McLaren has rounded off the week of new car launches by presenting its MP4-24 in a fashionably quiet presentation at its Woking Technology Centre (photos available on the McLaren website). Like the Toyota TF109, the latest from McLaren is a cleaner, simplified version of all that has gone before and is not the ugly monstrosity that so many feared.
McLaren MP4-24 coming in to land
In fact, I have warmed already to the designs resulting from the new regulations and can see us soon preferring the new uncluttered look to last year's cars. Even the interim BMW has a charm of its own, exuding a slightly gawky brutality that was obscured by the winglets and protrusions of 2008.
What is apparent, however, is how little room for variation there remains between the various designs. The McLaren has many similarities to the Toyota, which is not hugely different from the Ferrari T60. Designers are trying to sneak in a little extra with mini-bargeboards on the edge of legality or mirror supports that just might have an aero influence but, since the regulations have covered most areas, these tiny variations do not affect the overall appearance of the cars.
The result is that all three of this week's offerings look low, long and slinky and it is hard to see any of the other teams coming out with anything much different, with the possible exception of BMW. Beemers somehow manage to look shorter, more upright and chunkier than the rest, perhaps a product of their color scheme, although I doubt their actual dimensions vary that much from the norm.
I think our fears for the look of the cars can be put to rest, therefore. It is always the case that we become accustomed to the changing appearance of F1 cars and this year's will be no exception. In fact and judging by the response to blog posts on the new cars, this seems to be happening even earlier than usual. All that remains now is to see how they fare in the actual races. Roll on the new season!