Caterham become first team to launch 2012 car

Caterham F1 Team reveal images of their 2012 car, one day ahead of the planned release.

Caterham F1 Team have become the first team to unveil their 2012 car, as pictures of their challenger the CT01 were revealed online. The release is one day ahead of the planned date, with the original idea being for them to release it on 26th January, on the front cover of F1 Racing magazine.

However, pictures of the car were released today. The most striking thing is the incredibly bizarre shape of the nose, which I believe stems from the new rule demanding the noses be 7cm lower than they were in 2011. It is expected that all teams will have something similar.

Caterham, whose name changes from Team Lotus in 2012, have officially signed Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli for the third season running. However, rumours are rife that Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will be replacing Trulli.

McLaren are the next team to unveil their car, on 1st February, while Ferrari and Force India will launch on the 3rd. Testing starts at Jerez on 7th February, with those four teams there, as well as Lotus, Sauber and Red Bull. Marussia announced today they would not make the first test, instead running their old car at the first two tests, and running their new car for the first time on 1st March. HRT will run their 2011 car at the first test, with their 2012 challenger debuting at the second test, on 21st February.

2011 Season Review: Team Lotus

Keep with my blog for all the opinions, launches and testing updates throughout the winter, as we count down to the Australian Grand Prix.