471 replies to this topic

[Timstr11]

While McLaren tries to steal the limelight with their new interim livery, the real news of tomorrow will be the track debut of the R26 tomorrow at Jerez.

In one of their news artcles Renault speaks of "daring new bodywork shapes" emerging from the production workshops.

Can't wait to see what they came-up with

[renaultFan]

Me too! Look forward to see if they can continue with their performance and see if they can maintain their competitivness

[Gemini]

Isn't one most exciting times in a F1 year? Everything is possible!!!

[jokuvaan]

Didnt Renault tell that they will have two cars ready at the same time so they can start gaining lost V8 test time?

So when is the car number 2. ready?

[Timstr11]

I think next week.

[Pep]

Mmmm, I'm looking forward to seeing the new car and what Alonso and Fisi say about it. I'm pretty sure that by February they'll be setting the pace of all the grid

I think this week is the only one when they'll have just one car (Fisi is testing it tuesday and wednesday, Alonso on thursday and friday), two from then onwards.

[V10 Fireworks]

Originally posted by Timstr11
While McLaren tries to steal the limelight with their new interim livery, the real news of tomorrow will be the track debut of the R26 tomorrow at Jerez.

In one of their news artcles Renault speaks of "daring new bodywork shapes" emerging from the production workshops.

Can't wait to see what they came-up with

Hmm. pershap all air intakes combined with one single massive intake above the drivers head. A revolution

[Platipus]

Camless RS26 reaching 24000trms?

;)

[Pep]

Any website with pics of the car?

[Timstr11]

The mornings are very cold in Jerez, so teams start running quite late in the day.

[stardust]

[Timstr11]

Although I just read at F1total.com that at 9:01 Zonta was the first to hit the track.
BMW cars are all white with the BMW logo.

No pictures yet.

[wankan]

http://www.suttonima...x?folderid=5009

[Timstr11]

It's on Sutton now!

Not dramatically different from the R25 though.
The rear wing is special. It has an upward bend or scoop.

[A Wheel Nut]

So in other words "daring new bodywork shapes" = "we're publicity whores"

Granted the rear end looks pretty tight, which isn't entirely unexpected with a V8.

[peroa]

Didn`t Alonso say already before Christmas that the new car is very similiar to the R25?

So...

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by Timstr11
It's on Sutton now!

Not dramatically different from the R25 though.
The rear wing is special. It has an upward bend or scoop.

Wait until you check the Autosport gallery...

[Chubby_Deuce]

It never ceases to amaze me, the improvements that can still be found to be done on the ass-end of these cars.

[rfus]

I don't know if I have bad eye site but the air box seems to have a really strange ripple/bulge around the rear suspension mounts

[Bravo]

Sidepots are narrower 'cause no need to cool as much as last year. Air chimney is also smaller according to new engine feeding. Rear end is much tighter than before. Not to mention rear wing and likely changes in front wing for Bahrein in March.

[bluetentacle]

Extremely tight radiator intakes.

Much more sophisticated sculpting on the rear bodywork, flipups, and fins. The flipups in front of the rear wheels have a curved leading edge, instead of being parallel with the centerline of the car--due to the sidepods being narrower but the width of the car being the same from wheel to wheel.

Front wing end plates are different as well.

And possibly more...

One would expect the new car to be an evolution of a winning design. Given this, there seem to many new bits on the R26.

[bluetentacle]

A notable feature is the complete absence of cooling gills on the rear bodywork. IMO this takes away some of the unique character that the previous car had. The exhaust outlets are even better integrated than before.

[Timstr11]

The exhaust pipes are moved forward, which is peobably why the raised the middle section of the rear wing. Take it out of the stream of exhaust gasses to improve efficiency.

[WACKO]

I think the rear side is very interesting. The rear wheel suspension mounts seem to be placed higher up and more towards the front from the above view picture. The aerodynamics around it are quiet impressive.

[stardust]

it has the same pattern of r25 front suspension. i mean the traingle with the attack on the down part.

[bluetentacle]

I wonder if the wheelbase has been shortened, since the rear crash structure seems to protrude quite a bit, cmopared to the previous car.

http://gallery.autos...ge/l_img_4669-3

http://gallery.autos...-12-16T140626-3

[carbonfibre]

Well it looks like a finetuned R25. But ofcourse that's only the outside.

When you compare the F2003-GA to the F2002 or to the F2004 they all look very similar but the differences were big.

