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On the 29th of January 2001, the F2001
was born in Maranello. The new car is designed to retain the world title's won in 2000 and
at the launch the Ferrari team was brimming with confidence and optimism for the 2001
season.
In the year 2001 Ferrari will enter their 52nd year of Formula One racing, and with the
F2001 they will be defending both world championships. The F2001 was launched to over 1500
guests in a huge marquee in the 'Ferrari Capital' of Maranello, as this chassis is a true
Ferrari this means the car is designed, built and developed in Maranello.
The guests were kept waiting as the new car was covered in red velvet, but in sea of
flashing camera bulbs, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer lifted the
covers to reveal the F2001, the car born from the title winning F1-2000 and equally as
stunning.
2001 will see Ferrari defend the world driver's championship for the first time since 1980
when they failed to defend Jody Scheckter's title win in 1979, this time round the team
are full of confidence and are sure that with the brand new F2001 they have a car capable
of keeping the titles in Maranello.
Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, stressed "In order to win next season we
need the material and the equipment and the technology that we have got. We need
motivations and the means to win and we have got them. We need technical partners and
sponsors and we have got them. And we need the top drivers in the world and we have got
them."
2000 world champion Michael Schumacher was full of confidence as he enters his 6th season
with the Scuderia. "I'm more relaxed because the weight has been taken off my
shoulders, but I'm constantly improving and getting better and I can't see a time when
it's going to get worse. A lot of people may fear that now I have won my main goal, that
maybe my motivation is less, that I'm not so concerned any more. But really I'm just born
for this. I'm natural. I want to get in the car and get to the limit. I want to do it as
good as I can. It's simply a lot of joy for me, still. I think for the championship you
will see a similar picture as last year. I don't see that changing."
And with Rubens Barrichello by his side Michael can expect a tough challenge from the
second Ferrari in 2001. "It is a great pleasure to be here in my second year at
Ferrari. I had such a fantastic season last year, but I was very tense about doing a good
job and trying to beat Michael. It didn't do me any good, so after Monte Carlo I relaxed a
little bit and I went on to win. I learned a lot last year, especially at Hockenheim where
I expected to do well on Saturday and qualified 18th, and then expected nothing from the
race on Sunday but went on to win. That will now be my basis for 2001, I'm not going to
expect too much from the Grand Prix's, I will just do my best and see what happens."
The F2001 has been redesigned from the F1-2000, in terms of its aerodynamics the most
notable difference is the new lower nose cone, a change from the usual high nose that
usually adorns the Ferrari's of the recent past. A new engine will also power the car,
built by Ferrari the 050 engine. The engine block was produced with a refined
micro-casting process. The heads are more compact and lowered, the camshafts and
crankshaft have been redesigned from a clean sheet of paper. Furthermore, Ferrari have
introduced some innovative materials, employing them where best suited to specific
applications. This has resulted in an overall reduction of 8% in weight when compared with
its predecessor.
FERRARI F2001
Technical Specifications
Model: F2001
Engine: 3000 Ferrari (Type 050), V10
Fuel and lubricant: Shell
Cylinder bloc: Alu die contested
Number of valves: 40
Distribution: Pneumatic
Total displacement: 2,997 cc
Fuel feed: Magneti Marelli digital electronic injection
Electronic ignition: Magneti Marelli digital electronic ignition
Drive: Rear-wheel drive, longitudinal semi-automatic sequential electronically controlled
gearbox, limited-slip differential, 7 gears + reverse.
Brakes on all four disks Ventilated carbon-fibre discs
Suspension: Independent, push-rod activated torsion springs
Chassis: Carbon-fibre and composite honeycomb
Length: 4,445 mm
Width: 1,796 mm
Height: 959 mm
Front track: 1,470 mm
Rear track: 1,405 mm
Wheelbase: 3,010 mm
Weight with water, lubricant and driver 600 kg
Wheels: 13" (front and rear)
Tyres: Bridgestone |
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