F1 2011 has a lot to live up to.
It's had a promising start: a huge battle in court over the Lotus name, the return of KERS, and Michael Schumacher's steadfast refusal to quit. It's all change in the commentary box too, with DC heading upstairs to join Brundle in an all-new pairing. TopGear.com is meeting them both next week by the way, so if you've got any questions fire them to mailto:editor@topgear.com?Subject=f1%2011.
Meanwhile, over the next few days, F1's gathered masses are springing forth from their Castles of Oversteer to showcase their new motors. We'll be bringing you all the latest developments as they happen over the next few days, so keep checking back to this gallery as the teams announce their new cars.
And without further ado it's onto our definite favourite - a returning livery of great beauty...
Renault R31The classic gold ‘n' black Lotus livery returns! Renault - together with backers Group Lotus - has revealed its R31 racer for 2011, which, says Renault, features '92 per cent' worth of new parts compared to last year's.
Meanwhile, over the next few days, F1's gathered masses are springing forth from their Castles of Oversteer to showcase their new motors. We'll be bringing you all the latest developments as they happen over the next few days, so keep checking back to this gallery as the teams announce their new cars.
And without further ado it's onto our definite favourite - a returning livery of great beauty...
Renault R31The classic gold ‘n' black Lotus livery returns! Renault - together with backers Group Lotus - has revealed its R31 racer for 2011, which, says Renault, features '92 per cent' worth of new parts compared to last year's.
Vitali Petrov and Robert Kubica will pilot the car, with drivers Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean as third drivers.
See more pictures of the Renault R31
Ferrari F150Named to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, the F150 - codenamed 662 - is the 57th single-seat Fezza to race in F1.
See more pictures of the Renault R31
Ferrari F150Named to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, the F150 - codenamed 662 - is the 57th single-seat Fezza to race in F1.
New regulations mean the double-diffuser is out, the blown rear-wing makes way for a hydraulically controlled adjustable one, KERS makes a return and brakes are courtesy of Brembo.
Ferrari hasn't modified the engine, but has worked on improving reliability, while the introduction of KERS has rerouted the cooling system, new air exit ducts and changed the front of the engine.
See more pictures of the Ferrari F150
Red Bull RB7Get ready to see this parked in the winner's parking spot. A lot. Probably.
Ferrari hasn't modified the engine, but has worked on improving reliability, while the introduction of KERS has rerouted the cooling system, new air exit ducts and changed the front of the engine.
See more pictures of the Ferrari F150
Red Bull RB7Get ready to see this parked in the winner's parking spot. A lot. Probably.
The Adrian Newey-designed motor is an evolution of last year's championship-winning car, itself ‘an evolution of 2009's RB5'. After all, why mess with a good recipe?
Sure, because of the movable rear-wing and return of KERS, the RB7 is quite different to last year's, but expect it to be fast. World champ Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be the team's drivers. Whether they have kissed and made up remains to be seen...
See more pictures of the Red Bull RB7
Mercedes-Benz W02"The new Silver Arrow for the 2011 season has little in common with its predecessor," explains Merc motorsports' vice president Norbert Haug. "Our engineers have taken a fairly ruthless approach." Yikes.
Sure, because of the movable rear-wing and return of KERS, the RB7 is quite different to last year's, but expect it to be fast. World champ Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be the team's drivers. Whether they have kissed and made up remains to be seen...
See more pictures of the Red Bull RB7
Mercedes-Benz W02"The new Silver Arrow for the 2011 season has little in common with its predecessor," explains Merc motorsports' vice president Norbert Haug. "Our engineers have taken a fairly ruthless approach." Yikes.
The new car will hope to set seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher back to his winning ways, alongside ‘team-mate' Nico Rosberg.
Mercedes has implemented ‘a raft of technical innovations' and even given the old girl a fresh lick of paint to make sure it carries none of last year's disappointment.
See more pictures of the Mercedes W02
Team Lotus T128No, not a new Terminator, but a car hoping to tussle with the midfield. This, the Lotus T128, is now powered by Renault and uses Red Bull transmission systems.
Mercedes has implemented ‘a raft of technical innovations' and even given the old girl a fresh lick of paint to make sure it carries none of last year's disappointment.
See more pictures of the Mercedes W02
Team Lotus T128No, not a new Terminator, but a car hoping to tussle with the midfield. This, the Lotus T128, is now powered by Renault and uses Red Bull transmission systems.
Chief techy Mike Gascoyne reckons this motor will take Team Lotus (the green one from last year) ‘back to the front of the grid', and confirmed the team's unchanged driver line up as Heikki Kovaleinen and Jarno Trulli.
See more pictures of the Team Lotus T128
Sauber C30The metamorphosis from works to privateer continues as Sauber launches the C30, with the team hoping to better their 8th place in last year's constructors' championship.
See more pictures of the Team Lotus T128
Sauber C30The metamorphosis from works to privateer continues as Sauber launches the C30, with the team hoping to better their 8th place in last year's constructors' championship.
The C30 uses a Ferrari engine, new Ferrari transmission and the KERS system, courtesy of, erm, Ferrari. Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi - a man, it seems, with little knowledge of ‘fear' - will pilot the Sauber C30 this season.
See more pictures of the Sauber C30
Toro Rosso STR6The ‘other' Red Bull has a specific aim for 2011 - 8th in the constructors' championship.
See more pictures of the Sauber C30
Toro Rosso STR6The ‘other' Red Bull has a specific aim for 2011 - 8th in the constructors' championship.
Toro Rosso's sixth year in F1 comes with the admission that this year's car is ‘unconventional'. They've made some 14 changes since last year and have used ‘more mature' wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamic tools.
Jaime Alguesuari and Sebastien Buemi will once again drive for TR, along with reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo.
See more pictures of the Toro Rosso STR6
Williams FW33The Man Who Was Faster Than Old Stig returns alongside new partner Pastor Maldonado in the Cosworth-powered FW33. Currently shod in blue, the car will adopt a new livery - and new aero upgrade - before the first race in Bahrain in March. Williams has adopted KERS for 2011.
Jaime Alguesuari and Sebastien Buemi will once again drive for TR, along with reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo.
See more pictures of the Toro Rosso STR6
Williams FW33The Man Who Was Faster Than Old Stig returns alongside new partner Pastor Maldonado in the Cosworth-powered FW33. Currently shod in blue, the car will adopt a new livery - and new aero upgrade - before the first race in Bahrain in March. Williams has adopted KERS for 2011.
Williams' tech director Sam Michael said there'll be many more upgrades during the course of the year, so watch this space...
See more pictures of the Williams FW33
See more pictures of the Williams FW33
