As it says in the title. If you had to pick one Formula 1 car as the best looking of all time, which would you choose?
#What's the best looking F1 car of all time?
steady tree
frozen python
the ultimate sex machine
steady tree
My favourite F1 car of all time is the Jordan 199. More than just the striking livery, I think the overall shape of the car is very sleek and elegant and I would say it's easily the best looking car of the 1999 F1 grid from that standpoint alone. Another reason why I like it is because it's one of the rare instances in F1 where the underdog really had a shot at the title.
For a great video on the remarkable season Jordan and Frentzen had in 1999 I can recommend watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b27GNhfbiL4
opal palm
ever since it was first unveiled this has been my absolute favorite car
steady tree
That's without a doubt my favourite Red Bull livery on any F1 car
final nest
Basic but this is one of my favs
soft bobcat
the ultimate sex machine
+1 for this, baby blue, yellow and black really mesh together well. The full black/yellow Renault livery was also amazing, especially compared to the Alpine now
frozen python
I think the 2018 ferrari is one of their weakest designs tbqh
final nest
Post mission winnow I’d agree
frozen python
i think the SF1000 was gorgeous despite it being. yknow, the sf1000
the santander white never sat well with me on any of the ferraris
final nest
Then I guess we can agree to disagree 
I dislike all the matte / black Ferraris, but the puke winnow has got to be the worst of their entire history
frozen python
the puke winnow was fiiine when the puke wasn't there though its gradient was a little short
misty flame
Man it's like choosing your most favourite kid, it was a toss-up between Alfa Romeo C38 or Williams FW26 with its walrus nose but I fully admit, this is the Finnish bias talking a bit and love towards young and scary fast Kimi, so, my vote goes towards the McLaren MP4/20
heady inlet
2008 BMW 
ornate portal
AAR Eagle MK1
not sure if best, but definitely up there
pre-aero wings all over. and just look at that exhaust manifold
Sauber C12 concept by Mercedes needs a shoutout
steady tree
AAR Eagle MK1
This would fill my number 2 spot had I made it a top five thread. But I felt that could get messy
It's cool to see how many different cars are featured though. I was worried this would be an R25 and MP4/20 thread
heady inlet
Sauber C12 concept by Mercedes needs a shoutout
Related, Jordan 191 is revered.
Jordan 192 is the same body but a different livery and totally forgettable.
heady inlet
It's cool to see how many different cars are featured though. I was worried this...
I’d have said Jordan 199 but you already did.
ornate portal
since we don't allow self promotion...
https://pjtierney.net/jordan-191
its a really cool page
Ferrari 156 'sharknose'
sadly all originals were destroyed
here in proper scuderia color of yellow.
drowsy mortar
i know its a cigarette ad but the mp4/4 pulled it off the best, and boy is it clean
frozen python
Shape wise I just wish it wasn't so square
flint dawn
It might just be because they were in my dad's Scarlextric set when I was growing up, but I really like the look of Benetton's F1 cars.
https://www.classicdriver.com/sites/default/files/article_images/benetton-ford-b191-06-michael-schumacher-5.jpg
keen flame
ever since it was first unveiled this has been my absolute favorite car
The more I see it now, the more I like it and the more I would love to have it back
More for the memories:
misty flame
Ah yes, tub of death
tired surge
Personally, the McLaren Gulf livery from 2021 lives rent free in my head
keen flame
Basic but this is one of my favs
More than this one?
ornate portal
I'm a sucker for old F1 cars and among them W196 definitely takes the cake for m...
not the covered wheel one?
soft bobcat
Sauber C12 concept by Mercedes needs a shoutout
Can't upload images yet but it reminded me of this beauty: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B580mRXCIAEz_uC.jpg
lethal helm
couple i really like that i didnt see up there. Ferrari 641, and the championship winning Matra MS80
icy tartan
No image perms but my top 3 in no order are the Renault RS25, McLaren MP4/22, and the Mercedes-AMG W11 in it's original silver livery
lethal helm
No image perms but my top 3 in no order are the Renault RS25, McLaren MP4/22, an...
you can link em up
lethal helm
i like the ferrari sf71h very much it looks sleek
dapper flame
ferrari 2023
cursive veldt
love the silver on the mclaren mp4-25
digital tundra
slim badger
the 2020 black mercedes is up there for me.
lethal helm
The 2000 Orange Arrows was pretty and capable of fighting for points here and there. https://www.racexpress.nl/imgitems/article/2011/05/ArrowsA21demo1.jpg
torpid mist
the 2020 black mercedes is up there for me.
