Congeniality Award? Renault launches new R29
Click on either image to view the new Renault R29 in high resolution
Wow. After seeing a few of this year's Formula One cars unveiled already, we really didn't think that the cars could get much uglier. We were wrong. Enter Renault with its latest R29, decked out in yellow and orange. And white. And red. And blue. Throw in some green and we'd be back at the Benetton team that preceded it.
Of course, it could hardly matter less what the car looks like, so long as it keeps the pace with its field-leading rivals. And in the last half of this past season, Renault showed that it could. But with all the new regulations in place, it's a whole new ballgame, and who's to know if the French team – returning to the grid with Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet, Jr. – will be able to ride back up the field to the championship-contending potential it demonstrated just a few years ago with back-to-back titles. We'll just have to wait and see.Gallery: 2009 Renault R29 F1
[Source: Renault F1]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mauro Luz 7:37PM (1/20/2009)
F1 cars are horrible... Sad news for the sport...
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jinsei888 7:17PM (1/20/2009)
Pleaaseeeee Autoblog, form follows function in F1...deal with it
Discuss things more relevant...
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Jared 7:48PM (1/20/2009)
Why all the hate? I like the new F1 car designss
And being an automotive blog, you think people would be more focused on the technical side of the new cars instead of the fashion side...
Just like when ya'll review a new car... I care more about whats under the hood and what makes the car perform better then what new colors and fabrics the interior comes in.
AZZO45b 9:44PM (1/20/2009)
Sorry guys, but F1 cars have been inspiration for many automotive designers (stylists). This crop of 2009 cars ain't gonna inspire!!! :( :( The front & rear wings of a F1 car are a big part of their overall look & the FIA has almost guaranteed that the '09 family of cars are going to possess looks only a mother could love!!
The R29 still has a God-awful livery & numerous "kitcar" or just downright "home-made" forms/ aero. The chunky nose reminds me of the walrus looking Williams that nobody seemed to like. The rear of the side pods look like they melted in their molds...
IMO, subtracting the wings... the McLaren, Williams & Toyota have looked the best. The Renault is UGLY, & sadly the BMW Sauber might be the King of UGLY in 2009. (AB has spared us those images at this point...)
AZZO45b 9:55PM (1/20/2009)
The Williams was the FW26:
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?Y=2004&E=WilliamsF1_BMW_FW26_launch&D=Juan_Pablo_Montoya&S=F1
IMO, Its look is "beauty queen" level compared to the '09 Renault R29
AZZO45b 12:08PM (1/21/2009)
McLaren was using a 2008 spec wing in the latest test... & hopefully the FIA was looking... IMO, the car looks MUCH better with front & rear wings that retain similar proportions...
... Judge for yourself
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=F1&E=Portimao_January_tes/Day_4&Y=2009&O=12
ack154 7:18PM (1/20/2009)
Doesn't look that awful to me. Looks like an F1 car... with Renault colors.
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Temple 9:54PM (1/20/2009)
Looks like its sponsored by McDonalds
Swede 4:46AM (1/21/2009)
Yeeeees it might look like McDonalds for someone who's never seen a Renault sign. Hint: they're yellow.
Carlo_Carrera 7:23PM (1/20/2009)
I think the new livery looks great, and either way it is much nicer than last years paint scheme.
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AZZO45b 9:30PM (1/20/2009)
Sorry, I don't think yellow & white equal a "great" anything. Is it better than last years disaster? ... yes, but that's not exactly a glowing endorsement.
Matthew 7:23PM (1/20/2009)
Interesting bit of technical parts under the "hood" on image 30.
You'll see all the willingness to win in Briatore's face on image 10... just wow.
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GeoTracker 7:28PM (1/20/2009)
Welcome to Monday's news.
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JDMlover 7:38PM (1/20/2009)
It's ugly.....
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Franz 7:50PM (1/20/2009)
This new Renault is the ugliest one of the '09 cars so far IMO. The Williams is the best looking.
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Galley 8:35PM (1/20/2009)
Renaults should be blue and yellow!
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AZZO45b 9:50PM (1/20/2009)
Why do you say that? Renault corp colors are YELLOW & BLACK.
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?Y=1982&E=British_GP&D=Alain_Prost&S=F1
"BLUE" was on Renault recently due to Japan Tobacco's Mild Seven & Spain's Telefonica. French elf might have wanted blue... but Total obviously uses red.
Alvin 10:00PM (1/20/2009)
That was back during the Mild Seven days. Now they have different sponsors hence the different livery colors. Definitely not liking them though...shame. The R25 and R26 liveries were beautiful.
AZZO45b 9:59PM (1/20/2009)
More Renault "colors"....
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?Y=1984&E=British_GP&D=Patrick_Tambay&S=F1
Mike 10:50PM (1/20/2009)
wow...I hate the way these new cars are looking. The BMW is the nicest followed by the mclearn. this looks like a cheap learners car...i hate these new noses and rear wings. wow idk what they are doing. they look like indy cars now, and I always thought they looked cheap.
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