Category: Ferrari

Felipe Massa seems a lot happier with life in 2013 after using his new F138 to set the fastest time so far this week in Jerez overnight. Running soft compound tyres for the first time Massa set his time of 1:17.879 in the morning session. So far he’s the only driver to break the 1:18 barrier.

In what can be described as a much happier pre-season for Ferrari, Massa understands that getting off to a good start can set the tone for the year ahead. “These were three very important days,” Felipe said. “They were especially useful in the sense of finding the right direction for the team to focus on when it come to the development work between now and the opening round in Australia.”

However, Massa knows that pre-season times don’t count for much. “The quick lap? It means nothing,” he said. “While I’m pleased to have done a good time, that was not the priority: we must still concentrate on the car set-up and we will definitely be doing this during the next test in Barcelona. Several teams have very quick and well balanced cars and so I am one hundred percent keeping my feet on the ground.”

There would have been smiles at Mercedes, too, with Nico Rosberg second quickest (1:18.766), but more importantly able to complete 148 laps in the F1 W04, 38 more than any other driver.

Sebastian Vettel’s first day out for Red Bull in the RB9 was fruitful, racking up 102 laps and setting the third fastest lap (1:19.052).

In the Lotus garage Kimi Raikkonen got his first taste of the E21. He only registered 40 laps, but was only a couple of tenths off Vettel’s time (1.19.200).

After three days in Jerez, with only one more to go, there’s been three different teams topping the time sheets: McLaren, Lotus and Ferrari. It would appear that defending champion Red Bull has been content to let other take the limelight. Foxing perhaps? A bit too early to say, but the talk coming from their garage is very positive.

Here’s the new Ferrari F138, the car they hope will propel Fernando Alonso to the 2013 world championship. Once you discount this year’s latest fad, the modesty panel hiding the god awful noses we saw last year, then this Ferrari is not terribly different to look at compared with the F2012.

Simone Resta, Deputy Chief Designer, explains they have made significant changes to the F138’s suspension. “There were very few changes to the regulations, but nevertheless we chose to work on and modify all aspects of the car, trying to move forward in every area, because we felt there was a significant amount of performance that could be gained with this new car,” he said.

“I would say the biggest changes relate to the front suspension, which has an improved layout, while at the rear, the suspension is completely new. We also have a revised sidepod design, aimed at improving the aerodynamics in this area, as well as a completely new layout for the exhaust system.”

You sense that Ferrari had a bit of a love hate relationship with last year’s car and they hope they have put things right, even if there’s still some changes to come before the season starts in Australia.

“The car we will race in Melbourne will be quite different to the one seen at the launch and the first test,” continues Resta. “In the past few weeks we have improved and indeed in those ahead of us now, we can improve further, the performance of the car, which guarantees that the F138 in Melbourne will be significantly different to the F138 at Test 1…and hopefully quicker.

“I am reasonably happy with the car so far as there was a significant performance gap to be closed, something which we cannot deny, but I think we have done a good job in all areas, trying to cover all the weak points of its predecessor.”

There’s more photos after the break, along with Ferrari’s full press blurb and more insightful commentary from Craig Scarborough.

Ferrari has confirmed the launch for its 2013 F1 car will take place in Maranello on Friday. They have also told the world their latest challenger will be called the F138. The numbers reference the year, 2013, and the final season F1 will use a V8 engine configuration.

Until the end of the 2005 season Formula 1 used 3.0 litre V10 engines, before switching to the current specification of 2.4 litre V8s. Next year will usher in new engine regs which specify all teams must use a turbocharged 1.6 litre V6.

We’ll bring you images and info from Ferrari following the unveiling of the F138.

F1 power monger Bernie Ecclestone is not shedding a tear at the loss of the HRT from the 2013 starting grid, which leaves 11 teams in motorsport’s premier category, and would prefer another team left the sport as well.

Perhaps not the best Christmas message if you’re Caterham or Marussia. But it’ll be all smiles down at Ferrari, who seem to be Formula 1’s untouchables while Bernie is in charge.

Speaking to Reuters, Ecclestone said: “I’d rather have 10. I never wanted 12.

“It’s just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport. We’d rather have 10…so long as we don’t lose Ferrari.”

[Source: Reuters | Pic: Ferrari]