The launch of the F2001 - Overview from Bob Costanduros

Reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher, teammate Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer unveiled Ferrari's 2001 Grand Prix challenger, the F2001, at Fiorano in Italy today. To rapturous applause from a distinguished guest list which included loca government members, the media and 600 invited tifosi, the trio of drivers pulled the wraps of the car which Ferrari hopes will bring them their third Constructors' championship and their second Drivers' championship.

In comparison to other teams, however, Ferrari had very little new to show - and to some extent, they were proud of it. Management, drivers and technicians are all the same. The car and engine are developments from last year, and they maintain their tyre contract. Indeed, all the team reponsibilities are as they were last year when the team won their two World Championships.

Much was subsequently said of the team's motivation to follow up the team's victories last year, but team principal Jean Todt emphasised that "in 2001, we have exceptional motivation, even stronger than in the past. We are even more determined to keep this number one on the side of the car."

Michael Schumacher was just as emphatic about his determination. "My motivation couldn't possibly be higher," he said. "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."

The new car is once again the work of Ferrari's technical team. While there was great emphasis on this team staying together, it is clear that, as with most teams, the focus of their development on the car has been meeting the new technical regulations. While the new car is a revision of last year's F12000, it has noticeably smaller bargeboards beside the monocoque, and the nose droops to the front wing much more than before.

"There was a huge drop of downforce and efficiency in the wind tunnel when we adapted the 2000 car to suit 2001 regulations," admitted chief designer Rory Byrne, "but we've been working hard to recover that. I think slow corner performance is going to be quicker because of the advances in tyre performance whereas high speed performance won't be so affected. But every team is going to be looking for more downforce." Technical director Ross Brawn said that initially the car was two to three seconds a lap slower, but that he expected that to have been reduced to half a second by the start of the season.

Byrne admitted that the F2001's front and rear suspension had been revised and that the chassis had put on weight due to the need to meet stringent new crash test regulations. But elsewhere weight has been shaved off the car, so the penalty hasn't been great.

Paolo Martinelli, director of the engine department, said that his new 050 engine was also a derivative of last year's winning unit. "Typically," he said, "we have tried to reduce weight, reduce the dimensions and increase power, while trying to maintain the engine's response and reliability. It has an all new crankcase in cast aluminium and we have managed to redesign the heads to make them shorter. We have also used new materials and we have optimised our lubricants."

In his closing remarks, Ferrari president Luca di Montzemolo dedicated the day "to all those who waited, those who were patient enough to wait and who continued to invest in us." Of those, he mentioned the team's shareholders, sponsors, suppliers, local authorites and "most patient of all, our true fans who went around the World and gave the team encouragement."

Looking forward, he said that "in order to win again, we need the facilities and materials and we've got them. We need motivation and the means to win, and we've got them. We need technological support and sponsors, and we've got them. And we need the best drivers in the World, and we've got them.

"What's missing Is someone going to leave We have had so much difficulty putting the team together over the past few years that I'm not going to allow it to come apart. Ferrari will remain as such for many years to come. All Todt's team and the drivers will remain as such."

There was huge applause for the president, for Todt, the drivers and the technicians in what was still a basic celebration of last year's championship wins. Next week, the team tests at Varano, at Fiorano and Barcelona, with the new car making its debut during the next couple of days at Fiorano.

Story by Ferrari