2012 Lamborghini Aventador Rabbioso

The New McLaren Mercedes MP4-27

When the recently named Cater ham team presented its 2012 car last week, the first of the Formula One teams to do so, there was a sudden eating of breath as fans, drivers and F1 people in general said, "Gosh, that’s ugly!"

The terror was that the new rules that need the nose of the car to be higher than last year would create cars with noses as hideous as the one on the Cater ham, which called to mind a platypus. Rules, or certainly the lack of rules, do that kind of thing sometimes - remember the six wheeled Tyrrell of the 70s, or all those winglet cars 15 years ago?

When the McLaren Mercedes team revealed its 2012 car live on the Internet and in front of the media in England - and by the way, this was technically the best Internet unveiling I’ve ever seen, with a clear streaming image and sound - there was a sigh of relief and recognition of the car’s beauty not only by reporters, but by the drivers themselves.

When the McLaren drivers were selected during the event, both of them spoke of the importance of having a beautiful car.

"There are a few alter that are going to make a variation to the look of the car," said Jenson Button. "As you can see this is a gorgeous car, and many you will see will not be."

Lewis Hamilton agreed with that and punctuated his remark with a point that rings true:

"Commonly when the car looks good it is good," said Hamilton.