Agreed 👍
RIP last image, but you get it.
I also think the RP20 as well
I am a big fan of the 2018 - 2021 cars cosmetically so slightly a bit bias, hah
steady tree
The 2000 Orange Arrows was pretty and capable of fighting for points here and th...
Since it doesn't unfold, here you are. I too like the arrows, very much a livery of that era.
frosty arrow
arctic bear
My hot take: no F1 cars look better than any others. Intangible discussions like "looks" or "sound" have no place in F1.
soft bobcat
Now thats a hot take 😂 I disagree, but at the end of the day it's a subjective opinion on what is the best looking for each person
frozen python
My hot take: no F1 cars look better than any others. Intangible discussions lik...
What a bizarre way to view things. While what one person might prefer over an other is largely subjective, that's not the full story. Livery design, like any other form of design, has guidelines and principles that can be followed to make people more likely to enjoy a certain design over another. If it was as simple as personal preference, graphic designers wouldn't be a paid profession.
There are reasons people don't like the big green MW splodge on the 2021 Ferrari beyond "it looks bad". There's reasons people didn't like the 2014 car shapes beyond "penis noses". If we treat the non-sporting, albeit more subjective, aspects of F1 as 'intangible' then I think we're severely limiting the impact of art in a sport already lacking in it.
arctic bear
I've had too many hissy fits over the cars sounding "bad" to take those people seriously lmao. I like Kimi's take on the V6's in particular "they sound the best, they're quiet so I can hear myself think". And I completely disagree that F1 has a lack of non sporting topics to discuss.
IMO there has never been a good era for cars or a bad era for cars when it comes to looks. No such thing as better or worse, just different.
That being said Ferrari killed it by making their cars red always and forever.
steady tree
What does engine noise have to do with the visual appeal of Formula 1 cars?
arctic bear
To me they’re in the same boat. They don’t matter at all in the sport, it’s a pointless intangible. The people you see most often complaining about livery’s and car designs are usually also complaining about how cool V10s sounded or whatever.
frozen python
It seems to me like you're less concerned with the actual subject matter and more this nebulous set of 'people'
arctic bear
Absolutely. It’s like arguing whether or not soft tires should be marked red or green
Actually, that might be a good thread 
frozen python
I think whether they should be marked red or green is a valid question, for the same reasons as I've listed above. I'm not sure why you've popped into this thread if your issue is largely with a nameless collective that you've built a poor view of and you think the actual subject matter of the thread is 'pointless'.
arctic bear
I thought it would be fun
Saying “none of the cars look any better than any others” is just as valid an opinion as any other here, since it’s all subjective.
Unfortunately not many agree with me, oh well!
frozen python
My entire point is that it's not entirely subjective, though. What someone prefers is subjective, but we can absolutely have more objective views on how well designed something is
arctic bear
It’s purely subjective.
frozen python
It's really, really not. The entire art industry is effectively a testament to that fact.
arctic bear
The only objectively good looking car was the 1980 Alfa Romeo 179 driven by Bruno Giacomelli at Zolder that year.
Agree all you want I’ll leave it at that
icy tartan
the 2020 black mercedes is up there for me.
Imo the W11 looked miles better in silver, but blacked out looks great too
quartz elm
VJM10
warm pebble
Man it's like choosing your most favourite kid, it was a toss-up between Alfa Ro...
Chrome McLaren + black firesuit crew was the best looking pitstop ever
viscid basin
VJM10
Really really nice livery but I just can’t look past the fin at the back, on a 2018 car this would’ve been gorgeous but the 2017 cars actual design was just not nice
rancid lotus
Honestly, the new fan-voted Williams livery looks sweet. I also love the deep green Aston Martin AMR22. That green was clean!
https://racer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2022/02/FLVoaDkXEAAlm7n.jpg
The Williams Martini livery is also iconic.
wintry sandal
soft bobcat
So sad that Renault livery is gone, black and yellow is awesome. Almost bought a Clio RS like that, it looks amazing imo: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/renault-clio-rs18-one-britains-rarest-cars
arctic bear
Anything Renault
spiral oak
My favorite F1 vehicle is this.
