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Special feature

Current F1 car looks "a shame" - Murray

Legendary former Brabham and McLaren Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray describes the look of current Formula 1 cars as "a shame".

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team RS17, Brendon Hartley, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12, Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault Sport F1 Team RS17, Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36, Esteban Ocon, Sahara Force India F1 VJM10, queue to leave the pits at the start of Qualifying

Murray, who conceived of the concept of the all-conquering McLaren-Honda MP4/4 that won 15 out of 16 races in 1988, explains in an interview with host Peter Windsor for Motorsport.tv's weekly programme The Flying Lap why he doesn't like the similarity of the 2017 F1 cars.

"There's not a lot to say really about the current cars from an aesthetics point of view – I think it's a shame," said Murray.

"I don't mind the fact that they are totally dominated by aerodynamics as much as I mind that the regulations force them all to look pretty much the same.

"It's the old business of ‘put them all in a room and paint them all white and give someone 30 seconds to identify them'. I don't think I could. That's the bit I really don't like."

Murray believes he was fortunate to have worked in F1 at a time when there was far more diversity between cars, meaning he could create distinctive cars designs such as 1983's Brabham BT52.

"I was in Formula 1 in the ‘70s, ‘80s and those were the two decades where you had the most freedom, mainly with where you put the major masses in the car," said Murray.

"Once the regulations told you where the driver had to be, the fuel had to be and the powertrain had to be, you're stuck.

"In the early days, you could shift the driver backwards and forwards, fuel [and] engine."

Murray goes on to select his favourite cars and explain how he is as motivated as ever by his design work – as well as explaining his collection of 980 t-shirts.

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