New Mac this month!!

[Kenny W.]

Managing director Martin Whitmarsh said: "As previously indicated, we will only race the MP4-18 when it's faster and at least as reliable as the MP4-17D.

"As a result, at this time we are not in the position to provide an exact date, it will however be within the next month.

"The strong showing of the MP4-17D is allowing us the flexibility to fully optimise the performance of the MP4-18 before it is introduced.



Question is will it come before the new Ferrari?

[Red]

Ummmm..... "within the next month" doesn't really looks like "this month".. Anyway, both faster and as reliable as 17D? :confused: Did they actually test it?

[twig]

i dont think anybody has ever seen the car, so im not sure how far down the line it is.

Surely they havent tested it, otherwise we would have heard about it.

The F2003-GA is due in Spain, as was the McLaren a few statements ago, but the McLaren i doubt will be arriving in Spain, so looks like Austria then.

[BootsOntheSide]

Has anyone else seen the problem with the logic behind this late car launchng, especialyl in the long term? What'll happen next March?

Will they have new cars (MP4-19 and F2004-GA) ready, meaning that the cars they've gone to great expense on this year will be used for less than 16 races, or will they launch the new car later, meaning that they have effectively shifted the design process back 2 months, and raced the first few races up against (theoretically) mroe advanced rivals. I know they will have to have engines that last a whole weekend by next year, but the chassis will theoretically still be usable. Would a 2004 Sauber be able to embarass a 2003 Ferrari with the same 2004 Ferrari engine?

[type49]

Well, aren't the F2004-GA and MP4-18 supposed to be both quantum "leap cars"? Since Indy last year Ferrari has not been too secrative about showing off the 2002 chassis. On the "Speed Channel" warm up last week a photographer was shown walking up to one, dropping a camera into the cockpit and taking a snap, no problem. The Mclaren has a new engine in addition to the chassis and, I suspect, takes further advantage of last years rules. Maybe, taking a clue from the aircraft industry the new Mac will be the first car ever designed, built and "driven" completely on computers before ever being seen. Let them take their time. Nobody wants a repeat of the Lotus 80.