The Curious Case of the Carbon-Fibre Nose Cone

I know that everyone will, of course, know that its only 40 days until the start of the new F1 season, and as such its the time of the much awaited car launches, don't deny you're excited. Now don't worry although this post currently seems sports-related, i promise you that it shouldn't be, just hang in there. Now back to F1, something very unusual has happened to F1 cars this year, well not the whole car, more just the nose cone to be honest. If you haven't seen the new cars, then really what have you been doing, there's definitely nothing better to have been done with your time, but in case that is the case then below is the picture of the new Ferrari.

As you may have noticed it seems something has decided to cut a section of it off, now my reason for this whole long winded introduction it that it has brought up the old debate; one of those big questions (well prehaps not that big to be honest, but nevertheless a question), which is more important form or function? Now i know most objects try to have both, but there will always be conflict between the 2 and which one should be prioritized in these cases, it's obvious that in the before mentioned case function has won over form, unless someone at Ferrari has gone completely bonkers (probably not for the first time though), but there has been cases where the opposite is true (i really only mentioned this for a bit of apple-bashing) for example the infamous iPhone 4 aerial, where apple decided the phone's looks were more important than, well the actually phone part of the phone.

Now to get a better view of the people's opinions i've done some in depth research and surveying (well i read through the comments section of the above picture, but that still counts). The view i got from this is that a lot of people are not happy, they all think that despite an F1 car's nose purpose is to be as aerodynamically efficient that it should still look good, i don't know maybe they think if it looks good other drivers will slow down to have a look, or maybe they're just haven't actually thought about it much, but instead decided to type some barely legible comment, thinking that Ferrari might listen to them and come back with a different design.

If any of you readers share the view that form is more important than function, i would apologize but since i'm not sorry about bashing your views, then i won't. I mean i value your opinion (albeit not very highly), but i  still haven't had anyone explain to me a good reason for that view. Now most people who know me will put all this down to me not being a great fan of art, and the fact that i'm going to study engineering at university, but to be honest, and although i'm quite vocal against art, i do love design. I mean show me a Picasso and i won't be interested in the slightest; however show me a piece of quality architecture, or a new chair design and it's a whole different matter.

So really, although i definitely think that function is by far more important than form, things can still have form as long as it doesn't affect the function, and to be honest a lot of design has come about from the function, for example arches, which some people are completely obsessed about (having watched countless episodes of Grand Designs), but arches are at the base designed not for aesthetic purposes but because they're very good at supporting things whilst letting things through. 

Having said all that, if you think that you can persuade me to think differently (or just fancy an argument... um i mean a debate) then feel free to comment, email, im, text or even use that outdated method of communicating, you know that one where you move your mouth and noise comes out, talking that's what it's called. And as for the Ferrari, i actually hope that they don't share the same view as me, and that's it's not functional at all, but merely some guy trying to start a new style of design. The reason for this is that i hope that McLaren's design, with their more pleasing to the eye nose cone, is better and that in 10 months time i will be revelling in another world championship for JB.