This weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the end of an era for the current generation of Formula One cars.
Since they made their debut back in 2009, they have gradually gone from the hideous boxes that replaced the sleek, aerodynamic beasts of the previous decade and now you might even call some designs beautiful.
Having said that, the increasingly tight nous the FIA have put on aerodynamic development in recent years does mean most cars on the grid today look very similar but for a few details.
Over the eight seasons of which they have adorned the racetrack, the current generation of cars have had double and blown diffusers at the rear as well as stepped and rather inconspicuous noses at the front.
But after 55 laps of the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, however, they are all consigned to the museums and the ‘plough’ rear wing, as I once saw it called, will not be seen again.
In 2017, the cars return to a more menacing state, a lower rear wing, bigger bargeboards, larger diffuser and greater ground effect. The front wing will be a little wider to retain the current scale with the larger tyres but apart from a new arrow-style sculpture, coming to a point in the middle, it won’t be much different.
The 2009 cars were designed to reduce downforce, the new cars will put it back on and more but before F1 turns its attention to the next generation, let’s reminisce over some of the best looking, most successful and just plain interesting machines of the last seven years with another Top 10 list.
