It has often been the case that the ugliest cars have been those with various aerodynamic bits sprouting from the bodywork. The Honda is a prime example.
One of Renault’s senior designers, Alfonso Martinez has told fans to expect a shock when they see the first 2009 Specficiation F1 cars rolling out for tests in the near future.
Dear Mr Martinez,
When you gave this statement I presume that you hadn't seen any other teams designs. They are gorgeous and not shocking in the slightest when compared to the F1 equivilant to the proboscis monkey.
Many of the "ugly" cars of the 1960s and 1970s had a kind of eccentric charm, such as the March 711. The 2009 cars don't even have that to recommend them.
I think some of this year's new releases, built to meet the new 2014 regulations, could well be included in this old thread. This could well top the list of this years totally new cars.
I guess at the end of the day when they are all ugly as this year almost is, then we will become more accustomed to the ugliness and no doubt if the Ferrari is good enough to furnish Raikkonen with a few wins and a championship then it will turn into Miss World or something more beautiful than it seems now.
It all started to go pear shaped when the regs were changed a few years ago, when the wide noses and narrower higher rear wings were introduced.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Cars have been ugly ever since 2002-2003. The regs before the 2009 changes meant silly wings and flicks up that hid the natural beauty of the car's shapes. Nowadays we're used to the ugliness thanks to the changes to the regs and we're trying to find beauty in everything that looks silly. It's like trying to pick the best looking girl out of a long line of uglies. Bring on the beer goggles.