Car launches: what's the use in hiding?

[Jolle]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production). There was that McLaren docu a few years back, they were still assembling the car on the podium for the launch presentation. Mercedes the last few years took their "look at our new car" pics on the way to the first testing days, including some of the testing equipment (like infra red camera's) already on the car.

Not having to worry about PR-launch, just takes a bit of stress away from the factory. With a bit of luck we'll see non-painted cars again at the first (non-broadcast) test, all for those extra few days.

[timbo]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production). There was that McLaren docu a few years back, they were still assembling the car on the podium for the launch presentation. Mercedes the last few years took their "look at our new car" pics on the way to the first testing days, including some of the testing equipment (like infra red camera's) already on the car.

Not having to worry about PR-launch, just takes a bit of stress away from the factory. With a bit of luck we'll see non-painted cars again at the first (non-broadcast) test, all for those extra few days.

This is a good point. However, shouldn't it be fairly easy to at least make a render? And with the current technology, the launch ceremony could make use of a hologram of something.

[Jolle]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production). There was that McLaren docu a few years back, they were still assembling the car on the podium for the launch presentation. Mercedes the last few years took their "look at our new car" pics on the way to the first testing days, including some of the testing equipment (like infra red camera's) already on the car.

Not having to worry about PR-launch, just takes a bit of stress away from the factory. With a bit of luck we'll see non-painted cars again at the first (non-broadcast) test, all for those extra few days.

This is a good point. However, shouldn't it be fairly easy to at least make a render? And with the current technology, the launch ceremony could make use of a hologram of something.

of course they can, Williams did that several times, HAAS did it this year, but.. why should they? A launch is to accommodate the sponsors and present the team, not for us nerds to talk about every scoop and fin on the car. With the FIA model, they have an easy way to do that and, in a very safe way, have some models at sponsor events the next couple of months. With the radical changes of the cars, they can't just take a fiberglass mould off a car from a few years ago.

[timbo]

A launch is to accommodate the sponsors and present the team, not for us nerds to talk about every scoop and fin on the car.

But the car reveal was always a driving force behind the event. RB didn't call the event livery reveal or team reveal for a reason. Perhaps things may change. Maybe one year we will end up with the spec chassis.

With the FIA model, they have an easy way to do that and, in a very safe way, have some models at sponsor events the next couple of months. With the radical changes of the cars, they can't just take a fiberglass mould off a car from a few years ago.

Yes, and this is why I say that could have integrated renders even in the live event with the modern technology.

[Jambier]

As said, teams (or other companies) bought several FIA models for promotion, or launch:

[Just_a_fan]

As said, teams (or other companies) bought several FIA models for promotion, or launch:

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f ... =600&h=442

Nicely shows how lightly built these models are - they've got foam blocks under the mirror supports to stop them breaking from turblence in transit.

[jjn9128]

As said, teams (or other companies) bought several FIA models for promotion, or launch:

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f ... =600&h=442

Nicely shows how lightly built these models are - they've got foam blocks under the mirror supports to stop them breaking from turblence in transit.

I think it's more for general wear and transport rather than structural weakness. F1 mirrors are supported in transit.

[SmallSoldier]

The effect of the launch is eyes on the car / livery and they are achieving that… I’m sure that for a very large portion of the fans, they don’t even know that the car RBR showed today is actually the FOM’s show car…

Looking around t'web, it appears that you may be wrong there. There are lots of posts in various forums, facebook, twitter, etc., where people are decrying Red Bull's actions in calling this the launch of the RB18.There is a lot of bad feeling about it.

Sure, some are doing the whole "Ooh, look, a car. Car goes brrmm, brrmm" idiocy. Sadly, they are the same sorts that Liberty seems to want to attract and appears to listen to when they ask opinions for F1's future.

Let’s keep in mind that most probably our social media “feeds” are going to be fill by like minded people in regards to F1, so I would expect my timeline on Twitter for example to have a lot of comments noticing the FOM model since I follow similar minded (hardcore F1 fans) individuals… The general fan probably doesn’t belong to F1 forums.