Which sounds a bit absurd given it is a motocycle and not a F1 car. Execpt that is a Formula One TT Bike hat late 80s and in 90s they had regulated the superbikes around the Isle Of Man. a bit of an awful joke
I do have a liking of the 1991 Tyrrell
is it the best debateable maybe not but I do think it is one of the better looking cars of it's era.
arctic bear
Which sounds a bit absurd given it is a motocycle and not a F1 car. Execpt that ...
Isle of Mann is the coolest motorsports event outside of maybe Le Mans
icy tartan
Isle of Mann is the coolest motorsports event outside of maybe Le Mans
Bathurst exists.
arctic bear
I was thinking about Bathurst but I think it’s just so regionalized. I’d put it right below Isle of Mann
stuck hare
what about this absolute beauty, 1967 Eagle-Weslake
https://i.imgur.com/GysmaP5.jpg
there's a certain beauty to the older cars made in the era before anyone cared much about aero 😆
remote parcel
I want to see last year's ferrari with the "FERRARI" rear wing from this year's car
frigid wing
SF70H is just stunning
gilded bridge
ever since it was first unveiled this has been my absolute favorite car
GLORIOUS!!!
vivid juniper
Ferrari F310
IMO, that 1990s era is the sweet spot, where the designs started to become pretty sophisticated aerodynamically but before they became too intricate. Of course not a bad thing and the innovation to date has been fascinating, but visually the cars became too “busy”.
steady notch
F2004, W12, MCL60 Chrome Livery
lethal helm
Underrated maybe but I like this a lot
lethal helm
As a lewis fan, I might be biased but the black Mercedes W11 was pure sex, add a 7 time wdc wearing a sexy purple helmet and it literally leaves me speechless. Also given the beast that car was, I think 50 years later people would still be intrigued in that car.
supple wyvern
As a lewis fan, I might be biased but the black Mercedes W11 was pure sex, add a...
i totally agree, that car is stunning,
shell shale
Same this one is beautiful. I still have my yellow and blue renault nando shirt I wear every race sunday loved that livery.
shell shale
the ultimate sex machine
Replying to this 😅
Right now the mclaren silverstone livery has been my favourite this year followed by the current gulf williams livery. Stunning.
rugged warren
My favourite F1 car of all time is the Jordan 199. More than just the striking l...
looks like a power washer
tawny turtle
I'm a basic person, my favorite one is just a regular Ferrari livery but with a black halo and some black elements
tranquil hound
I really like brawn livery was so nice with less sponsors
stuck hare
someone should start a parallel thread for the ugliest F1 car of all time
i have some 2014 noses to share
jade adder
I really liked the bizarre look on this one https://www.wired.com/2014/12/well-didnt-work-crazy-plan-bring-6-wheeled-cars-f1/
icy tartan
As a lewis fan, I might be biased but the black Mercedes W11 was pure sex, add a...
The W11 looked better in Silver, you can't convince me otherwise.
lethal helm
The W11 looked better in Silver, you can't convince me otherwise.
The black arrows vs the silver arrows
meager yoke
hands down Jordan 191 for me
past helm
underrated pick, the 2016 manor car. sponsorless? yes. slow as hell? yes. but god damn, did that orange and blue scheme shine in certain light. https://imgresizer.eurosport.com/unsafe/1200x0/filters:format(jpeg)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/03/17/1817248-38342211-2560-1440.jpg
timid nebula
All Aston Martin F1 cars. The color just looks so beautiful especially at night(say Singapore) under the lights, and the way the light reflects of the surface 🤌🤌🤌
reef dragon
It's another tobacco advert, but the black and gold of the John Player Special Lotus looks real pretty to me https://images1.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2023-06/22/25292034-1-2.jpg&left=0.060000000000&right=0.950000000000
Photo taken from https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/28793/lot/19P/1978-lotus-cosworth-ford-type-79-john-player-special-chassis-no-794-in-period-aka-jps22/, more in the gallery
rancid igloo
hot vale
Bruh I can’t add pics
carmine pewter
For the more recent cars, I think the Alpine A521 is my favorite.
