McLaren (F1-2005) MP4-20

[nopassn]

not a press release about the car on the media site yet... so just the pics...

[nopassn]

number two...

[nopassn]

number three...

[nopassn]

number four... last 4 pics...

[drakkie]

nice car.. bit of Ferarri F2003 sidepods...

[Coventrysucks]

nice car.. bit of Ferarri F2003 sidepods...

What sidepods, where?

[Cotterik]

great lookin car, especially with the fat nose

[blackcat77]

The new scoop/engine cover is ugly. I hear they reshaped it for the sole purpose of providing more billboard space for sponsors.

[Coventrysucks]

The new scoop/engine cover is ugly. I hear they reshaped it for the sole purpose of providing more billboard space for sponsors.

What sponsors?
The Mobil and Merc logos are almost the exact size as before.

I heard Michael Schumacher has a big chin to provide more space for sponsors.

[carlover]

What sponsors?
The Mobil and Merc logos are almost the exact size as before.

I heard Michael Schumacher has a big chin to provide more space for sponsors.

It's the only reason they picked him.

[johnnyperl]

The new scoop/engine cover is ugly. I hear they reshaped it for the sole purpose of providing more billboard space for sponsors.

that true and sad and a good indication of the state of F1.

look at all the cars starting in 2004, the airbox covers have been increased in height on the trailing edge above the rear suspension.

[Matra et Alpine]

The rear wing side panels were also changed in size and shape to meet sponsors needs

[Coventrysucks]

Because it isn't to do with any regulatory requirements, or aerodynamic benefits...

[johnnyperl]

Because it isn't to do with any regulatory requirements, or aerodynamic benefits...

it seems the teams are taking advantage of the longer endplates, they seem to be curving them outward creating a diffuser effect.

[Coventrysucks]

What happened was:

The wing has been brought forward, due to FIA regulations to "slow" the cars.

The car is still the same length, so the endplates are longer because they extend further forward from the back of the car.

This may also create the illusion of the engine cover being longer.

Seeing as the size of logos remains unchanged (on the McLaren at least) I must conclude that the changes are not for the benefit of sponsors, but are the result of rule changes (Which I doubt will have been created to aid the sponsors) and/or aerodynamic advantage.

The Mobil and Mercedes logos do not extend the full length of the engine cover, and the Schco / Henkel logos do not extend the full length of the endplate - If they were bigger to incorperate bigger logos - why aren't the logos bigger/taking advantage of the space?