The 10 weirdest cars that have raced in F1

There’s a saying that if a Formula 1 car looks fast, it is fast. But some designers have ignored that over the years, with some weird and wacky designs emerging in search of that elusive competitive advantage.
So when we came to pick our choice of the 10 most bizarre designs, we had to work through a very long list.
Our only criteria are that the cars must have actually competed in F1 world championship races and have some visually obvious design oddity that went against the norm, and that our choices cover a broad timespan.
Let us know in the comments what you’d have chosen to include, and which weird design is your favourite.

#F1 #Formula1 #F1cars

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[GarageGuerilla]

Imagine telling your race engineer which wheel you're having understeer in that 6 wheel Tyrell.

[EindbaasToad]

I heard that when Romain Grosjean drove the first laps in the E22, the balance of the car was so bad, that he thought he had a puncture on one of the rear tyres... :0

[MapleChiliPeppers]

I was definitely looking for the Brabham BT46B. The only fan car in F1 history. It's a race-winning car.

[TheSt]

Even after all these years I'm still amazed Rubens got that Honda RA108 on the podium at Silverstone.

[mcgherkinstudios]

The Arrows A22 and its extra front wing! Mounted on spindly legs high above the nose, it was about as robust as the fur on the robot ‘Diotoir’ on the Robot Wars series.

[austinreed]

Next, THE RACE should make a list of the weirdest proposed tracks in F1.

[craigcharlesworth]

The interesting thing about the mid-wing on the MP4/10 is that Ron Dennis went round telling everyone that one day every team would have one. And he was kind of right, because in 2017 every team was running an enlarged shark fin engine cover with a mid-wing perched on it. So just for that one season his prediction come true, 22 years after he made it.

[MrNegativecreep]

The early 2010's really were a low point for aesthetics, the lego-nosed Ferrari being one of the worst offenders.

[BlackFantasy]

It must have been quite some interesting times when designers could even create 6 wheelers. For mr still the most curious F1 car.

[BOABModels]

I knew my favourite car, the P34, would be on this list! Such an amazing idea. Ken Tyrrell had hoped that other teams would adopt the 6 wheel design and that Goodyear would then increase development of the small front wheels.
I built a 1/20 scale model of it earlier this year.

[gabormiklay]

02:35 Rory Byrne is a great designer, but they run of competitive GPs sometimes were due to underfueling the car and running out of petrol. Not every GP, but only they know when (1984 Monaco?). Hats off to him, because co-designing the 1994-95 Benetton was a huge achievement.

[paigelore]

suggestion : a list of features teams put on the track that 'should' of been made standard to push the sport forward but instead were 'banned'. my vote for such a list would hands down be mercedes tilt-camber steering. imagine if that mechanic had been standard on all 2022 cars... wow.

[matussa]

When can we have Top 10 Ed Straw moments.

[Duff]

Brabham BT34 “Lobster Claw”
Ferrari 312T4 & T5
Ensign N179 with the nose-mounted radiators
Ligier JS5 with the giant airbox
Lotus 56B

[digoryjohns]

The Lotus 56B from 1971 with a gas turbine engine. Those were the days with a light touch on engine regulations. Based on 1967's STP Indy 500 near-winner, which was even crazier with the driver sitting offset to make room for the turbine. At least Lotus's F1 version was symmetrical, if not terribly beautiful.

And from the same year the March 711 with its tea tray front wing. Optically a tour de force. I always the loved the appearance of that car!

[GreatCdn]

the 1972 Eifelland was my personal favorite! A car with a periscope rear mirror above the drivers head. it's quite a sight to see!

[christiansimmons]

The 2011 McLaren with the L shaped side pods - quite a beautiful looking car in my view

[CalasTyphon]

You know your getting on a bit when you can remember watching 7 out of these cars racing .

[simondunn]

STP March 721 with it’s “tea tray” front wing was unique.

[davecommentator]

And I remember the Mercedes event where those shots of the W196 were taken at Silverstone - I was commentating on a club race meeting on the other circuit layout and kept being distracted by all those beautiful classic Mercs going round in the distance from my commentary box!