there will be Renault, with its new R30 chassis. Sauber will unveil its C29 while Scuderia Toro Rosso will show off its very first own designed STR-5, with Williams debuting its FW32 before the quartet joins others in testing from Feb. 1-3; as both the “Reggie” ‘N Williams have fired their V-8 lumps in anticipation of Shakedown runs in Valencia just some mere 4 Days away…

February 10
Red Bull has now confirmed that its latest Adrian Newey designed Formula 1 Challenger, the RB6 will be unveiled at Jerez on the Wednesday of the FIA’s second Test session. No word on whether or not they’ll run a 2010 “Mule” during the prior testing days?

February 12
Lotus will debut its return to Grand Prix racing, albeit in namesake only as the Malaysian backed Mike Gascoyne penned chassis is clearly not a derivative of the late Colin Chapman era; while its expected that the other three “Newbies” (Campos Meta, USF1 & Virgin) will all break cover in this same time period in order to potentially show up for the final F1 Pre-season test on Feb. 25-28 in Barcelona, although speculation now suggests that Campos Meta may miss the entire Testing period?

Meanwhile Force India is reportedly angling for also launching their new VJM-03 on Februray 12th, so stay tuned and see if you can follow the bouncing ball, eh? As reportedly there are now some “live” pics of US F1’s first completed Monocoque of its vaunted Type 1 chassis circulating the either… So check it out!

Brawn GP Formula 1 team announced

(Brawn GP BGP001 - Jenson Button)

Within one minute of Big Ben striking midnight, the Honda Motor Company made official one of the worst kept secrets by announcing that all shares of Honda HRF1, the British holding company for the firm’s Formula One effort have been sold to Ross Brawn.

Thus look for Brawn GP to indeed take the green flag at Melbourne this March 29th with current ex-Honda F1 drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, whom enter their fourth season as teammates, with an astounding 423 starts between them.

The team will indeed utilize customer Mercedes Benz lumps, with “Jense” set to take some exploratory laps behind the wheel of the BGP001 at Silverstone shortly before the team will participate in the final test session next week at Barcelona...

The team seemingly is good to go on its nomenclature, as the team’s website will be Brawngp.com, with NO words of Bernice having any hissy-fits over this... While speculation suggests that former Force India Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne, currently on forced Gardening leave, could potentially take on the role of Technical Director at the newly constituted Brawn GP...

BMW Sauber F1.09

And while rivals Renault and Williams were busy debuting at Portimao the day before, BMW Sauber launched its newest contender, the F1.09 at Valencia on January 20th with Robert Kubica getting the honours of first drive.

As BMW Sauber enters its fourth season, Team Boss Dr Mario Theissen was quick to drone on about the requisite Launchspeak; “We’ll be better this year, we’ll fight for the title and our car will jump over the Moon!” Blah-blah-blah...

Yet, the F1.09 is a strikingly good looking chassis and according to BMW Sauber managing director Walter Riedl:
"The development of the F1.09 centered on three key areas: aerodynamics, optimum tyre utilization and the integration of KERS."

As I’ve read somewhere on le internets... (So it must be true, eh? Thanks Al Gore) that it reportedly features a novel sidepod design, of a wedged shape a la early 1970’s F1 design. *Think of Gordon Murray’s wonderful Brabham BT44) Yet, as I’m a visually impaired pundit, I’ll leave the keen technical scruntinizing to Messer Collantine over at F1 Fanatic, whom as “Hobbo” would say; Has the eyes of a certain type ‘O rat!”

2009 F1 Car comparisons: BMW

Launch notes

Ferrari launches F60

(Source: Motorsport.com)

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has once again beaten their Formula 1 brethren to the punch in the spate of upcoming 2009 F1 launches, when the team debuted the F60 at Mugello on January 12th, as the launch was originally intended for Fiorano, which was blanketed in snow.

Felipe Massa was given the honours of taking the F60 out for its debut laps, as Ferrari has chosen to christen its 2009 challenger the F60, in deference to its continuous 60yrs of participating in the modern F1 Championship.

Massa was quoted as saying it reminded him of an F3 chassis as the racecar is much more diminutive then the previous F2008...

Launch notes

F60 Technical Specs

BMW Sauber F1.08

Finalizing the triumberant of Formula 1 launches in “Der Fatherland,” BMW Sauber debuted its 2008 challenger, the F1.08 at the companies new Delivery Centre in Munich.

BMW claims to have made a radical evolution with the new ’08 chassis and is targeting its first Grand Prix victory this season…

BMW Sauber F1.07

BMW-Sauber has just launched the teams newest challenger, the F1.07 at Valencia’s expo center where the team’s 4 drivers were on hand for the unveiling of BMW’s first all new Formula 1 race car…

To read about McLaren-Mercedes 2007 Launch, see: McLaren MP4/22