With Christmas and New Year festivities now behind us, focus once again turns to F1. A new year means new cars. The teams are all putting the final touches to their 2008 challengers which will be breaking cover shortly. He is the launch schedule as known so far.
Launch dates confirmed to date:-
Date
Team
Location
January 6th
Ferrari
Fiorano
January 7th
McLaren
Stuttgart
January 10th
Toyota
Cologne
January 14th
BMW Sauber
Munich
January 16th
Red Bull
Jerez
January 29th
Honda
Brackley
January 31st
Renault
Paris
Williams have announced they will not be holding an official launch, but have not said when the car will first be run.
Toro Rosso are expected to start the season with last years STR-02, before introducing the STR-03 after the flyaway races.
Super Aguri and Force India are yet to announce their plans.
I believe the official reason is that they have continuity of major sponsors and confirmed their driver line-up a while ago, so feel there is little value in holding such an event. They want to focus their time and efforts on improving the car rather than a glamorous launch.
Makes sense - a big launch is not cheap, but can't see why they can't do a Red Bul style launch at a circuit - i.e. just wheel the car out of the garage, sit the drivers on the wheels and let the press take some pictures.
I must admit though that I like to see the razamataz that can come with some launchs
Macca really went all out last year and I am sure that it won them many fans in spain before they decided to have a fight with their spanish superstart driver
It is a great way to give sponsors extra exposure. This is crazy in my opinion. I think this pretty much sums up the disdain Williams has for all things but himself and his team, fans and media included.
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