[WACKO]

Yeah I compared those too and it seems there is not so much difference in the suspension layout from this angle. It is the tighter airbox part that misleads the eye.

You have a better view on the R25's rear on this one:

http://www.autosport...to.php/id/27208

[zac510]

Here is a great pic from F1total.de

http://www.f1total.c...erez1//z011.jpg

[lustigson]

Is it me, or are F1 cars becoming more and more ugly?

[WACKO]

With the tighter air inlets they have a major gain of downforce through the winglets on the sides in front of the rear wheel. It seems the 2006 cars with less power and gains of downforce will be as robust as a tank.

[zac510]

Originally posted by lustigson
Is it me, or are F1 cars becoming more and more ugly?

Just you.

[A Wheel Nut]

And me too.

[Tubbs]

Originally posted by bluetentacle
A notable feature is the complete absence of cooling gills on the rear bodywork.

It's not very hot at Jerez during this time of the year.

[WACKO]

Originally posted by Tubbs


It's not very hot at Jerez during this time of the year.

Yeah they may return for the hot races in Malaysia and Bahrain, but generally speaking a V8 needs less cooling than a V10.

[bluetentacle]

Originally posted by Tubbs


It's not very hot at Jerez during this time of the year.

Last year they had gills regardless of the weather.

[bluetentacle]

Originally posted by lustigson
Is it me, or are F1 cars becoming more and more ugly?

Ah, more complaints from the old timers--it happens this time every year.

I, for one, consider the recent Renaults and McLarens to be some of the most beautiful race cars ever built. For these purposeful machines, forms must always follow function; a seemingly sleek exterior is worth nothing to me if it happens to be an aerodynamic brick.

[roadie]

From the limited pictures available right now it looks like an interesting car. It is definitley running less downforce and therefore less drag than the R25 and the rear wing is a novel shape.

I know Honda's new car is set to look different to past BAR's but Renault seemed to have followed the Ferrari philsophy of retaining a smilarly designed car to last year and correcting its defficiencies. I particularly like the channeling of air around the bottom of the sidepods and over the wing on the bottom of the sidepod to aid the diffuser. The packaging at the rear is also brilliant.

[A Wheel Nut]

Originally posted by bluetentacle


Ah, more complaints from the old timers--it happens this time every year.

If Lustigson and I are "old timers" does that make you prepubescent, cos a quick check of our repsective profiles shows Lustigson a very old 28 and me, well I'm already verbally incontinent at 24.

[boostpressure]

Originally posted by Timstr11
BMW cars are all white with the BMW logo.

how do you know this?

[Timstr11]

Was mentioned at F1total.com.

[boostpressure]

Originally posted by Timstr11
Was mentioned at F1total.com.

ta, thanks mate.

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by lustigson
Is it me, or are F1 cars becoming more and more ugly?

These are beauties compared to late last decade boxy car.. looks a bit like last years car fitted with new rear.

[MortenF1]

Looks nice, -and just a little bit different all over I think. Interesting to note that the wishbones are attached slightly lower than before. The sidepods remind me of that mask they ran around with in Scary movie...

[MrSlow]

Originally posted by lustigson
Is it me, or are F1 cars becoming more and more ugly?

It is due to todays construction technique. They build the chassis, put shrink-plastic around it and then they use a huge hot-air gun to fit shrink the plastic into a "bodywork"

Seriously, the R-26 looks as if that is exactly what they have done. Can Max not ban those damn winglets to start with???

[zac510]

Originally posted by MrSlow

It is due to todays construction technique. They build the chassis, put shrink-plastic around it and then they use a huge hot-air gun to fit shrink the plastic into a "bodywork"

Seriously, the R-26 looks as if that is exactly what they have done. Can Max not ban those damn winglets to start with???

Can I ban you from this forum cos you're ugly?

[MrSlow]

Originally posted by zac510


Can I ban you from this forum cos you're ugly?

No, only bira can. That is why I did not ask you to ban the winglets Einstein.

[zac510]

Originally posted by MrSlow

No, only bira can. That is why I did not ask you to ban the winglets Einstein.

How would you feel if bira banned you for that reason?

[MrSlow]

Originally posted by zac510


How would you feel if bira banned you for that reason?

You believe you have found a great analogy? Think again.

[zac510]

Originally posted by MrSlow

You believe you have found a great analogy? Think again.

Yeah, you're right. You are a contributor to this forum like a winglet is a valuable addition to an F1 car. We shall keep you