Ferrari unveil 2009 challenger

Eurosport - Tue, 13 Jan 17:50:00 2009

Ferrari have presented a new-look 2009 Formula One car with team boss Stefano Domenicali recognising that new regulations would make it harder for the Italian team to defend their title.

2009 Launch Ferrari F60 - 0

"We are talking about a championship where we haven't seen anything yet," he said at the F60 car's unveiling.

"Other teams could have a car much more advanced. So it's right to be cautious. We hope our car will be competitive from the start."

Formula One has to contend with major changes this year, including slick tyres and revised aerodynamics designed to make overtaking easier. There are also cost-cutting measures, such as a ban on testing during the season, due to the global financial crisis.

Ferrari have won the constructors' title for eight of the past 10 years but are eager to make up for missing out on the drivers' championship by a single point to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton last season.

"It is a car with a completely different make-up. There's a lot of positivity within the team but we know it will be a very particular season," said Domenicali, whose team are the first to launch their new car.

"Today represents an important date with the first test on the track with the new systems. There may be problems and we will have to resolve them. It means in the first test all the elements will come out that we need to look at."

Brazilian Felipe Massa, winner of six races last year and overall runner-up to 23-year-old Briton Hamilton, will give the new car its first proper runout later at the Mugello circuit north of Florence.

The F60, named after the number of Formula One world championships that Ferrari have competed in, has a much wider front wing than in the past while the rear is higher and narrower.

The suspension and layout are different following new rules on weight distribution while the kinetic energy recover system (KERS), slick tyres and the requirement to use a total of just eight engines this season add to the uncertainty.

"Drivers will have a more important input this season," Domenicali said, while ruling out Ferrari using the early part of the season to get used to the new rules before refining their approach for a late burst at the titles.

"Planning like that is not really me," he said. "The aim of everyone is to remain at the top. This is our spirit, with two drivers who are very motivated."

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, who was world champion in 2007 but had a disappointing season last year, is due to race in the Artic Lapland Rally later this month and Domenicali said he was fine with the Finn taking part.

"I have no problem with it because it is part of our tradition of keeping an open approach with our drivers," he said.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reported last month that Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso had a secret deal to join Ferrari from 2011 with Raikkonen possibly leaving but Ferrari have not commented on the reports.

Reuters

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  1. GO FERRARI!!! THE F60 IS A WORK OF ART...A RELIGION!! TELL THE REST THAT SCUDERIA IS READY...

    From bbhachu93, on Sat 17 Jan 7:05PM
  2. Here is an interesting thought, for anybody who is interested. You know "when" you feel that something is not right, and it was Massa’s qualifying, that gave me, that feeling. Statistically, it just did not add up. Massa had 6 polls, and 4 seconds. That's 10 front row starts, out of 18 races. During the post-race interviews, Massa was explaining the perfect lap, “ his words” then we had Martin Brundle, commenting, how impressed he was, with masses qualifying, with the fuel he had on board. “ his words” now this is where the statistics, start to go wrong. If you compare Massa against his teammate Kimi. Massa had, 6 polls against Kimi’s 2. Which supports, the above. But in the race, Kimi had 9 fastest laps, against Massa’s 3. It's the wrong way around. Why was Massa faster in qualifying, and Kimi, faster in the race? Something doesn't quite add up here. I just get the feeling, that Massa's car, gained a little weight, after qualifying, and before the race. Maybe the FIA officials, blind eye, went a bit further than we all think. Or was this, what Bernie Ecclestone's, HELP was hinting at? Interesting thought.

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:42PM
  3. Here is an interesting thought, for anybody who is interested. You know "when" you feel that something is not right,

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:42PM
  4. Here is an interesting thought, for anybody who is interested. You know

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:40PM
  5. Here is an interesting thought, for anybody who is interested.

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:38PM
  6. Statistically, it just did not add up. Massa had 6 polls, and 4 seconds. That's 10 front row starts, out of 18 races. During the post-race interviews, Massa was explaining the perfect lap, “ his words” then we had Martin Brundle, commenting, how impressed he was, with masses qualifying, with the fuel he had on board. “ his words” now this is where the statistics, start to go wrong. If you compare Massa against his teammate Kimi. Massa had, 6 polls against Kimi’s 2. Which supports, the above. But in the race, Kimi had 9 fastest laps, against Massa’s 3. It's the wrong way around. Why was Massa faster in qualifying, and Kimi, faster in the race? Something doesn't quite add up here. I just get the feeling, that Massa's car, gained a little weight, after qualifying, and before the race. Maybe the FIA officials, blind eye, went a bit further than we all think. Or was this, what Bernie Ecclestone's, HELP was hinting at? Interesting thought.

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:38PM
  7. now this is where the statistics, start to go wrong. If you compare Massa against his teammate Kimi. Massa had, 6 polls against Kimi’s 2. Which supports, the above. But in the race, Kimi had 9 fastest laps, against Massa’s 3. It's the wrong way around. Why was Massa faster in qualifying, and Kimi, faster in the race? Something doesn't quite add up here. I just get the feeling, that Massa's car, gained a little weight, after qualifying, and before the race. Maybe the FIA officials, blind eye, went a bit further than we all think. Or was this, what Bernie Ecclestone's, HELP was hinting at? Interesting thought.

