Not Only Are The New F1 Cars Ugly As Sin, They're Also Slow As Hell

Drivers aren't that impressed with the speed of 2014's F1 cars, some of which are slower than GP2 machinery

18 May 2015

Image source: McLaren Mercedes

With much of the 2014 F1 talk being focused on the new unfortunate nosecones, you'd be forgiven for forgetting about the performance of these new V6 machines. And that's something worth looking into, as it turns out several of the drivers - including Adrian Sutil, Felipe Massa and Jenson Button - have gone on record saying that these 1.6-litre turbocharged 2014 F1 cars aren't that quick.

Once KERS is taken into account, the new cars aren't hugely down on power compared to the now defunct 2.4-litre V8 machines, but downforce has been reduced by 20-30 per cent, which limits cornering speed drastically. In fact, Jenson Button was quoted saying that on some circuits, cars from F1's feeder series, GP2, will give the new F1 metal a run for their money.

Image source: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

He has a point, as at the first test in Jerez, only three drivers managed to beat the best time set at 2013's GP2 pre-season test at the same circuit. Compared to the fastest lap set in 2013's first F1 pre-season test, the best lap in the Jerez 2014 test - set by Kevin Magnussen in the McLaren - was almost six seconds slower. The cars will get quicker as the teams develop them over the course of the season, but it's interesting nonetheless to think that F1 currently isn't much than its 'junior' series...