BMW fin fever spreads

ByEurosport

Published 22/07/2006 at 16:40 GMT

Rival Formula One teams confessed they would look into imitating BMW-Sauber's eyesore 'Twin Towers' who made their circus debut in the French Grand Prix should they be found to improve aerodynamic performance. The fins are intended to clean up the air acr

2006 French GP BMW Sauber Villeneuve 'Twin Towers'

Image credit: From Official Website

They themselves in a spot or two of trouble having been out of the points for the last six grands prix, Williams technical director Sam Michael admitted that the BMW appears to be running well and that he was open to experimenting with the concept.

2006 American GP Williams Webber

Image credit: Reuters

"Their car is obviously working very well with the wings, which is affecting the air onto the rear wing," said Michael. "It's like any new part. We haven't tried it in the tunnel, but we'll have a look."

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The legacy of the Prancing Horse, it seems, is not too proud either to sacrifice the sleek red sheen of the Scuderia monocoque for the slightest chance to bend the winds to its will.

"I am not quite sure how they work and I am sure there will be some controversy," said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, "Because there have been similar things in the past that the FIA have asked people to remove because of the vision for the drivers.

2006 American GP Ferrari Schumacher Brawn

Image credit: From Official Website

"But if the FIA are happy then obviously we will go away and have a look at the concept. Like most teams, we have our own development parts and we also keep an eye on new concepts that other people use."

IS IT A BIRD...? IS IT AN INSECT...?

Over the years there have been many acts of aesthetic violence in the aim of wringing every last drop of performance from the chassis and while BMW's new fins may yet prove highly efficient, coupled with the Adrian Newey style Viking horns on the airbox as seen on the McLarens, the BMW laps like some species of blue and white insect.

2006 French GP BMW Heidfeld

Image credit: From Official Website

On first sight at Magny-Cours, iTV commentators were concerned that BMW chief aerodynamicist Willem Toet's mother would perhaps one day want her ironing board back.

Drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Nick Heidfeld must have the impression of looking through the crosshairs of a bad, pre-Pentium flight simulator and one can not help wondering how much the fins actually distract when trying to get those inside wheels over an apex let alone dealing with the starting grid chaos when the lights go out.

2006 French GP BMW Sauber Villeneuve 'Twin Towers'

Image credit: From Official Website

Although Williams are not closed to the idea of experimenting with the antennae, Michael conceded that they are far from easy on the eyes.

"It looks terrible," he said. "But there are lots of bits on the car that don't look good."

But take the McLaren MP4-21 for example. While not every fan's idea of a beautiful car, you simply have to admire the shining chrome example of cutting-edge aero technology at its peak. The Silver Arrows team have not wasted any space with fins sprouting at every angle and no straight lines to be seen.

2006 Launch McLaren MP4-21

Image credit: From Official Website

The MP4-21 remains, however, a thing of admiration - beauty, if you will - and while BMW-Sauber's budget in only their first year in Formula One may fall well short of McLaren's, it would be a shame to see the likes of Williams and Ferrari adopting the Twin Terrors.

Formula One is, after all, continually being adapted to accommodate the spectator, so how about ruling the fins out purely and simply because they're far too ugly?