Patronise F1

Patronising F1 since 2007

Wednesday
May 23rd
Text size
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Ferrari unveil shocking new 2012 machine

E-mail Print PDF

The Ferrari team have officially launched their brand new 2012 Formula One car, allowing everyone that was unable to attend their cancelled launch to breath a sigh of relief that they didn't have to look at the thing in the flesh.

The new Ferrari machine was launched in low-key fashion online after snow forced the cancellation of their planned media launch.

But some snow blindness might have helped fans viewing their new car, with the 2012 Ferrari following Caterham in being blighted with an aggressively-stepped 'platypus' nose.

The new nose section appears set to be the standard way for teams to ensure they comply with the FIA's new regulations requiring lower nose sections.

Ferrari's 2012 challenger also features similar high and shallow sidepod intakes to the new McLaren MP4-27, and a tightly-detailed airbox.

The car has been designed to be a more aggressive design after the team's flop in 2011, presumably in performance as well as in looks.

Their 2011 challenger was criticised from the start for being too conservative a design, and new chassis director Pat Fry's 2012 machine is designed to address their issues from last year, when they won just a single race.

And through the distant sound of millions of F1 fans bringing their breakfasts back up, the team beat their usual confident tone regarding the new car's performance.

"I am sure our car will be winning right from the beginning," team principal Stefano Domenicali bellowed, probably while refusing to look directly at the thing.

"We have learned many lessons from the past, and taken some difficult decisions. But I am sure all our efforts will be represented with this car."

He addressed the look of the car by adding: "From a technical point of view, we have many novelties in terms of mechanics and also the shape of the car.

"[But] we wanted some continuity here, and hopefully we will reach the right performance.

"We have only 12 days to work on the car and achieve reliability, and also test the new tyres that have been given to us by Pirelli."

Meanwhile, ever-confident Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insisted that after their 2011 shambles, the team was now ready to fight for the title this year.

He pointed to the team's massive technical restructure following their slow start to last season, which saw Fry replace Aldo Costa as the team's chassis technical director.

"We want to win, and we want to have right conditions like we had in the past," he rambled, "We have all the ingredients for a perfect recipe.

"Stefano has been working so hard to get the car ready and get the team ready to improve organisation in the company.

"These changes are important and give us the possibility to have a highly competitive team."

He added: "Everything has been improved, and I am sure we will be rewarded. Our fans and supporters want to see us back to great glory.

"I am sure in the forthcoming season the regulations will have to be trusted in a transparent way, and we trust the FIA to view these regulations with the right spirit."

The team's new car will get it's track debut at the first pre-season test of the year next week in Jerez.