Ferrari to start 2005 with F2004

[Glen]

Although a proven strategy for them this is still quite a surprise, and throws up a few interesting issues.

- With one set of tyres per race presumably some circuits now have a different theoretically optimum strategy - but will Ferrari be able to cover a one-stop with the fuel tank of the F2004? If not the compromise may only be slight, but it will be a compromise nonetheless.

- A car adapted to the new aero regulations would surely be less good than one designed around those rules.

- To launch the new car by Imola, which is their stated aim, will surely involve a fair amount of testing during the testing-limited period. Do they intend to "spend" most of their allotted testing days early in the season, or will they simply continue to ignore that decision?

- Rory Byrne's situation is also mentioned in the stories - he is getting very close to full retirement it seems and next year's car won't be publicised as a Byrne design. Is the mighty Brawn/Byrne/Schumacher era starting to come to its natural end?

[Kicking-back]

This was hinted at by Ferrari some time ago.

One one hand - starting with the old car didn't do them any harm in 2002 or 2003, ultimately.

However, the big aero changes may make this different.

It seems the strategy is to go for reliability in early races - hoping that (faster) cars break, then introduce the 2005 when it's reliable.

[Marbot]

This is a sure sign that Ferrari are not going to reduce there testing in line with the other teams as no doubt the new car will be extensively tested while the old car is being raced.

[Paarma]

Yes, I remember Todt(or was it Brawn) commenting the difficulty of designing the new car, while not knowing the rule changes during the mid-season. And I think modified F2004 isn't exactly the worst possible option.

[Sodemo]

This doesn't make sense to me.
About 6 race from the end of the season Ferrari announced they weren't going to develop the F2004 any more, and it would continue until the end of the season in its then technical form.
Now during this time, Williams and McLaren made big strides with their cars, and were if anything better than Ferrari in the last few races.
Surely then its suicide starting the 2005 season with a car that hasn't been updated since August 2004?

[Glen]

Another point: The new engine doesn't fit into the old car - so for the first few races Ferrari will have to use a version of the 2004 engine adapted for double the mileage.

If they can still win with these things against them I will be very impressed.

[Gt_R]

Ferrari would be starting next season with a heavily modified version of the F2004, a hybrid which complies with all the new aerodynamics/technicals of the new regulations. So essentially, it is not the F2004, but rather more like a F2004.5

Although Ferrari ceased development of their F2004 after winning the championship, they have been developing on two fronts, R & D for the new car as well as adapting F2004 to the 2005 rules. Ferrari had long indicated their plan to start the season with the "old" car, believing to rather compromise the first few couple of races so that they can have a completely good car for the remaining season. This situation is brought about by the late confirmation to rule changes implemented by the FIA.

With this plan, together with Ferrari's signing of Marc Gene, Ferrari is clearly stating its intentions of NOT agreeing to the voluntary testing cuts. And they have no worries over it (A) The test cut is not a rule...Ferrari is not obliged to follow even if teams choose to run with three wheels (B) This year is a good example that Ferrari can dominate even if the testing mileage is the same among top teams. So teams trying to use that excuse to devalue Ferrari wins are very much pointless.

Ross Brawn has recently hinted that the new engine regulations doesn't actually require much change in engine design. All that is required is for some heavier parts and a mere reduction of 500rpm. But the F2005 will feature a new engine taking into account the new regulations.

Since 2003, Ferrari has long been planning for a handover. Forced by the sudden departure of their chief aerodynamics to Mclaren, Bryne took on the lead on both role for the F2004. This year, Bryne reverts to his role as chief designer role, but mostly in overlooking the project. Aldo Costa, head of technical, is given an increasing responsibility to designing the F2005. Ferrari is looking within Maranello for the successors of Bryne/Brawn partnership.

The fundamentals of the F2005 are all laid. However, it will be fixed as late as possible to try incorporate all new information collected and researched.

As for strategy, some teams may revert to lighter strategy instead so as to reduce the wear on the wheels. This very much depends on the durability of Michelins over the span of a weekend.

[climb]

I dont' think they will run exactly the same car as we sae it in 2004, but maybe it will fit the same main design with some updates

[Sodemo]

The fact still remains that Ferrari stopped development of the F2004 after round 12 or so, whereas other teams continued to update their cars up until the final races.
The only update I can recall Ferrari having late in the season was a revised engine for Monza.
Now wouldn't it have been better for Ferrari to have continuted to develop the F2004 during the latter rounds, rather than re-starting development now?

[ralf fan]

Well in 2003 they started with the old car and had a dreadful start so maybe there is a chance for others to take an early advantage like Mac and Kimi did.

I think it would be foolish to under-estimate Ferrari in the early races, they have proved that they can win from impossible situations.

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by ralf fan
Well in 2003 they started with the old car and had a dreadful start.

That was down to driver errors and circumstances - the car was still the quickest.

[Marbot]

Give a thought for Minardi,they will start 2005 with what is basically a 2002 car, i can't imagine the new one will be much better and they'll be using a Ford engine!

[300kph]

Originally posted by climb
I dont' think they will run exactly the same car as we sae it in 2004, but maybe it will fit the same main design with some updates

I have thesame thoughts...it's hard to believe that the red guys are not working at all, or have not done something on the car they intend to race at next seasons' opening...

[Marbot]

Interesting that Sauber will get to use the new engine before Ferrari do! (in race conditions anyway)Sauber have also had to design a new gearbox probably because the old one (however good it may have been)won't fit the new engine.

[jj2728]

Originally posted by martyn bott
Interesting that Sauber will get to use the new engine before Ferrari do! (in race conditions anyway)Sauber have also had to design a new gearbox probably because the old one (however good it may have been)won't fit the new engine.

well if that's the case then maybe ferrari CAN get around the testing rules/restrictions/whatever...that's quite a test-mule for you....

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Glen
- To launch the new car by Imola, which is their stated aim, will surely involve a fair amount of testing during the testing-limited period. Do they intend to "spend" most of their allotted testing days early in the season, or will they simply continue to ignore that decision?

Hmmmm, this goes a long way to explaining why they are against the new testing regulations. It would seem if they were already on this strategy, they had little choice (and the cynic in me is suggesting a couple of other teams new this).

[Glen]

I wouldn't class that cynicism! That's realism. Ferrari will be forced to run the 2004 engine with modifications and a lower rev limit. I read somewhere that this year they were the only team able to use max revs for the whole race, if needed. Every other team had to restrict the mount of time that they used the full rev range (this was an explanation as to how Sato could routinely blow more engines than his team-mate - he was too tempted to use the full-rev "boost button" mode).

Naturally the F2004 will be modified to meet the new rules and be optimised to perform as well as possible - but that is not the same as a car ideally suited to the rules. They aren't building new chassis, aero, engine, transmission etc for nothing - it now falls to the other teams to exploit this chink in the Ferrari armour... they have to get it right first time, because Fearri ain't going to be giving them many chances like this one.