to be honest, i think it's not as 'sophisticated' as you guys are giving it credits for.
I think the 'richer' paintscheme is doing the car more good, the cheap blue and yellow colors of last year would
have made the car look much more basic.
frankly, most of the car is similar to last years design, which was rather underdeveloped. the sidepods have changed
significantly, but then i'm not sure that 'brick wall' below the intake is so positive.
i remember RB trying to get the 'fins' banned for this year, because it would be a decent help/aid
for teams with less stable aerodynamics to 'stabilise' airflow towards the back. it got wiped off the table, so the
sharkfin is present, and here we have a absolute gigantuan sharkfin (which looks absolutely horrendous too), suggesting
airflow isn't that 'sophisticated'. The airbox is an outdated mercedes and caterham design which both teams realised were not 'helpful'.
Let's see what the 'big boys' (and i'd include Force India there) will turn up with. The Williams 'reveal' is a really basic render so i don't think it makes any sense making any comparison there. I think what Sauber shows here is what it really is.
And then, it's all fun and games, but their 1st driver is still Captain Slow Marcus "chicken-collision" Ericsson,
and their 2nd driver is injured from a ROC race in a 3-wheeler that nobody in Force India or Mercedes themselves wanted, and in the meantime they have a Ferrari 3rd driver that will do the test for Wehrlein - despite his injury, THE person that has aquired most worthwile information and feeling and experience from top-team Mercedes, and has also seen the worse end in the form of Manor.
Sauber also "already" having the car ready suggest they have 'lost' a week worth of developing too, but thats more speculation.
It looks more advanced then last years car, yes. But really, it couldnt get much worse too, especially with that basic livery, AND the fact longbow finance probably has thrown a couple of million of dollars or swiss franks their direction, and they're cashing in some stashed BdB and Nasr and Ericsson money.
If i had to do a wild suggestion, this is what they have bashed out of their computer for the next 3-4 years untill they find another money-slinging-victim to 'make it through' for another couple of years.
negative view? yes, definately.
but the livery is quite enjoyable atleast.