Personally I hate the team and their endless stupidity, but the 2021 livery looks stunning. So of course they ruined it by the next year....
https://cdn-7.motorsport.com/images/mgl/6O1o5pG2/s800/alpine-a521-1.jpg
steady tree
It's certainly the best livery Alpine has ever had, and I think it's somewhat underrated. There was a lot of criticism when they revealed their 2021 livery but when you look at all their subsequent ones I think it's aged well
glacial forge
Easy pick when you've got only 3 liveries to choose from lol
shrewd steppe
gusty jackal
Torro Rosso STR6 2011
gusty jackal
VJM10
insane
but the 2011 Force India was prob my fav of that teams history
def not bias
frozen python
one of the wildest takes I've seen here yet
shell shale
If we’re talking vegas then let me bring up alphatauri’s livery. Absolutely beautiful
AlphaTauri in general had an amazing livery especially the 23 one. VCARB goes hard in its own way but I will very very much miss last year’s colours 😢
wooden rune
one of the wildest takes I've seen here yet
Which one
wooden rune
If we’re talking vegas then let me bring up alphatauri’s livery. Absolutely beau...
Yeah those are nice
kind radish
Brawn gp001 looks so clean imo
shell cedar
the chrome mclaren livery they ran at silverstone last year was one of my recent favorites
runic terrace
2014 McLaren MP4-29
I don't have image perms yet but I had to shout that one out
Also the white rb20 from the 2021 Turkish GP is nice
wooden rune
AlphaTauri in general had an amazing livery especially the 23 one. VCARB goes ha...
vcarb looks p good ngl
their vegas is alright I guess, last year alphatauri was nice too
shell shale
vcarb looks p good ngl
Yeah its cool in its own way, not to my personal preference but the nod to toro rosso colours is appreciated 😉
shell cedar
2014 McLaren MP4-29
Yeah it looks clean but not rly a fan of the dick nose imo
2014-15 cars had that error
runic terrace
Purple RB9 was sick too
velvet temple
tacit widget
unpopular opinion but the 2020 racing point
shell cedar
The 2010 force india is also one of my favorites
Actually 2010-2013 are all fire imo
tacit widget
Actually 2010-2013 are all fire imo
i love the 2013
torpid mist
unpopular opinion but the 2020 racing point
I agree, that the W10, W11 and W12 are my favourite bunch from 2018-2021
hot finch
S921 clears
wise vapor
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/03/17/1817248-38342211-2560-1440.jpg){kind=link}
true karma
actually W11
versed cosmos
Ah there are too many for me to pick 1
Screw it, top 5 (I cant remember car names like MP4/4)
- Mclaren from 2011/2012
- Mclaren MP4/4
- Mercedes + Racing point from 2020 (Almost same car)
- 1978 Lotus (John Player Special)
- Brawn 2009
river moat
Honestly the Alfa C43 and Steak C44 Doesnt look too bad pretty nice livery imo not of all time but pretty great
versed cosmos
Thats a good take
Very different livery the steak which is nice
carmine pewter
C44 is very good at standing out. I don't think it looks good, but that neon green attracts eyeballs.
Well, would have been very good at standing out if the car actually performed nearly well enough to be competing for anything better than 16th.
stuck hare
true karma
Screw it, top 5 (I cant remember car names like MP4/4)
1. Mclaren from 2011/2012...
bro just likes mclarem
look at w11 lil guy
versed cosmos
bro just likes mclarem
i mean sure i got a bit of bias but i only mentioned 2/5
i still stand by it tho, they are very good looking cars
stuck hare
the MP4-14 was really nice as well, pre Vodafone
and the MP4-20
heck McLaren just made some nice looking cars back in the late 90s / early 00s!
empty hamlet
The 2014 Force India one
true karma
yeah
see u gotta agree its good
the logo shape on the back looks lovely
+it matched perfectley with hamiltons helmet
versed cosmos
see u gotta agree its good
Im confused who you are tryna talk to??
Ive said i agree like 5 times lol
versed cosmos
Screw it, top 5 (I cant remember car names like MP4/4)
1. Mclaren from 2011/2012...
Its in my top 5 already
true karma
kk
stuck hare
Karun Chandhok said in his AMA he thinks the best looking car of all time is the 1990 Ferrari 641. Not sure I agree it's no 1 but it's a strong pick.
frozen python
it's red! which is cool, but the shapes are so horrid
misty flame
The design process of 641 (probably):
I can't argue against though, it's a good looking car, even if a bit blocky
stuck hare
You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? The perfect racing machine. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.
true karma
yea the black with the logo
keen flame
Karun Chandhok said in his AMA he thinks the best looking car of all time is the...
