Alonso defends new carposted in F105 | 02 | 2012
FERRARI'S CONTROVERSIAL UGLY DUCKLING, the new Ferrari F2012, has received 100% support from double world champion Fernando Alonso (watch our video interview with Alonso).
The Spaniard, who won't drive the new car until Thursday this week at the first official F1 test at Jerez in Spain, today backed Ferrari's decision to produce such a radical design.
Mimicking something akin to a basking shark, the front of the new car — launched at the team's snow-covered HQ in Maranello on Friday — features a dramatic step in its nose. In addition, it has pull-rod front suspension, and major aerodynamic and packaging changes over its predecessor.
See more official photos of the Ferrari F2012
And Alonso admitted he was pleased Ferrari was doing something different and had been excited by the unusual design from the outset.
"With the new car the first feeling was very good from the beginning," he said. "I like the shape, the creative shape that we see in this new car. I think when a car surprises you from the first look, it's always a positive thing and I quite like the car. Hopefully it's fast."
And as you would expect, Alonso also defended the looks of the car, which many have already labelled "the ugliest car in Formula One".
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"I like the innovative ideas the car has," he continued. "I think all Ferraris are beautiful cars. I don't remember any Ferrari that is ugly or any Ferrari that you don't like. The red colour and the passion of each car that Ferrari does make the car beautiful anyway."
And team-mate Felipe Massa said he too was pleased Ferrari was exploring different design directions to its rivals.
"It's a very aggressive car. Different," the Brazilian said. "I'm very enthusiastic that we're going to have a different car and a car where we go to a different direction in terms of development.
"We still need to get used to this nose, which is very strange due to the new rules. But apart from the nose the car is very aggressive and very nice and I hope we're going to see a very competitive car from the beginning to the end."
Advantages of new Ferrari F2012 explained — video
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Jim McGill