Who needs a car for a car launch?

[davewilson]

This weekend's Ferrari launch could be one of Formula One's more unusual presentations, given that the new race car may not be finished in time and photographers are not invited.

A spokesman billed the gathering at the team's Fiorano test track on Sunday as 'more of a press preview', with the car still being put together ahead of a planned debut in the hands of Brazilian Felipe Massa on Monday.

The unveiling of a new Ferrari grand prix car was once an eagerly-awaited highlight of the Italian social calendar, with a throng of celebrities, VIPs and assorted beautiful people in attendance.


Not any more. Last year's launch was every bit as functional, even if there was at least a car to contemplate with now-retired Michael Schumacher lapping the Mugello circuit in near-freezing conditions while his bosses talked about the challenges ahead.

January is the month when teams talk up their chances and try to impress sponsors with their shining new cars and upbeat assessments of the year ahead. Toyota kick off the annual ritual on Friday.

Sometimes, even when there is a car it is not what it seems.

BAR unveiled a hastily re-painted version of the previous year's car, minus engine, in 2001 after Canada's former champion Jacques Villeneuve crashed the real thing in testing the previous week.   
That did not stop them suggesting a victory was in the pipeline -- a recurrent theme over time at a team that failed to win anything in seven seasons before being taken over by Honda at the end of 2005.


HELD HOSTAGE

Super Aguri started last season with a modified four-year-old Arrows A23 car, one of which had been repainted in Minardi colours and was on display at Melbourne airport until Minardi boss Paul Stoddart sold it on.


The secret of Formula One launches, at least for team bigwigs, is to sound positive while never holding oneself up as a hostage to fortune.

Months down the road, those bold declarations of success and utter confidence in a driver's ability may turn out to be prescient indeed. More often than not, though, they are best forgotten.

In 2002, Jaguar declared the R3 was their first 'proper' Formula One car.

Fast forward a year and newly-ensconced team boss Tony Purnell was telling reporters that the R3 was in fact a dog that should never have been allowed out of the factory.

Been here before got the T Shirt...

The Stig