Well, it's actually number 2
||👀||
fathom hedge
Karun Chandhok said in his AMA he thinks the best looking car of all time is the...
such a great looking car for sure. would also put the williams up there
stuck hare
forgot about this beauty
true karma
that looks like cheese
spark glen
would say that the 2000s bmw sauber has some dope liveries
faint flame
A bit left field but i'd put a vote for the black testing renault Livery
versed cosmos
oh yea that was insanely good
vagrant pivot
white rb16b or mclaren mp4
grand sluice
VJM11
potent moon
hands down Jordan 191 for me
This is the car for me.
faint flame
icy tartan
No image perms but my top 3 in no order are the Renault RS25, McLaren MP4/22, an...
Alright, I'll say it. the W16 is my new favorite f1 car. that thing is near perfection.
limber ruin
Alright, I'll say it. the W16 is my new favorite f1 car. that thing is near perf...
Interesting
It does look clean and minimal
versed cosmos
Alright, I'll say it. the W16 is my new favorite f1 car. that thing is near perf...
Improvement on last year for sure
Does it beat out 2020??
Me personally not at all
Fair take though
icy tartan
Improvement on last year for sure
Does it beat out 2020??
Me personally not at ...
Pre-Season 2020 was so peak but this season is something else.
stuck hare
Ferrari 412T2 anyone?
light crest
The McLaren MP4-22. I know the MP4-23 looks similar, but it's the traction control sound that puts the MP4-22 in the top of my list. It just looks so agile, and that Mercedes V8 sounds so good.
earnest zenith
2018 Red Bull
near violet
for me its the mcl38 for monacos race
light crest
forgot about this beauty
early version of active suspension
stuck hare
... although those world titles were all achieved for McLaren, Bruno believes the 1985 Lotus was something special. "It's probably the most beautiful livery ever in F1," he told BBC Radio Northampton.
wintry sandal
for me its the mcl38 for monacos race
McLaren just does some beautiful 1 off liverys
solar dust
On my little F1 history knowledge i could point out
Any Lotus gold and black on livery alone, its quite difficult to pick from a chassis but the essence is on the livery itself
the 2023 Miami VCARB, i absolutely love the colors and fading it has
versed cosmos
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c1egy09e12jo
I love this, not bcuz its heartwarming, but bcuz people really thought B Senna calling A Senna his hero was a new thing, or something worth a headline quote
I dont think it needs a detective to figure that one out mate
Driving the car is actually really cool though so good on him
fleet grotto
2022 alfa romeo
ancient fjord
cant sent pics but the 2005 mclaren😍😍
thin mango
probably not the best looking of all time, but I really like RB6 (2010 Red Bull)
unreal hemlock
The Mclaren MP4-22 the front wing just looks so cool
runic veldt
renault elf mild seven, r26
tawny plover
Why complicate it any Marlboro mclaren. I esepciall love the mp4/4
fading wolf
probably the 2000's era
versed cosmos
Specific 👍
shrewd copper
I like the williams honda cars
high gull
some underrated ones i like are the Brabham BT52, Ligier JS11, Ferrari 126C3, and BAR 006. outside of that i like the McLaren MP4/6, MP4/20, Jordan 199, and any of the early 2000s Ferraris
stoic portal
This is completely subjective. But my overall favourite looking f1 car is the redbull rb7. Either old or new livery. Looks so clean. Suprised no one said it yet
runic moon
in 2020s the 2020 Mercedes or the 2021 Mclaren in Monaco in 2010s, in the 2016 Manor, in 2000s the 2000 Williams car and in 1990s the Jordan car in 1991
icy tartan
just wanna say this year may be the overall best looking grid in F1 history, not just 1 or 2 outliers
every car look fantastic
woeful marsh
2009 brawngp’s car or 2007 kimi’s ferrari orrr redbull in 2013
rustic tangle
The 2021 alpine was actually fire
lethal helm
Raikonnen's Ferrari F2007 or Schumacher's F2004
misty juniper
the hrt ]
rustic tangle
Every single Lola 💀
mint oar
ngl i think the rb21 japan gp livery was fire
distant mango
i like the str13 livery
jade locust
W11, or MP4/4
rotund hearth