Klien: New BMW is worst car ever

Eurosport - Wed, 19 Nov 18:08:00 2008

BMW-Sauber test driver Christian Klien said the interim Formula One car being tried out by the team in Spain this week was the ugliest he has seen.

FORMULA 1 Christian Klien - BMW Sauber testing 2008 Crash.net - 0

The German manufacturer on Monday ran two modified 2008 cars on slick tyres and with some of the bodywork conforming to the 2009 regulations, a high and narrow rear wing along with a wide and low front end.

Klien's car was also fitted with the new KERS - kinetic energy recovery system - device that is being introduced next year.

"To me, for the moment, it's the worst Formula One car I have ever seen. It just doesn't fit together," the Austrian told Autosport after the first day at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

"But we will get used to it. There will be a lot of modifications until the first race in March."

BMW-Sauber, who finished third overall this year, are due to launch their 2009 car in Valencia on January 20.

"It drives quite well, actually," said Klien of the hybrid version. "There are still quite a few improvements coming over the winter.

"Basically it's quite a lot less downforce but with the slick tyres it compensates quite a lot."

Klien said the rule changes would slow lap times and pose a new challenge for drivers.

"Even with these aerodynamics it's still not possible to drive right behind another car," he said. "We will see in the first few races.

"It's more of a problem to not knock off the front wing at the first corner."

Reuters

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  1. LEWIS watch out for these front traps because every­ time you knock someones off you wil be punished by the­ FIAt.

    From hotrijder7, on Tue 18 Nov 6:50PM

  2. At least at the end of the season, they will be able to­ reuse the older cars as snow clearing machines on the­ open roads.

    Jokes aside, the BMW pictures still shows­ semi slick tyres instead of full slick one, doesn't­ it? This is such a preliminary stage for the car­ development that I'm sure looks will improve by the­ end of the year.

    From Anon, on Tue 18 Nov 6:47PM

  3. Does the word caricature spring to mind? Everyone must­ have seen those cartoons of the boy racer in his­ scooby, who reckons the FIA spoke to a couple of the­ guys that draw those pictures when coming up with the­ new rules?

    FIA Guy 1: "Hey, you draw interesting­ pictures, can you draw an F1 car for­ me?"
    Cartoonist: "Sure, how about this­ one?"
    FIA Guy 1: "That tiny small wing and­ huge front wing look funny, I think we'll set the­ new rules so the cars look like this."
    FIA Guy 2: ­ "We'll do it for next year too so no one­ really has enough time to do it properly, it'll be­ hilarious"
    FIA Guy 1: "I think we'll­ leave out the air boxes the size of a small aircraft­ though"
    FIA Guy 2: "Good idea, we don't­ want to seem like we know nothing do we? Hey Max,­ where's that brothel you were telling me­ about?"

    From ginger_gitt, on Tue 18 Nov 6:40PM

  4. I don't like them there BMWs either I'm on this­ guy Kliens side, gimme a caddy any day EhEh EhEh

    From Big Bad Mad Joe, on Tue 18 Nov 6:31PM

  5. Looks like F! is going through one of it's silly­ phases like in 1969, ridiculous flimsy wings and 1975,­ ridiculous airboxes :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Tue 18 Nov 6:14PM

  6. Have a look in thru Photos section on this page - Its­ not just the Beamer that's sporting the massive­ front wing - If this is what they are going to use in­ 2009 then I think we can expect to see a lot of smashed­ carbonfibre and the inevitable pitstops - Not very­ pretty - Yuck!

    From Mr Burns, on Tue 18 Nov 5:44PM

  7. Front wing looks like a 1940's moustache that's­ got out of hand...

    Why can't there be a series­ where anything goes, let's see how good technology­ and drivers can be without any rules/limits...

    From Richard S, on Tue 18 Nov 5:30PM

  8. there will be a lot more pit stops this year as that­ front wing will be knocked off at every wheel to wheel­ battleas it sticks out to much what

    From scott b, on Tue 18 Nov 5:00PM

  9. Hillmann Huskey...no tap backs!

    From Andy, on Tue 18 Nov 4:46PM

  10. There has always been something luring and powerful­ about the look of an F1 car. Just seeing one was­ enough to know it was amazing. They have been the­ ultimate cars I'd do anything to drive.

    The new­ regulations have gone from creating the most incredibly­ sexy cars ever, to cartoon farm equipment with snazzy­ paint jobs. That's a ridiculous amount of front­ wing sticking out there to be crunched.

    From Marlon, on Tue 18 Nov 4:43PM

  11. Worst car ever. I don't believe it.
    My bother had a­ Morris Marina- that was pretty bad. ...and my mum had­ an Austin Allegro- and that, Mr Klien, was really cr@p!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Tue 18 Nov 4:27PM

  12. I agree with klien, the 2009 f1 car design looks ugly,­ its look to be back on 80 era design. it something like­ back step design.. i think all the driver will loud of­ laugh while driving the car.. huahuahuahua...

    From manusia, on Tue 18 Nov 4:27PM

  13. It wouldn't let me put will in the sentence, go­ figure

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Tue 18 Nov 4:19PM

  14. will

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Tue 18 Nov 4:18PM

  15. I guess the pit crews be kept busy.

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Tue 18 Nov 4:18PM

  16. Boy oh boy will ya look at that front wing

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Tue 18 Nov 4:17PM

  17. And that comment makes you Lewis.great sound like an­ idiot, which i reckon you probably are

    From nechi, on Tue 18 Nov 4:11PM

  18. Doesn't matter if it looks ugly as long as it can­ set the pace

    From arshad_iceman2, on Tue 18 Nov 4:03PM

  19. This car makes Robert Kubica look handsome and that is­ saying a lot!

    From lewis.great, on Tue 18 Nov 4:03PM

  20. I can't believe the width of that front wing! ­ Looks like a combine harvester scoop. I saw some pics­ of the hybrid Honda and their wing looks nothing like­ the Beamer's.

    From Mr Burns, on Tue 18 Nov 3:59PM
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