It is one of many basic F1 debates: what are the best-looking vehicles ever? It’s, after all, fully subjective, notably as followers of various ages are likely to choose completely different eras and, due to this fact, really feel hooked up to some vehicles greater than others. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless enjoyable to have the argument, notably when liveries are factored into the combination as effectively.
In making Motorsport.com’s choice, we have tried to unfold the enjoyment throughout the constructors and intervals – although some had been past assist. You will not discover any vehicles from the horrible 2009-16 ‘skinny’ interval, for instance.
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We stored redrafting this listing however ultimately it’s a must to commit, so here is the place we have ended up. Let the beration start!
10. Ligier JS11/15
Years: 1979-1980
Designer: Gerard Ducarouge
World championship F1 wins: 5 (together with JS11)
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Motorsport.com
Many Ligiers had been distinctive and the Gitanes-liveried JS11/15 was most likely probably the most iconic of all. And the fin to the rear of the big sidepods added to the French aptitude.
The JS11, the primary Ligier to have a Cosworth DFV as a substitute of a Matra V12 engine, made a sensational debut on the 1979 Argentinian Grand Prix. Jacques Laffite certified on pole by over a second after which gained the race, which he adopted up by main team-mate Patrick Depailler to a Ligier 1-2 in Brazil.
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The automobile wasn’t with out its controversy and misplaced its edge, notably when Williams perfected its FW07, however the improved 1980 model remained aggressive.
Didier Pironi gained the Belgian GP and doubtless may or ought to have gained in Monaco, Britain and Canada as effectively, whereas Laffite scored a fortunate victory in Germany.
Each variations appeared cool, however we somewhat just like the smooth JS11/15 with out the entrance wing, a set-up usually utilized in 1980.
9. Alfa Romeo 158/159
Years: 1950-51
Designer: Gioacchino Colombo
World championship F1 wins: 10
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The Maserati 250F is normally thought of the archetypal Fifties grand prix automobile, regardless that it appeared in fairly completely different kinds throughout its lengthy profession (and the 1957 model was absolutely the prettiest), and the Vanwall deserves an honourable point out, however we have gone for the primary nice Formulation 1 racer.
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The Alfa Romeo 158 really appeared in 1938 as a voiturette, roughly equal to F2, however grew to become a front-line GP automobile after World Conflict Two. It went unbeaten for 5 years between 1946 and 1951, with Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio taking the primary two F1 world drivers’ titles with the 1500cc Alfa.
PLUS: The dogfight to develop into F1’s first ‘Alfa’ male
Gioacchino Colombo’s design was purposeful and well-proportioned – and that grille is among the most distinctive of the front-engined GP period. The colored nosebands usually used to distinguish the group’s vehicles set issues off completely.
As an added bonus, we would additionally argue that the supercharged straight-eight engine, which ultimately produced round 400bhp, is one in all motorsport’s best-sounding engines, together with the BRM V16 and Matra V12.
8. McLaren MP4-14
12 months: 1999
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Designers: Adrian Newey, Neil Oatley
World championship F1 wins: 7
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Quite a few the Adrian Newey-era silver McLarens may have made it onto the listing and we have gone for the 1999 model that, regardless of a number of blunders, Mika Hakkinen used to take his second F1 world title.
The MP4-13 had returned McLaren to the highest of F1 the earlier yr and the group pushed issues more durable for its successor. The oil tank and hydraulic system had been moved and a shorter gearbox helped the automobile reduce weight, helpful when it got here to inserting the ballast required to convey the automobile as much as the authorized minimal.
The Mercedes V10 engine was additionally lighter and decrease. The automobile was trickier to drive than its predecessor – Hakkinen crashed out of the lead of each the San Marino and Italian GPs – and there have been some reliability points.
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All that helped Ferrari to win the constructors’ title, however lead driver Michael Schumacher missed six races after breaking his leg on the British GP and Hakkinen was in a position to pip Eddie Irvine to the drivers’ crown on the Suzuka finale.
