Ferrari unveils 2006 Formula One championship contender 248 F1

After a year in the doldrums, Scuderia Ferrari unveiled its next shot at the world championship. The team hopes that the 248 F1 will be the company's and Micahel Schumacher's redemption in F1 2006. News and photo gallery.

28 January 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

Click here for  Ferrari 248 F1 photo gallery

The Ferrari Formula One team unveiled its new car for 2006 season, which is widely expected to be its last season with seven-time world Michael Schumacher in the wheel.

Ferrari president Montezemolo talked about Ferrari’s F1 racing history over the recent years, and said that the the aim for 2006 was to get back to a championship challenging position. "The 2006 norms are an improvement, we think", said Montezemolo on the new rules and regulations governing Formula One racing in 2006. 

The new Ferrari - the Ferrari 248 F1 - sports a new V8 engine to conform to Formula One 2006 regulations. The last time F1 racing saw a V8 engine was in 1964 when Ferrari won the Formula One championship, with John Surtees as the driver. 

The Ferrari 248 F1 was unveiled a month earlier than expected after the Italian exotic car manufacturer conducted tests at its track in Fiorano in the third week of January.

Aldo Costa, creator of the 248 F1, said that the car sports an entirely new chassis to optimise the weight distribution and lighten the entire structure. Aerodynamics of the Ferrari 248 F1 are still at a preliminary stage and will evolve while testing. In 2006 too, Ferrari will be supplied by Bridgestone, but unlike last year there will be four teams using Bridgestone tires which is expected to favor Ferrari as there would be more data available for Bridgestone.

Ferrari's Formula One engine director Paolo Martinelli said that "For the first time in ten years a drop in performance was recorded and this was fundamental. The change in power meant some greater investment, but in the long run, it will be more economical. The overall output of the engine remains unchanged and so some factors were the same as on the V10.” To tell the truth - we don't understand a word of that. A drop in performance, and the output remains the same? Meaning while there was a drop in performance it was compensated for? Then what about the Honda and McLaren who have reported a 150 bhp drop in power? Some data is missing here and we hope to find out more about that soon. Anyway, Michael Schumacher has reportedly said that there is less power in the 2006 Ferrari 248 F1 compared to last year - so hopefully that bit of miscommunication stays nothing more than a confused statement.

Ferrari expressed the hope that the 248 F1 will help Michael Schumacher get back to his winning ways. Micheel Schumacher had an utterly forgettable year in in F1 in 2005, picking up only a single race win at Indianapolis when most of the Michelin runners refused to race. in 2006, along with Michael Schumacher, Ferrari's new recruit Felipe Massa will also drive his 248 F1 - thought not many see him winning races any time soon. And some would say, new V8 Ferrari or not, not as long as Schumacher is there with Ferrari.

Both Michael Schumacher and Felippe Massa attended the unveiling Ferrari 248 F1's unveiling ceremony at the Mugello track in Florence.

The 2400 cc eight cylinder Ferrari 248 F1 is lighter as well as shorter than the previous Ferrari Formula One cars.

Brazilian Massa, who has been signed by Ferrari as a replacement for country mate Rubens Barrichello, was delighted with the new model named Ferrari 248 F1 after a drive at Fiorano. “I'm impressed. It looks very reliable, very good. Of course, we will have to wait for tests on tracks along with other teams before making
comparisons,” the Brazilian reportedly said. Schumacher, who won five world titles in a row and then came third in 2005, also test-drove the Ferrari 248 F1 at Fiorano and Mugello.

Frerrai would conduct more tests of the 248 F1 at Valencia and Bahrain.

Bahrain would host the world Formula One championship opener on March 12 , 2006. This would also be Bahrain’s debut in Formula One circuit.

World motorcycling champion Valentino Rossi, meanwhile, will continue testing in Valencia with the Ferrari team as it mulls driving Rossi in four wheels. A comprehensive 3-day test is offered to Valentino Rossi by Ferrari - and for the first time, Rossi will be testing alongside other F1 drivers, offering himself and everyone a chance to make a realistic assessment of his chances of moving to Formula One in 2007 or 2008. Most Formula One experts believe that a move by the charismatic Valentino Rossi into F1 is just what the sport needs.