These renders prove F1 designers need to up their game

F1 fans have had plenty to complain about in recent years: the unappealing noise, fuel saving, the fact that one team wins most of the time... the usual stuff.

Another issue has been aesthetics. Lots of people feel that the strict rules make the cars too similar in appearance, while others have been left disappointed by some uninspiring liveries this season. We’re looking at you, McLaren.

Step forward Tim Holmes; motorsport web developer and livery designer extraordinaire. For many months, Tim has been lining his Twitter feed with all kinds of interesting concepts, which includes a colourful range of F1 cars.

We’ve rounded up our favourites, so let us know what you think in the comments section below. Reckon he'd give Adrian Newey - who has somehow managed to slot in time to build an Aston Martin/Red Bull hypercar - a run for his money?

Imagery: Tim Holmes

You’ve seen the Mercedes F1 2017 concept on the previous slide, now cast your eyes over its Ferrari rival. Both designs feature the ‘halo’ safety device which will be introduced on all cars next season, but the sharp styling is an impressive step forward from the current crop of racers. If it’s possible to make the head protection system look this good, then perhaps it shouldn’t be derided quite as much...

We don’t know why no one has ever given Ken Block the opportunity to race in F1: perhaps he wouldn’t be suited to making a set of supersofts last for 40 laps on the edge of their optimal temperature window. Hmm. If F1 ever decides that more sliding is required, there will be only one man for the job. And this is what he should drive.

Gulf Racing colours on a Formula One car. Nothing more needs to be said, right? Ford have just won Le Mans on the 50^th anniversary of their maiden victory at Circuit de La Sarthe, so maybe one day they’ll feel inclined to give the pinnacle of motorsport another crack with a full-fledged works team. They could do worse than this classic blue and orange paintjob.

Let’s face it, for a team that produced Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4 – one of the coolest racing cars of all time – 2016’s MP4-31 is a bit of a disappointment. The dark grey and red highlights aren’t befitting of a team that is led by two world champions, although you could say the same about the Honda engine in its present state as well. A design like the one above would be an instant improvement.

Ever since Red Bull announced their partnership with Aston Martin – which culminated in the birth of the AM-RB 001 yesterday – rumours have circulated that the British carmaker could join forces with the four-time constructors champions in the motorsport division as well. In the unlikely event of it actually happening, we’re not sure how well the mint green would go with Red Bull’s traditional colours, but there’d certainly be no missing it as it approached in the mirrors.

Brabham were constructors champions in 1966 and 1967, and last produced a world champion when Nelson Piquet won his second drivers title in 1983. David Brabham – son of founder Sir Jack Brabham, himself a double world champion – announced plans to return to motorsport in 2014, with F1 being the ultimate goal. If they ever manage it, there’s a livery waiting for them.

It wasn’t that long ago that people were talking about Audi as potential Formula One entrants, although the German manufacturer eventually quashed the idea. They’re quite happy taking on Porsche and Toyota in the World Endurance Championship for now, but if there’s ever a change of heart, this would be a good starting point for their F1 car.  

Here’s another Ken Block-inspired paintjob. We especially love the wheels: F1 cars of today would be improved no end it they all had bronze alloys. Bernie Ecclestone, take note.

The sheer number of potential Hoonigan Racing designs has convinced us that this can’t simply be left to reside on the internet. TG is willing to commit as much as £5 towards a fund to get the Ken Block F1 Division off the ground and ready to race. Who’s with us?