The grooved-tyre period was not F1’s best, however the McLarens had been invariably among the many greatest trying of the time, and the mid-height slender nostril, neat sidepods and West livery helps get the MP4-14 onto our listing.
7. Williams FW14B
12 months: 1992
Designers: Adrian Newey, Patrick Head
World championship F1 wins: 10
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Motorsport.com
One of many nice F1 vehicles, the FW14B mixed energetic suspension and traction management to maneuver the technical goalposts in 1992. Nigel Mansell gained 9 of the 16 races, which was a document on the time, on his technique to the drivers’ title.
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One of the dominant machines in F1 historical past, the FW14B was solely overwhelmed to pole place as soon as, by Ayrton Senna on the Canadian GP. It additionally appeared improbable, notably with Mansell’s crimson 5 including an additional splash of color to the already iconic blue, yellow and white Williams scheme of the time.
The FW14B had a pretty low nostril, which was quickly to exit of style, partly as a result of way more ugly Benettons. The physique was additionally easy and uncluttered – bargeboards and complex aero flicks hadn’t fairly arrived simply but.
In some methods, the 1993 FW15C was a neater machine, however we do not assume it is fairly as imposing because the FW14B – and it had to make use of narrower rear tyres on account of a rule change aimed toward controlling lap instances.
6. Brabham BT45B
12 months: 1977
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Designer: Gordon Murray
World championship F1 wins: 0
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The 1975 BT44B arguably had a cooler total form, full with excessive airbox however, for us, the BT45B’s crimson Martini livery simply edges it forward of its white forebear.
A crimson Martini BT44B would most likely have climbed even greater in our rating. Brabham had switched from the Cosworth DFV to Alfa Romeo flat-12 for 1976, which had created some packaging points for designer Gordon Murray.
The unique BT45 was a bit awkward – and had a mediocre season – however the 1977 B model included aero revisions that helped make it a lot tidier. The BT45B was additionally aggressive and may or may have gained the Monaco, French and British GPs, a thriller gas pick-up downside costing John Watson at each Dijon and Silverstone.
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PLUS:The very best F1 vehicles by no means to win a GP
Murray’s BT46 for 1978 was neater and extra profitable, particularly when an enormous fan was famously strapped to the again for the Swedish GP, however its nostril was not as aggressive because the distinctive Brabham entrance wings on the BT44 and BT45.
5. Lotus 72
Years: 1970-75
Designers: Maurice Philippe, Colin Chapman
World championship F1 wins: 20
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Motorsport.com
Not many vehicles get to put on two of motorsport’s biggest liveries, however the revolutionary Lotus 72 did. In Gold Leaf colors it gained each the constructors’ and drivers’ titles in 1970, although Jochen Rindt misplaced his life at Monza earlier than he knew he was champion. Then, within the well-known black and gold of John Participant Particular, the 72 gained consecutive constructors’ crowns in 1972 and 1973, with Emerson Fittipaldi taking the drivers’ championship in 1972.
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It is probably the most profitable automobile on this listing, when it comes to world championship F1 wins, with a outstanding 20 victories. The wedge-shaped marvel, which helped set the template for future single-seater designs with its side-mounted radiators, modified an incredible deal throughout its six-season life in F1.
Which model you favor is open to debate, however we have gone for the 1973 72E, with the rear wing hung manner out the again, earlier than rule modifications moved it to a much less outrageous place.
The distinctive helmets of Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson added to the enchantment and helped produce some iconic photographs, not least of which was SuperSwede sideways via Woodcote at Silverstone.
This was additionally the time of fats rear tyres and big selection within the look of F1 vehicles, creating many different candidates for this listing, together with the Ferrari 312B, Shadow DN1 and McLaren M23, which was nearly as profitable because the Lotus 72.
4. Eagle T1G
Years: 1966-67
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Designer: Len Terry
World championship F1 wins: 1
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Though usually fairly, lots of the cigar-shaped F1 vehicles of the Sixties lacked the beefiness one may count on from the head of the game, particularly through the 1.5-litre period. The 1962 ‘stackpipe’ BRM P57 very practically made this listing, but it surely’s Len Terry’s ever-popular Eagle-Weslake that’s our choose from the last decade.
