F150 gallery | Alonso expects to be stronger
Ferrari has launched its 2011 car, the F150, at its base in Maranello, Italy.
It is the first new car to be launched this year and, weather permitting, will be in action this afternoon on the team's private Fiorano test track for promotional filming. The car carries the hopes of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who finished second and sixth in the drivers' title last year.
Although the car looks similar to the 2010 model, with a slightly wider mid-section to accommodate its KERS unit, technical director Aldo Costa said the ban on double diffusers has required a completely new approach.
"Due to the new rules the car should be a proper cut compared to the previous one, with new concepts and lines of development," he said. "As far as the looks are concerned the rules keep them quite unaltered. The cars look like the ones from last year, but from a technical point of view they will be really different."
When asked what the biggest challenge had been in the F150's development, he said: "Starting from scratch with the car's rear, because the double diffuser and the F-duct are gone and there have been some clarifications regarding the car's underbody: these were the main challenges and why we had to start from scratch rethinking the whole project."
He said the upper-body aerodynamics would be completely reworked over the course of testing, meaning the car will be quite different for the first race in Bahrain on March 13.
"The car's evolution has been planned with two big stages: one during the winter tests, where we will mainly develop the area of the mechanics, which means that the car's structure, the chassis, the gearbox and the suspension will remain the same for the first couple of races," he said. "The aerodynamics is simplified and temporary for the first tests, waiting for the real aerodynamic development for the first race."
Team principal Stefano Domenicali said Ferrari's objective this year was clear.
"Our goal is to win the championships, we know that it's not easy but that is what we are trying to achieve," he said. "I think that there are many very, very good teams, so I would not underestimate any of them. I think Red Bull and I think McLaren, but there are many other good teams that will emerge during the year. On the drivers' side, there are all the world champion drivers and the new talents that are coming up, so it will be a tough season, we know that."
Ferrari F150 technical specification
Chassis
- Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
- Ferrari longitudinal gearbox
- Limited-slip differential
- Semiautomatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox - quick shift
- Number of gears: 7 +Reverse
- Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
- Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear
- Weight with water, lubricant and driver: 640 kg
- BBS Wheels (front and rear): 13"
Engine
- Type: 056
- Number of cylinders: 8
- Cylinder block in sand cast aluminium V 90°
- Number of valves: 32
- Pneumatic distribution
- Total displacement: 2398 cm3
- Piston bore: 98 mm
- Weight 95 kg
- Electronic injection and ignition
- Fuel: Shell V-Power
- Lubricant: Shell Helix Ultra
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
Feeds: ESPNF1 Staff - Feedback
No comments:
Post a Comment