Whats New - Launch of the F339 Formula 1

The new F399 Formula 1




Maranello, January 30, 1999


The eyes of the world focussing on Maranello
Guest of honor - Gianni Agnelli
Detailing in the recent months
Tipo 048 for the start of the season
Going for the title
First clash with the McLaren in Melbourne
Technichal Information

The eyes of the world focussing on Maranello

The launch of a new Ferrari Grand Prix car is always a special event. When the new car for the upcoming season, called F399, was presented to the public for the first time at Maranello on January 30, the eyes of the world focussed even more on the small city in the Emilia Romagna than usually. More than each of its predecessors, the F399 was designed for one quest only: To win the Formula One World Championship for Ferrari again, 20 years after Jody Scheckter took the title to Maranello for the last time.

F399 s/n 190 still covered

Ferrari’s CEO, Luca di Montezemolo, introduced a novelty to the presentation ceremony: For the first time, the new F1-car was unveiled in attendance of the some 450 employees of the "Gestione Sportiva" – Ferrari’s motor sport department, a.k.a. "Scuderia Ferrari". By this, Ferrari wanted to point out that not only a few engineers and the two drivers are responsible for winning or losing, but a large group of people forming an entire team. To underline the team’s homogeneity, the pilots Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine plus technical director Ross Brawn, too, were seated among the mechanics.

Guest of honor: Gianni Agnelli

Detailing in the recent months

For the first time after a long period, Ferrari could rely on a successful predecessor when designing the new F399 (the designation is related to the engine’s displacement of three liters and the year 1999, by the way) since 1998’s F300 was an excellent car. At the end of the season, it was probably even the best car among the competitors. Despite of this, and despite of the fact that the FIA’s technical regulations for 1999 do vary from the ones for the 1998 season by very minor differences only, the F399 is much more than just a facelifted F300.

The only visible changes are the more rounded air-intakes for the engine and the coolers, the re-designed rearwings and the improved front-wheel suspension which is now made of composite material. Furthermore, the new car (internal code 650) features an electronic steering assistance. The body was designed for the first time in the new wind-tunnel, but the old tunnel was used as well

Tipo 048 for the start of the season

The heart of a Ferrari is its engine: In the F399, it’s a V10 called "Tipo 048" which is based on the Tipo 047 used in the F300. According to the engine’s constructor Paolo Martinelli, there will be two stages of evolution during the season, of which the first one is due to be introduced in the Grand Prix of San Marino at Imola. Because of the newly designed engine, the car’s center of gravity could be lowered and the overall weight was reduced by about 20 kg.

After two world championship titles were lost only by a few points, the pressure of being successful finally is high for the F399. Jean Todt pointed out: "In 1999, we have to be competitive from the very first race on, not from the sixth." Well, the fact that Bridgestone provide the tires to all teams in the championship in 1999 might help to achieve this target; Ferrari have been co-operating with the Japanese for some time already, and after the first test with these tires at Suzuka in November some changes were made on the design of the F399 due to the data collected in this test.

Going for the title

During the questioning by the media, Luca di Montezemolo avoided to stress the target "World Championship", but he pointed out that Ferrari are not willing to lose the title in the last race of the season again.

And Michael Schumacher – who held his speech in Italian for the first time to the surprise of the media – underlined that the time is right for Ferrari after 20 years to gain the world championship title

First clash with the McLaren at Melbourne

Reading this, Ferrari will have performed first tests with the new F399 (a second example is due to be completed at the end of the month) at Fiorano. Testing at Mugello is next on the schedule. The official pre-seasonal tests at Barcelona will take place without the participation of the Scuderia; this means that the first clash between the F399 and the new McLaren-Mercedes will take place during the open practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne on March 5.

F399 Gallery




Text and Pictures Gregor Schulz
Translation Andreas Birner