Who’s got the best-looking car in 2012?
2012 F1 season preview
F1 teams have different solutions to the nose problem
The F1 cars of 2012 will probably not be remembered as the most attractive the sport has ever produced.
New rules have led most of the teams to add an unsightly step in the nose of their cars. Added to the oddly-proportioned front and rear wings in use since 2009, it makes from some strange-looking machines.
But as ever some cars look better than others and some teams have done better jobs of presenting their racers.
Which do you think is the best-looking car of 2012? Compare them all below and cast your vote.
Red Bull RB8
Mark Webber, Red Bull, Barcelona, 2012
McLaren MP4-27
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Jerez, 2012
Ferrari F2012
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Barcelona, 2012
Mercedes W03
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Barcelona, 2012
Lotus E20
Romain Grosjean, Lotus, Barcelona, 2012
- More Lotus E20 pictures
Force India VJM05
Paul di Resta, Force India, Barcelona, 2012
Sauber C31
Sergio Perez, Sauber, Barcelona, 2012
Toro Rosso STR7
Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, Barcelona, 2012
Williams FW34
Pastor Maldonado, Williams, Jerez, 2012
Caterham CT01
Vitaly Petrov, Caterham, Barcelona, 2012
HRT F112
Narain Karthikeyan, HRT F112, Barcelona, 2012
- More HRT F112 pictures
Marussia MR01
Timo Glock, Marussia, Silvestone, 2012
Vote for the best-looking car of 2012
What's the best-looking car on the grid in 2012?
- Red Bull RB8 (5%)
- McLaren MP4-27 (57%)
- Ferrari F2012 (3%)
- Mercedes W03 (2%)
- Lotus E20 (8%)
- Force India VJM05 (7%)
- Sauber C31 (1%)
- Toro Rosso STR7 (3%)
- Williams FW34 (1%)
- Caterham CT01 (2%)
- HRT F112 (7%)
- Marussia MR01 (4%)
Total Voters: 696
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Images © Jamey Price/F1 Fanatic, McLaren/Hoch Zwei, Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo, Mercedes/Hoch Zwei, Lotus F1 Team/LAT, Force India/Sutton, Sauber F1 Team, Red Bull/Getty images, Williams/LAT, Caterham/LAT, HRT F1 Team, Marussia
JohnBt said on 10th March 2012, 7:06
I liked Lotus as the dark livery does not highlight the boxy effect the cars have this year.
MPB (@madf1) said on 10th March 2012, 7:07
Considered FI/Toro Rosso/HRT. Voted for FI, because I like the livery.
Funkyf1 (@funkyf1) said on 10th March 2012, 8:55
E20 All theway, the Mclaren sidepods make the Incredible Hulk look like Harry Potter, they are way to large to be considered appealing and that livery has run it’s course. As for the Force India, isn’t it just a Ferrari/Sauber with a attractive livery ?
Howard said on 10th March 2012, 10:18
If they were all painted black I would find it almost impossible to tell which car came from which manufacturer. I could probably identify the McLaren from the different nose, but after that I would be lost.
IMHO the real question is which has the best colour scheme
Denis 68 said on 10th March 2012, 10:47
Enzo Ferrari said it best. Una machina e bella solo quando vince.
A race car is beautiful only when it wins.
Nixon (@nixon) said on 10th March 2012, 10:55
So true.
Nixon (@nixon) said on 10th March 2012, 10:54
The Sauber is ugly.
mags (@mags) said on 10th March 2012, 11:36
That was too easy a vote – the noses are really not doing it for me. Would’ve preferred “who’s got the most pig-ugly car of the season?”.
Lin1876 (@lin1876) said on 10th March 2012, 11:59
I personally like the Marussia. Like the HRT, it’s a really elegant looking car, and the livery is awesome in my view. HRT a really close second, with the Lotus and McLaren joint third. Interesting the two slowest cars are two of the best looking…
Ferrari and Sauber probably the most ugly things on the grid in years – they haven’t even tried to cover up the stepped nose. The rest don’t look quite as bad, but they’re still pretty hideous.
Win7Golf (@win7golf) said on 10th March 2012, 12:22
voted McLaren
2nd: Lotus
Le Jimster (@lejimster82) said on 10th March 2012, 15:08
Well Mclaren is obviously the winner.
However, among the stepped nose cars I quite like the look of the Sauber actually. It looks quite aggressive.
sid_prasher (@) said on 10th March 2012, 15:45
Voting McLaren just for the smooth nose…others that i like – STR and Lotus.
Of course it will be 1 of my fav Ferrari’s if it wins the championship but until then…
dkpioe said on 10th March 2012, 18:01
i am suprised the redbull hasnt got more votes. look at that first photo, the cars stance looks fast, and the livery makes the stepped nosed hardly noticable.the livery is brilliant. the mclaren looks disgusting with hamiltons tried hard wanna-be senna yellow helmet in it.
Rory Mitchell said on 15th March 2012, 9:51
Personally I like the McLaren. They have the best looking front wing and side pods. If I had to pick a stepped nose, I would choose the Force India.
PJA (@pja) said on 15th March 2012, 18:36
The poll doesn’t seem to be working at the moment so I can’t vote or see the results, but for me personally this is the easiest choice on best looking car for ages.
I really don’t like the stepped noses and the McLaren chrome/red livery is still my favourite out of the current field so it has to be the MP4-27.
Overall the front and rear wing still seem out of proportion but I have got used to them and they don’t stand out as much as they did in 2009.
2 Black Lines (@gtidrive) said on 26th March 2012, 8:43
It’s a No-Brainer to me as it has to be Mclaren, because:-
1. It does not have the crooked nose.
2. It had one of the best paint jobs
3. Best graphics/sponsor layouts
4. Nicest rear wing end plate profile
5. It’s the fastest too which confirms the notion “If it look the fastest, then it probably is the fastest”
Sauber would a distant 2nd. It has an interesting play on the graphics/colour use working with the body shape.