The F2001 was designed around new regulation changes which mandated a higher-mounted front wing assembly to reduce downforce. This resulted in a distinctive 'droopsnoot' nose section and spoon-shaped front wing. The season also saw the re-introduction of traction and launch control systems, therefore the car and its suspension were designed with this in mind.[2]
Being somewhat of a departure over previous Brawn/Byrne Ferrari designs, the car was based more on McLaren's design thinking. A test with the 2000 car-which featured a high nose-that was adapted to the new regulations made that design impractical, so a low nose was adopted instead.[3] However, the car did feature Ferrari trademarks, such as the periscope exhausts pioneered by the team in 1998 and the small bargeboards which were a feature of its predecessors. The F2001 used the same basic gearbox and internal layout as its predecessors, however the aerodynamic efficiency and tyre wear were improved considerably over the F300 (1998), F399 (1999) and F1-2000 (2000).[4]
Setting up the car proved easier, and it was faster than the rival McLaren MP4-16, but the Williams FW23—although aerodynamically inferior—was fitted with the massively powerful BMW engine, which was more than a match for the Ferrari power unit. The Ferrari was notably more reliable than either of its rivals however.[5]
Season performance
The season would turn out to be easy for Michael Schumacher, who took nine victories and his fourth world championship—scoring a then-record 123 points. He also surpassed Alain Prost's record for most Grand Prix wins during the year.[6] He failed to finish only twice, but his teammate Rubens Barrichello had bad luck and looked poised to take wins himself, being hindered only by unreliability. All the while, Ferrari won its third straight Constructors' Championship.
The car was updated before the season finale in Japan, ostensibly to test 2002 components in race conditions. The updated F2001 was still competitive at the beginning of the 2002 season and Schumacher took the car's final win at the Australian Grand Prix before it was replaced by the all-conquering F2002 from the third race (only for Schumacher) and fourth race onwards (for Barrichello).[7] Overall, the F2001 took ten wins, thirteen pole positions, three fastest laps and 197 points throughout its lifespan.
Ferrari used 'Marlboro' logos, except at the French, British, Italian and United States Grands Prix.
For the opening rounds of the 2002 season, Ferrari ran an evolution of the F2001, denoted the F2001B, before the new Ferrari F2002 was adopted from the third round of the 2002 campaign.[8] The car's chassis, designated as Ferrari 215, was developed by Ferrari's chief designer, Rory Byrne. It featured a lightweight and aerodynamically efficient design, which contributed to its impressive performance on the track.[9] The F2001B was powered by a Ferrari Tipo 051 engine, a 3.0-liter V10 configuration.[10]
The Ferrari F2001B made its debut at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit.[11] Michael Schumacher demonstrated the car's capabilities by securing a strong qualifying position. While he didn't achieve pole position (which went to Shumacher's teammate Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher put up a competitive performance during the race and ultimately emerged as the victor. This triumph marked a promising start to the season for both Schumacher and the Ferrari team.[12]
The second race of the season took place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Schumacher qualified on pole position. However, during the first corner of the race, Schumacher was involved in a collision with Juan Pablo Montoya, which affected his chances of securing a higher finishing position. Despite the setback, Schumacher managed to finish in third place, earning valuable points for the championship.[13]
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
Michael Schumacher
Rubens Barrichello
