Formula One: McLaren Turns its Nose up at F1 Rule Change

No new Formula One season would be the same without a raft of complex rule changes prompting teams to try and find any potential loophole in a bid to gain that vital extra miilisecond over their competitors.

For the 2012 campaign, which gets underway in Melbourne on March 18, the most obvious difference to last season is the car's nose - described unflatteringly as resembling that of a platypus.

Revision to F1's code book - a weighty tome full of enough technical jargon to give even the most committed petrolhead a headache - stipulates the lowering of the maximum height of the nose to 55 centimeters from 62.5cm above ground.

Hence the facelift adopted by all teams with one notable exception - McLaren.

Discussing his team's decision to cock a snoop at the new noses Jenson Button told BBC: "In terms of looks it's great.

"In terms of performance, McLaren go their own way in terms of aerodynamics and downforce and design philosophy so I'm hoping that our direction is right.

"And even if it's not better I'm hoping that we've just gone in a different direction to other people."

Another major difference this year concerns the device which creates downforce by forcing fuel through the engine to produce exhaust gasses and directing it over the diffuser when the driver was not applying the throttle.

Allowed in 2011, they have been banned for the upcoming season.

Cars for the first time are subjected to compulsory crash tests, a change that caught out new team Marussia, which had to sit out the final batch of testing in Barcelona after failing the test.

After completing the vital hurdle before being able to compete Marussia technical consultant Pat Symonds said on Wednesday: "We were all thrilled to see the new car out on track over the past two days and whilst we have a lot of catching up to do, we take heart from the fact that everything is back on a more positive trajectory.

"We now look forward to the challenge of the season-opener in Melbourne next weekend."

In-season testing, banned since 2009, returns with a test scheduled for Mugello in May ahead of the 2012 seasons' arrival in Europe.

Teams are allowed to conduct only 15 days of testing during the season.