The primary GP Eagle, generally known as the T1G, had the proper mixture of magnificence and aggression, the pointed nostril serving to to set it aside from its contemporaries.
The three-litre automobile was fast too. Dan Gurney gained each the Manufacturers Hatch Race of Champions and Belgian GP – the Spa victory at a median velocity of 146mph – in 1967, however reliability issues prevented additional success.
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The Cosworth DFV-engined Lotus 49, one other automobile others may need placed on this listing, moved the goalposts through the season and a scarcity of funding quickly led to Gurney’s group specializing in Indycar racing.
3. Ferrari 641
12 months: 1990
Designers: Steve Nichols, Enrique Scalabroni
World championship F1 wins: 6
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Motorsport.com
We wished to squeeze Adrian Newey’s Leyton Home CG901 on to this listing, however we have tried to get a pleasant unfold of eras and two vehicles from one season simply did not appear proper. The McLaren MP4/5B that gained each titles in 1990 was additionally a fine-looking automobile, but it surely’s Ferrari’s contender that narrowly will get the nod.
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A number of Ferraris may have made this high 10 – together with the 1964 158 and 1995 412T2 – however we’re in settlement with New York’s Museum of Trendy Artwork, which selected to show a 641.
The svelte scarlet automobile retained the ground-breaking semi-automatic gearbox of John Barnard’s visually related 1989 640. Its V12 tended to be outgunned by the V10s of Honda and Renault in 1990, however the chassis was one and Alain Prost battled McLaren’s Ayrton Senna for the world title.
PLUS:The F1 perfectionist who pushed too quickly
That enthralling contest ended when Senna crashed into Prost in the beginning of the Japanese GP, but it surely was the closest Ferrari acquired to ending its title drought till the Jean Todt/Ross Brawn/Michael Schumacher period.
2. Jordan 191
12 months: 1991
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Designer: Gary Anderson
World championship F1 wins: 0
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Few groups have made such a huge impact on their arrival in F1 as Jordan. Designer Gary Anderson’s 191 was not solely surprisingly fast, it was lovely. Shapely curves, which even prolonged to the distinctive nostril and entrance wing, and the straightforward 7Up inexperienced livery made it an on the spot trendy basic.
As a brand new group at a time when there have been extra F1 vehicles than areas on the grid, Jordan initially needed to pre-qualify, however the 191 made {that a} comparatively simple process for normal drivers Andrea de Cesaris and Bertrand Gachot. Jordan scored its first factors within the Canadian GP and the group ended up fifth within the constructors’ desk, behind solely large hitters McLaren, Williams, Ferrari and Benetton.
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The 191 additionally helped Michael Schumacher launch his F1 profession, with a shocking efficiency at Spa, and de Cesaris may need gained the Belgian GP had it not been for an engine failure, the results of a miscommunication between engine provider Cosworth and the group.
1. Lotus 79
12 months: 1978
Designers: Peter Wright, Colin Chapman, Geoff Aldridge, Martin Ogilvie, Tony Rudd
World championship F1 wins: 6
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Motorsport.com
Floor-breaking design? Examine. Iconic livery? Examine. Uncluttered strains? Examine. Lovely engineering? Examine.
The Lotus 79, which refined the ground-effect idea and dominated the 1978 F1 season, ticks all of the packing containers for this listing. It is also much more spectacular shut up within the flesh than it’s within the well-known interval photographs of Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson.
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Decrease, neater and sleeker than the Lotus 78 that preceded it, the 79 gained on its debut within the Belgian GP within the arms of Andretti and completed 1-2 subsequent outing in Spain. It was solely overwhelmed to pole as soon as through the marketing campaign, although the odd reliability challenge and jump-start penalty for Andretti at Monza meant it solely gained six of the 11 championship rounds it began in 1978.
By 1979 the opposition had caught up within the ground-effect stakes and the Lotus 79 was restricted to 4 podiums. Even then it appeared spectacular in its inexperienced Martini livery, but it surely’s the JPS-liveried authentic that deservedly earns our high spot.
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