Ferrari to run with a "Williams style" front wing

[FourWheelDrift]

Well that didn't take long did it?

Autosport said:

Ferrari's team chief Jean Todt has revealed that the 2004 car will follow Williams' example by featuring an innovative nose section. The Scuderia is chasing a sixth consecutive constructors' world title this season. The new car will carry the designation 655 and is to be unveiled at the team's Maranello factory on 26 January. “With the 655 we hope to continue our formidable run of success,” said Todt. “It will have a front wing that could surprise everyone.” Todt's comments, following the unusual appearance of the Williams FW26, mean that this could be a season with more apparent technical experimentation than any in the last several years. The Frenchman says that he has every confidence in tyre partner Bridgestone, despite the outstanding winter testing times from Ferrari's Michelin rivals. “Bridgestone are Japanese. They work methodically and with rigour. The only thing we shouldn't do is panic; there is no reason to. I say it clearly: I am convinced that we will race well.”

[murcielago]

When we are free to do our own thing, we usually copy each other

[anonymous-user]

i said a while back that if it works every one will have one and if it doesnt, well, nothing ventured.....
i dont understand why williams took the wraps off it so soon though, i appreciate they would have to do a lot of testing but surely it would have made sense to delay the launch for a while.....

[steviebee]

Wouldn't it be funny if Williams turned up in Aus' with a bog standard wing, admittting it was a hoax, whilst all the other's thought it genuiene having hurriedly copied it.

[CraigAlsop]

Cos they've got the "real" nose under wraps, and they just wanted to persuade Ferrari to use that one

[d-man]

If the Williams front wing really works I'm not sure running a copy of it would 'surprise everyone'. Surprise noone more like

On the other hand, just getting the Williams version banned would be more their style.

[Frik]

Its not as if they'd run it if it was less effective.

[mutley]

Gazboy said:

They'll all be doing it by mid season, like in 1992 when Benneton started the 'high nose' concept at the start of the season, by the end, everyone had the high nose.

IIRC Tyrell started the high nose revolution in 1989

[t1grm]

mutley said:

Gazboy said: They'll all be doing it by mid season, like in 1992 when Benneton started the 'high nose' concept at the start of the season, by the end, everyone had the high nose. IIRC Tyrell started the high nose revolution in 1989

Yup. 1990 actually with Jean Alesi.



I think it was the Dallas GP that year and it was Alesi's first season. He qualified 2nd and a certain Mr. Senna got very irate after the race for this new boy daring to try to overtake him for position Not something we'd see out friend Schuey doing now is it ?

Edited to say: It was Phoenix not Dallas. Both very dull street curcuits that didn't stay on the calender for long so easy to get them mixed up

Edited again to say: Race report here:

www.gpracing.net192.com/races/reports/485.cfm

Although it says Senna said he knew Alesi had the ingredients to be World Champion. I seem to rember it differently

>> Edited by t1grm on Thursday 22 January 13:46

[d-man]

And the surprise is.... There is absolutely nothing interesting about the nose on the launch car at all

[FourWheelDrift]

Probably found it doesn't work.

Look's like a Sauber though

Although..............

Rory Byrne in Autosport said:

Although the car was only unveiled this morning (Monday) at its Maranello factory, Byrne says there will be big changes on the aerodynamic front before the opening race weekend. The car had been rumoured to appear with something approaching a Williams-style front wing, but this did not materialise. "In order to continue making steps forward, every area effecting aerodynamics has been further developed and many new components will be introduced during our test programme in February," said Byrne. "The car we'll race in Melbourne will look different in many areas to the one that you see here.

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Monday 26th January 12:15

[daydreamer]

Ross Brawn on itv-f1 said:

"We did not react aggressively enough to the opportunities presented by the 2003 regulation changes and for 2004 we have worked to ensure that we will not make the same mistake."

I wonder what bending of the rules Mr Brawn has install for us this year - maybe he has just discovered a way to get around the regs and run wider tread patterns than everybody else

[condor]

The new MasterCard Ad

Keeping the Same Car(MP4/17) for two racing seasons! Cost= Been Critized by the Tiffosis!
Making a Car that dares to be revolutionary! Cost= People Calling it Flipper!

Waiting for the F2004 and being presented with the F2003GA-D! PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

There are some things money can't buy! For everything else there is MasterCard(in association with Ferrari!!!)

[Teppic]

t1grm said:

I think it was the Phoenix GP that year and it was Alesi's first season. He qualified 2nd and a certain Mr. Senna got very irate after the race for this new boy daring to try to overtake him for position

Actually Alesi qualified 4th. 2nd on the grid was Pier Luigi-Martini's Minardi!

Senna had qualified in 5th, and at the start Alesi got up in to 2nd place behind Berger, Once Gerhard had spun out Alesi was left in the lead, with Senna closing fast. Senna got past in to turn 1, but ran wide and was immediately re-passed by Alesi, who remained in the lead for another lap. Senna then tried again in to turn 1 but this time kept the door closed, only for Alesi to go around the outside! They were side by side through turn 2 but Ayrton managed to get in front by turn 3.