Formula 1
Arms-race speeds up even before first race
GMM
Edited: Mar 4, 2012, 1:26 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mar.4 (GMM) At the front of the field in 2012, before a single racing lap has even turned, the well-known Formula One arms-race has already begun.
As the last days of pre-Melbourne testing are counted down in Barcelona, Red Bull and McLaren unveiled major evolutions to their recently-launched new cars.
On the RB8, the major difference was the Sauber-style exhaust, after designer Adrian Newey was reportedly "impressed" with the 2012 solution devised by the Swiss midfield team.
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing with a new exhaust system
Photo by: xpb.cc
"It's effectively a completely new (Red Bull) car," said the BBC's technical analyst Gary Anderson, according to the Guardian.
The high-profile Red Bull upgrade was the perfect time for McLaren to quietly unveil its own heavily modified car, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported.
"Did you see that McLaren have rebuilt half their car?" Force India technical director Andrew Green is quoted as saying.
One new innovation on the MP4-27, apparently, is a Mercedes-like front wing W-duct.
"The upgrade is a major step forward; better than we expected," said Jenson Button.
Elsewhere, the noises are not so positive: Ferrari stridently denied internet rumours Felipe Massa has been sacked, and then gagged both the Brazilian and his teammate Fernando Alonso from speaking to the media.
"The decision has been taken to keep the whole team fully focused on the job and there is not any polemic intent behind it," the team insisted.
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing with a new exhaust system
Photo by: xpb.cc
But while happily listing Red Bull's likely contenders for 2012, Mark Webber admitted Ferrari's form remains a "mystery".
Even less is known about those at the rear of the grid, with Marussia and HRT still yet to launch their 2012 cars.
The Spanish team has sought permission at late notice to do a "filming day" with its new machine in Barcelona on Monday, while Marussia wants to run at Silverstone in the coming days.
At Marussia, the hold-up was caused by the FIA's more stringent than ever crash tests.
"We're going to make sure we get it right this time," team boss John Booth told the BBC.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Caterham Barcelona test II - Day 3 report
Next article Tavo Hellmund sues investors of Austin Grand Prix
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Felipe Massa
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Formula 1
Formula 1
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
More from
Ferrari
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
8 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
10 h
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
Latest news
Carson Hocevar posts 18-minute apology video: "I'm the bad guy"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
6 h
Carson Hocevar posts 18-minute apology video: "I'm the bad guy"
Timmy Hill secures full-time NASCAR Truck ride for 2027
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
7 h
Timmy Hill secures full-time NASCAR Truck ride for 2027
Kimi Antonelli admits he questioned himself throughout his rookie campaign
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
8 h
Kimi Antonelli admits he questioned himself throughout his rookie campaign
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
8 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe