The reigning champions unveiled the car in which Sebastian Vettel will push for a third consecutive drivers’ title, and like most other models seen so far in 2012, it has a controversial ‘stepped nose’.
Designer Newey said the car is yet another evolution of the 2009 model, the RB5.
“We’ve kept more or less the same chassis shape, but had to drop the nose just in front of the front bulkhead, which, in common with many other teams, has led us to I think I’d probably say a slightly ugly looking nose,” said the Briton.
“We’ve tried to style it as best we can, but it’s not a feature you would choose to put in were it not for the regulation.”
Newey admitted there is “pressure” to stay ahead of the pack in 2012, confessing that while he enjoys regulation changes, he laments the FIA’s “restriction” in the area of exhaust blowing.
“Whether that will affect us more than other people is difficult to know of course,” he said.
“We designed the RB7, last year’s car, around that exhaust position and were probably the only people to do so, so it may be that we’ve lost more than other people through that.
“Only time will tell, it will be good to get out to do some testing and to see where we get to.”
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