Of Dreams and Nightmares, and the Mess in the Closet
USF1's doors are padlocked, Campos says it hangs by a thread, and
Lotus and Manor/Virgin are embarrassingly slow. Formula 1 is rapidly
transitioning from the sterile environment favored by manufacturers
to an untidy world in which the independents predominate. We look at
how and why USF1 failed, and the unintended consequences which are
defining the New Formula 1 as the sport tightens its collective belt.

Red Bull RB6-Renault: Evolution of a Winner
The Red Bull RB5 was arguably the best car in 2009, carrying Mark
Weber to two wins and Sebastien Vettel to four, even though it was
handicapped by a late, add-on second diffuser. Logically, like
champions Brawn/Mercedes, designer Adrian Newey opted for evolution
in 2010, leaving revolutionary changes to the likes of McLaren
and Ferrari, as they mount recovery efforts.

Sauber C29-Ferrari: Quick, Right Out of the Box
Given the uncertainty surrounding the team after BMW's pull-out
announcement and a subsequent lack of potential buyers, the loyal
staff assembled by Peter Sauber and technical director Willy Rampf
kept their heads and their focus, turning out a car on time, and on
pace. Over the first three days of testing, Sauber was slower only
than Ferrari on each. If the pace continues, adding the much-needed
sponsor logos to the pristine grey and white bodywork should be a
much easier task than has so far been the case.

Williams FW32-Cosworth: Something Old; Some Things New
Williams cars and Cosworth engines have been reunited, bringing to
mind for many what was arguably the golden age of Formula 1. As
ever, though, the life of independent teams and engine suppliers in
F1 is hard, but the standard bearer for a new generation of
independent teams has turned out a car which doesn't show signs of
recent strains, and seems suited to also serve as the standard
setter for a cast which will, at least theoretically, include
Campos, Lotus, USF1 and Virgin/Manor. In the likely difference
between theory and reality lies another part of the unfolding saga.

Mercedes W01: Evolved from Good Stock
Befitting a team that won both championships in 2009, not to mention being one of two which introduced the double diffuser to F1, Brawn
-- make that Mercedes -- has in many respects relied on evolution in
creating its 2010 contender, but also employed some design concepts
previously used by the team formerly known as Honda (the arched
nose), some clever new design elements (the airbox), departed from
general convention (the small and thin dorsal fin) and coped with
the changes dictated by no refueling. Oh, and they also brought back
a retired driver, some German guy named Schumacher....

Renault R30: Simplicity as a Virtue
The 2010 Renault F1 car seems a curious mixture of new and old
design concepts, respectively in the rear and front halves.
Especially in comparison to the radical McLaren, it seems a
conservative approach, but then clean, rather simple race cars have
often proved superior to their more complex competitors. Someone's
gotten it right, and someone's gotten it wrong. Finding out who is
which is why they hold the races.

McLaren MP4-25: Downsizing for Speed, and Economy
Flying dramatically in the face of recent conventional design
philosophy, McLaren had produced a 2010 car with absolutely minimal
sidepods, an engine cover which needs to be far more efficient than
it is attractive, and a radical second splitter under its raised
nose. The result is a truly unconventional approach to Formula 1 car
design. If it brings Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button a championship,
it will be as quickly and widely copied as last year's double diffuser.

Ferrari F10: First Entry in the Drag Race
Ferrari won the first race of the 2010 season, by being the first
team to complete and introduce its new car. The F10, at once familiar
and new, follows the design trends of the last 10 or so years while
featuring entirely new aerodynamics in an attempt to minimize drag
and thus maximize fuel economy. With refueling banned this season,
that is likely to be the dominant design trend for the entire field.