The 50 Best Looking Formula 1 Cars: No. 10

Below is the continuation of the 50 Best Looking Formula 1 Cars series. In this edition you will find cars No. 10-6. Be sure to check out the previous editions to find cars No. 50-11.

10. Brabham BT46B

The striking BT46B on its first outing in 1978, was immediately seen as a threat by all the other constructors. Also known as the ‘fan car’, it was its namesake which caused a lot of bother.

For the first seven rounds of the 78 championship, Brabham had run their standard BT46, yet it was at the Swedish Grand Prix where they unveiled the ‘B’ version; attached to its rear, a giant fan.

The fan, officially designed to cool the engine, was actually installed in an effort to create a large amount of down-force, ‘sucking’ the car to the track as it were.

Its designers were successful and it caused the car to be extremely fast (deemed ‘too fast’ by some), winning its inaugural race by 34 seconds. However, politics and personal motivations stepped on the ‘fan car’s’ glory, and the car was quickly retired and then replaced by the more subtle BT46 by the next race.

Even so, the car is now deemed a legend in the Formula One world.

Also, be sure to check out the video below. In it it details the conception and death of the BT46B.

9. McLaren MP4-30

Though the car is currently competing in this year’s championship, it’s safe to say we’ve seen pretty much everything the MP4-30 can do.

Unfortunately for McLaren, it’s not a lot. But with this being only the first year of the McLaren/Honda partnership, it’s only right to hold back any criticism of the team for at least another year.

What this car can do however, is look absolutely stunning.

This year McLaren, in celebration of the Honda tie-up no doubt, have opted to forgo their usual chrome livery in favor of something truly special.

Warped McLaren logos in ultra-bright red which stretch across the new ‘darker’ livery make for an impressive sight, and one which I hope will stick around for a few years to come.

8. Mclaren MP4-18

2003 wasn’t particularly kind to McLaren; the MP4-18 being such a disaster that the team were forced to use their previous year’s car.

The MP4-18’s successor wasn’t any better, McLaren struggling once again to find good pace and reliability.

Whilst McLaren were toiling away, the recently returned Renault were starting pick up their stride. They were in no way leagues ahead of McLaren, but they were hardly facing the same amount of gremlins either.

Such was the case, that in 2005 both Renault and a newly resurgent McLaren were not only on equal playing fields, they were also seen as the favorites to take the championship.

The 2005 championship was a two horse race, McLaren winning 10 Grands Prix against Renault’s eight. But Renault prevailed in the end, taking both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships.

The MP4-18 is definitely one of the better looking Formula One cars ever made, but it also represents a failed opportunity for McLaren. The mechanical issues the car was plagued with set the team back at least a year in R&D, all while Renault continued to grow from strength to strength.

McLaren possibly should have dominated the 2005 season, yet the MP4-18, though beautiful, may have contributed to why they didn’t.

7. Ferrari 156

The 156 is one of the more famous Formula One racers, having been consistently placed on various ‘best looking Formula One cars’ lists for decades, deservedly so.

The car is affectionately known as the ‘sharknose’ due to its front air intakes looking rather like the nostrils of a shark. And as the shark is the great predator of the sea, the 156 was likewise on the track.

It won seven races in total, helping Phil Hill to his 1961 Drivers’ championship, with Ferrari managing to bag two constructors’ championships whilst using the 156 (1961, 1964).

6. Brabham BT52

Designed by the same man who devised the Brabham BT46B, it must be said that Gordon Murray has a knack for creating fine-looking automobiles.

The BT52, with its arrow shaped nose and lean body, drove Nelson Piquet to his second drivers’ championship (1983), whilst scoring four wins along the way.

With ‘ground effects’ (an effect used to create high amounts of down-force) being banned the previous year, Murray did away with the now unnecessary long side-pods, creating the BT52’s distinct dart shaped appearance when viewed from above.