    From paul t, on Thu 15 Jan 8:37PM
  8. Like Mclaren
    like being a britsh pig and
    like taking the piss out of someone well be mates with the @#$% Hughjorghen
    100% @#$% anti ferrari and anti FIA
    is ur boss at Mclaren a @#$%
    WHO HAS WON 15 DRIVERS AND 16 CONTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP not that team in Woking thats for sure
    lets face mclaren only won the championship because toyota and mclaren are in bed together
    DONT FORGET BRITIAN WHO GAVE U YOUR FIRST WORLD CHAMPION DONT FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From nathans1991, on Wed 14 Jan 10:18AM
  9. lll

    From nathans1991, on Wed 14 Jan 10:11AM
  10. Got a Ferrari?
    Not quite good enough at driving?
    Are other boys faster than you in the wet?
    Then you need:
    Ferrari International Assistance (FIA )
    This exclusive Ferrari only membership club has many benefits. Including:-

    Been overtaken in the wet? Hit a wall? Feel a bit silly?
    -Don't worry, we'll give the other party a penalty and give the race to your team mate, even if it's embarrassingly obvious that they're faster than both of you.
    Feeling a bit hemmed in
    -Just to make things a little bit easier we've arranged a private second pit lane , just for you, Keep an eye on your mirrors though.
    A bit strapped? Need extra cash?
    -Simply get one of your team to tell someone else what you put in the tyres, and we'll get some cash off them for you.
    Bits falling off your car? Exhaust looking a bit dangerous?
    -At Ferrari International Assistance we operate a *blind eye* policy just for Ferrari drivers
    Been a bit silly? Taken off another driver whilst following the safety car?
    -It's ok, as long as you didn't hurt yourself. I mean, who are Force India? And how dare they be in from of you anyway.

    Still not enough cover?
    Are other boys faster than you in the Dry as well as in the Wet?
    Then you need:
    Ferrari International Assistance (FIA ) Platinum Membership.
    Additional benefits include:-
    Messed up your pitstop, mechanics in the way?
    -just drive over them , then make them sprint the length of the pitlane, teach them to be quicker off the mark.
    Made a booboo in the pit lane, nearly hit someone?
    -don't worry if your in the points it'll be just a paltry fine, if your not then we'll give you a meaningless penalty so it looks like we play fair.
    Blatantly rammed your main rival?
    -we'll have to penalise you because people are starting to talk, but don't worry we'll think up a penalty for him too, to even it out.
    Can't get past someone on the track?
    -No worries, cut across the pit lane exit, we'll just look the other way.
    Collided with someone from an inferior team for no apparent reason?,
    -We'll penalise the sod, teach him not to be on the apex of a bend when you want to be there.
    Don't like some of the rules?
    -No sweat you just pick which ones you want to ignore and we'll ignore them too.
    Still feeling the pinch, need some more money?
    Don't worry stick with Bernie, and we'll let the "Independants" go bust and slip their share to you.
    Cost of membership?
    It's Free, Merely support any daft idea we come up with, they'll be tailored to your advantage anyway ;-)

    Idea unashamedly pinched from ferrariissh1te

    From touronroute, on Wed 14 Jan 8:02AM
  11. tsk, tsk, tsk... you'd think that tempers had cooled since brazil...

    From sagittarius1958, on Wed 14 Jan 3:22AM
  12. m.e.jenner... (post #126) 74 days to be exact!! =;-)

    From sagittarius1958, on Wed 14 Jan 3:20AM
  13. The 2009 McLaren-Mercedes car to include one important new feature: Automatic Undetectable Fuel Overloading System specifically designed to silence Kovalainen. More interesting features may see daylight, depending on the outcome of the continous spying of the competition, notably Ferrari. The McLaren Cheating School of Excellence will not divulgate its findings, though.

    From Rav A, on Tue 13 Jan 7:47PM
  14. That's it RavA, I was going to vote for Ferrari, but now I'm not because of you! You have no imagination whatsoever.

    From pHilo, on Tue 13 Jan 6:31PM
  15. plastic.

    From wayne, on Tue 13 Jan 5:56PM
  16. I still say Hamilton's plastic, why do you think they used him in the Airfix type ad for Santander?

    From wayne, on Tue 13 Jan 5:52PM
  17. Hell y couldnt quite get that, please repeat 3 more times.

    From wizzo, on Tue 13 Jan 5:47PM
  18. Interesting to read some stupid comments. A large number of the narrow minded McLaren followers lack two main ingredients in life: Culture and civilisation. One of them, frankly a boring person, doesn't even understand that I could be a fan of Ferrari, Man U, and Murray at the same time. That tells part of the story about McLaren and its groupies.

    From Rav A, on Tue 13 Jan 5:22PM
  19. Forza Ferrari. It does get a bit boring this time of year. Bring back F1.

    From chtech06, on Tue 13 Jan 4:50PM
  20. We're all like 'druggies' longing for our next 'fix' ! Won't be long now chaps!!

    From m.e.jenner, on Tue 13 Jan 4:47PM
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