A photographic update of the 2009 challengers. Opinions, anyone?
Left to right...
Top row: BMW-Sauber; Renault
2nd row: Force 1ndia; Ferrari
3rd row: Toyota; McLaren
4th row: Williams; Brawn
5th row: STR; RBR
For looks alone, my top three are:
1) Renault - I know it's ugly, with that stupid, fat block of white cheese for a nose, but I think it's ace all the same.
2) McLaren - Probably the most attractive car overall, even though I've never considered myself a McLaren fan.
3) Brawn - I like the fluorescent yellow and the general shape of the car; simple but effective?
My least favourite car to look at has to be the Toyota. It looks so tower-like that a strong gust of wind might even blow it over. I think the designers took "taller and narrower" to extremes...
I think there are some trends here, though: Toyota and Force India have raised noses and tall rods connecting them to the front wing; naturally, Red Bull and Toro Rosso share the same tapered noses; Williams and Brawn both have rounded, drooping nose cones; McLaren and Ferrari's are some kind of stylish medium between round and drooping, and narrow and high; BMW and Renault have basically each strapped a bed to the front of their cars - something for the drivers to sunbathe on when they crash out at Melbourne...