Formula One / David Croft / 19 January 2009 /

Five Live commentator David Croft has been viewing the latest cars to hit the tracks ahead of the coming F1 season.

There was a time when the launch of a new Formula One car would necessitate a spend proportionate to the Gross Domestic Product of a small nation. Journalists would be flown in from around the world to witness the fanfare that greeted the arrival of the latest title challenger. Streets would be closed down and fireworks would light the night sky whilst cars flew down from the roof of a large concert hall, all in the name of razzamatazz F1 style.

But thankfully in the new low, or should that be lower, cost era of the sport launches are a lot simpler now, which for us journalists who go purely to get the thoughts of the drivers and team management, rather than a decent night out, is no bad thing.

Toyota decided last week to launch their car for the 2009 season via the internet, Ferrari had the traditional roll out in Northern Italy, BMW, Renault and Williams will use the group test in Portugal this week to stage their launches, whilst McLaren invited the media down to their factory last Friday to show off their new car, the MP4-24.

No dancing girls, no firework display, just a quick hello from the two drivers and onto the unveiling, which given the raft of regulation changes that have been introduced for this year was eagerly anticipated. As the cover was pulled back, necks and heads strained to get a good view, Lewis Hamilton even had to remind those present that a round of applause usually followed.

And there she stood, proudly displayed for all to see, a car that had taken 18 months to develop, now waiting for approval. Which in the main it got, I'm not saying that the new cars are easy on the eye, to be honest it's like emerging from a long term relationship with a beautiful but rather dull woman to find yourself face to face with her ugly mate. But if the new wider front wings, taller and narrower rear wings and lack of winglets and other assorted aero devices make for better racing and more overtaking, then I'll take the ugly mate and her lovely personality any day.

As for Hamilton, the reigning world champion declared that he was feeling no extra pressure going into this season and in fact was more relaxed about things at the moment with the memories of last year still fresh in his mind. He was looking forward to the challenge of driving on slick tyres once again and hoping that they would suit his driving style but more than anything was eager to get in the car on the track and begin his testing, knowing full well that with testing banned during the season the work he puts in now will be of huge importance.

And the work that every team puts in between now and the season opener could count for so much. Because the opportunities to play catch up will be severely limited once the racing gets underway, championships may be won and lost in the build up to Melbourne.

Because of the nature of the regulation changes one team will surely have a different interpretation as to the best way forward as another. Already you can see differences between the MP4-24 of McLaren and the Ferrari F60 launched at the start of last week.

Who has the better car will only become clear as the pre-season tests develop and then will only become fully clear as the cars pound round the Albert Park circuit at the end of March. BMW and McLaren have both expressed their confidence in the way they have incorporated KERS - the Kenetic Energy Recovery System that takes heat lost under breaking and stores it as electricity to help give the cars an extra boost for around 6.5 seconds per lap. Ferrari are not so bullish, Toyota and others may not even use it at the start of the season, the trouble being that the batteries the teams are using are heavy, so the weight counteracts the gains made by the technology.

And KERS is just one of many changes the teams are having to come to terms with. Engines have to last three races now and each driver only has eight per season before he incurs a penalty, front and rear wings have changed radically and the grooved tyres are gone.

Fans root for their favourite driver but in 2009 it's the team that will make the difference and before any of us puts our money where our mouths are, it may just pay to keep a close eye on how the teams are performing before the first race comes along on March 29th.

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