Translated material
Industry secrets
In the Royal Races they try to show the minimum possible
Formula 1 reminded itself this week with traditional presentations of new cars. Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota and Sauber demonstrated the latest creations of their designers. But the new cars were demonstrated without much detail - spy mania is now in vogue in the current Formula.A series of presentations of new cars was traditionally opened by Toyota on January 12 - the Japanese stable has been the first to present its new cars to the public for the third year in a row. Just like last year, Toyota bosses promised to win their first Grand Prix in the coming season, but experts doubt that they will succeed. However, the TF107 car, which has virtually no retained components from the previous TF106 and TF106B models, according to the designers, will significantly increase reliability, and this is what will give it a chance to win. “The 2006 season did not live up to the team’s expectations, we missed our chance several times due to reliability problems,” Jarno Trulli noted on this occasion. - But we learned a lot and improved a lot at the end of the year. Now no one knows how competitive the new car will be, but I am confident that I can win races with this car.”
But still, the presentation of Toyota was a kind of warm-up for the audience before the traditional favorites took to the stage. True, the first of them - Ferrari - completely disappointed its fans who were waiting for a sensation. The Italians didn’t even get a full presentation. Sunday's low-key unveiling at Fiorano was called a "preview" and journalists were provided with only six official photos of the new F2007. At a short press conference, the designers did not hide the fact that the new car is in many ways similar to last year’s 248 F1 model. The only new thing about it is the “revolutionary”, as Ferrari calls it, front suspension, while the rear suspension and engine remain the same as in the past. But most importantly, the new car is 10 kg heavier than the previous one - the designers explained this as increased safety measures for the racers. However, the Italian “stable” will show the real F2007 only in March, before the start of the Australian Grand Prix.
However, this does not particularly bother pilots. “At Ferrari, of course, everything is arranged a little differently than at McLaren, but I like this approach,” said Kimi Raikkonen at the presentation. - The main thing is that the reliability of these cars is incredible, but this is only one of the reasons why I decided to change the team. When I signed the contract, I was confident that I had made the right decision.”
Formula 1 fans were able to appreciate that McLaren really differs from Ferrari a day later in Valencia. The British presented their new car in a big way. There was everything: a press conference, fireworks, cars and new drivers - the invitation to the team of world champion Fernando Alonso, as well as a new sponsorship contract with Vodafone, obliged this. McLaren boss Ron Dennis did not fail to emphasize that his team is only changing its title sponsor for the second time in 30 years. In turn, Fernando Alonso and the team's co-pilot Lewis Hamilton, whom Vodafone has been supporting for many years, willingly took pictures using the phones presented to the sponsors, and also devoted a considerable part of the presentation to sending each other SMS messages.
Naturally, the main character at the presentation in Valencia was Fernando Alonso. “I am proud to spend the upcoming season in this team,” the world champion said tactfully, simultaneously thanking the organizers for the fact that the new car was presented in his homeland, Spain.
However, the Spaniards themselves were never shown the new car. Alonso and Hamilton drove around the streets of Valencia in an old MP4-21, repainted, however, in new colors. In turn, the new MP4-22 is distinguished primarily by improved aerodynamics. We probably shouldn’t expect anything more due to the tougher FIA regulations that have “frozen” the engines in Formula 1.
The first series of presentations in Formula 1 was closed with the presentation of the new BMW-Sauber car. Now he was already significantly different from his predecessor. This is the first car that BMW has made on its own, and the designers boasted a new gearbox with minimal shift times, as well as a new cooling system. In appearance, the F1.07 differs from the previous model primarily in its shortened nose - the team tried to keep up with its competitors in aerodynamic refinements.