Let’s keep in mind that in Marketing there is an old saying that goes “Bad publicity is good publicity”, yes there is a bad feeling about RBR not only not showing their actual car and instead showing the FOM model, but even worst, having the nerve to call it the RB18, but they have made a ton of buzz (probably even more than if an actual car or early iteration of their car would have been on display).

[Schuttelberg]

Seb seems to have a bit of a spark about him at the launch. Good to see him happy.

[JordanMugen]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production).

RBR marketing department could have done the physical filming with the show car, but asked the engineering team for some renders of an earlier stage of development to release also. But oh well, what's done is done.

where people are decrying Red Bull's actions in calling this the launch of the RB18.There is a lot of bad feeling about it.

I suspect such folks despised Red Bull Racing already.

[Just_a_fan]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production).

RBR marketing department could have done the physical filming with the show car, but asked the engineering team for some renders of an earlier stage of development to release also. But oh well, what's done is done.

where people are decrying Red Bull's actions in calling this the launch of the RB18.There is a lot of bad feeling about it.

I suspect such folks despised Red Bull Racing already.

You might think that, but from what I saw plenty were Max fans. Max has pulled a lot of eyes to Red Bull and those eyes were expecting the RB18.

[bosyber]

A launch is to accommodate the sponsors and present the team, not for us nerds to talk about every scoop and fin on the car.

But the car reveal was always a driving force behind the event. RB didn't call the event livery reveal or team reveal for a reason. Perhaps things may change. Maybe one year we will end up with the spec chassis.

With the FIA model, they have an easy way to do that and, in a very safe way, have some models at sponsor events the next couple of months. With the radical changes of the cars, they can't just take a fiberglass mould off a car from a few years ago.

Yes, and this is why I say that could have integrated renders even in the live event with the modern technology.

I didn't closely look at how much, or little maybe for such a big frontrunning team with a new world champion, the Red Bull launch got but it wasn't like their testing-livery times at all; Haas last week lasted longer in attention span I think, and Aston Martin, by also giving us something real is currently being all over my timeline, even just when looking at F1 it's a difference. So, yes, the launches are not in the first place for the fans, but yes they are also a statement of intent and a big PR moment if done right. Red Bull didn't take the full opportunity IMO, while AM did (also bc. after last year the did need a solid statement of intent and professionalism, more than Red Bull).

[nokivasara]

It's not just hiding, It's also time management. With the FIA mockups, the markering team can go ahead and plan, execute etc all the launch event things without having to wait for the actual car (which are still in production). There was that McLaren docu a few years back, they were still assembling the car on the podium for the launch presentation. Mercedes the last few years took their "look at our new car" pics on the way to the first testing days, including some of the testing equipment (like infra red camera's) already on the car.

Not having to worry about PR-launch, just takes a bit of stress away from the factory. With a bit of luck we'll see non-painted cars again at the first (non-broadcast) test, all for those extra few days.

This is a good point. However, shouldn't it be fairly easy to at least make a render? And with the current technology, the launch ceremony could make use of a hologram of something.

Wouldn't they have renderings very very early on in the process? Better to show that than do what RB did.

[cplchanb]

This also brings the question.... maybe the rumours about RB being on the fence in terms of preparations are true....
the car isnt ready to even be displayed. maybe they were originally planning to show their basic spec rb18 but its currently still
in pieces on the floor.

[PlatinumZealot]

This also brings the question.... maybe the rumours about RB being on the fence in terms of preparations are true....
the car isnt ready to even be displayed. maybe they were originally planning to show their basic spec rb18 but its currently still
in pieces on the floor.

I believe this is the case as well as sponsor commitments.
RedBull has launched from the testing pit-lane before. If they really wanted to hide their development they could have easily waited till the first day of testing or the day before to launch their car. It appears that Oracle wanted to make this a grand announcement and wanted a studio launch, but RedBull of course doesn't even have a rolling chassis ready. That is not a bad thing for the engineers in a sense that they can get more preparation time, but not having a rolling chassis ready, nor even basic wings to attach to it could mean that other key parts such as the suspension is still being developed as we speak??