2009 F1 car comparisons: Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Williams and Toyota
Renault R29 and Williams FW31 (click to enlarge)
Half of the 2009 F1 grid has now been launched providing us with some insight into the different design directions taken by likely front-runners of 2009.
Here’s how the freshly-launched Renault R29 and Williams FW31 compare to the Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota that appeared last week.
Front views
Ferrari F60, Toyota TF109, Renault R29 and Williams FW31 (click to enlarge)
It seems Toyota’s high, narrow nose it a bit of a departure from what the rest of the field are practising. Renault’s blocky front nose reminds me of the 1995 Benetton – and that wasn’t short on success.
Williams, like Ferrari, has extra flaps inside of the front wing endplates, though the FW31′s are squarer than the F60′s.
Side-by-side
Ferrari F60, Toyota TF109, McLaren MP4-24 and Williams FW31 (click to enlarge)
The R29 is the first 2009 car to appear with a ‘shark fin’ wing on the engine cover. Renault were one of the first to adopt these devices last year after Red Bull. However as there’s no studio side-on picture of the R29 it isn’t shown above (here’s a good picture of the R29 in profile).
Williams on the other hand has a far smaller engine cover. There’s probably more to it than them not having as many sponsors as their rivals.
Williams also has an aggressive interpretation of the rules governing wings and flip-ups in front of sidepods, although the dark colour of the interim livery makes it hard to see. Here’s an enhanced version:
Williams FW31 with side pod wing highlighted (click to enlarge)
Top-down view
Williams also haven’t produced studio pictures of the FW31 but they have released some detailed technical drawings (find them all here). I’ve used the top-down image below, although its usefulness for making comparisons is limited by it being a flat image rather than a photograph of a three-dimensional car.
Ferrari F60, Toyota TF109, Williams FW31 and McLaren MP4-24 (click to enlarge)
Over to you
If you want to manipulate these images to conduct your own comparisons you can find the original Photoshop files on the F1Fanatic drop.io.
Could you do a better job with the 2009 F1 car liveries? Send your designs in here.
MacademiaNut said on 19th January 2009, 21:06
The front wing of the Williams appears to be visibly higher than the rest.
It is also pretty interesting to note that Renault also has a nice body work that covers the exhaust, similar to McLaren.
gabal said on 19th January 2009, 21:38
It could be that Ferrari with their open exhaust is in violation of technical regulations and all teams would have to have covered exhaust.
David - BR said on 19th January 2009, 21:23
Aesthetically the Ferrari looks good apart from the rear (and the stupid barcode). But the McLaren is exceptional, I think, the body-line one continuous flat sine-curve from the downward slanting cut-away portion of the rear endplate, rising up to the cockpit and dipping again to the nose. Looks fast, anyhow.
Arnet said on 19th January 2009, 21:53
Hey, Keith, I am unable to click through to larger photos. Is it on my side, or is it a site issue? Keep up the great work!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th January 2009, 22:13
Works fine at my end, mate, what browser you using?
Chaz said on 19th January 2009, 22:41
Mmm! Does the Williams back wing comply with the new regulations…
Arnet said on 19th January 2009, 22:41
Firefox. I get a grey box with: “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.” On the top. Will attempt a restart.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th January 2009, 22:52
Could you post the link you’re trying to reach please?
Arnet said on 19th January 2009, 23:52
Restart didn’t work.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16402
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16401
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16400
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16403
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16399
Hollus said on 19th January 2009, 23:54
I also have the problem with the larger pictures and I am also using firefox.
If I click on pic of the williams “bargeboards” it goes to this link
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16403
but there is no pic.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 20th January 2009, 0:25
That is odd – I just tried the link and it worked for me. Perhaps try doing a hard refresh (Ctrl-F5), if that doesn’t work I’ll have a look at the cache and redirects.
ajokay said on 20th January 2009, 17:16
I have the same issue. Firefox 3.0.5, XP SP2
Jitman said on 20th January 2009, 0:13
There have been rumours on other websites that the Ferrari have an illegal design for the back (as they exposed their exhausts outlets).
Is this true..? Could we have a comparison between the back of all the F1 cars launched. Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.
Love this site..!
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090119145200.shtml
Hollus said on 20th January 2009, 0:31
I just tried it again, CTRL+F5 didn’t do the trick either.
For the sake of testing I tried it in explorer with the same result, no picture and “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.” in its place. Can it be some geographic issue? I am writing from Canada.
Alejandro said on 20th January 2009, 3:47
Same here FF and IE ““Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.”” from Costa Rica
mani said on 20th January 2009, 3:59
Hi Keith, I face this problem too, while I try to open the very first pic of this post! Find the link below,
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/?attachment_id=16402
And, could you please write an article about the Ferrari exhaust system? f1-live claims it illegal, but why? (refer the link provided by Jitman)
Polak said on 20th January 2009, 5:45
I really like the Williams from an aesthetic point of view. The Ferrari and McLaren are neck and neck, but I don’t like the silver/red livery of the Mc. Renault and Toyota have a blocky looking front. I hope the BMW won’t turn out like that as well. It looked pretty bad in initial testing but that was just a 09 aero spec car.
Keep them comming
Arnet said on 20th January 2009, 5:58
I’m pitching in from Canada too, although I can’t see how that might bean issue.
anirudh said on 20th January 2009, 6:41
Williams looks like batmobile !
ukk said on 20th January 2009, 7:48
the Williams seems to be generating most drag from the current cars – largest radiator openings, bulkiest front suspension and brake cooling … hope I’m wrong