Ferrari F2012

Fernando Alonso 2012 Malaysia Qualify.jpg

Category

Formula One

Constructor

Scuderia Ferrari

Designer(s)

Pat Fry (Technical Director)
Nicholas Tombazis (Chief Designer)

Predecessor

150° Italia

Technical specifications

Chassis

carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque

Suspension (front)

Independent suspension, pullrod activated torsion springs

Suspension (rear)

as front

Engine

Ferrari Type 056 2,398 cc (146 cu in) V8(90°) Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted

Transmission

Ferrari 7 speeds + reverse Semi-automatic sequential, electronically controlled, longitudinal gearbox, quick-shift Limited-slip differential

Weight

640 kg (1,411.0 lb) (including driver, water and lubricant)

Fuel

Shell V-Power ULG 66L/2 Fuel
Shell Helix Ultra Lubricant

Tyres

Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
OZ Wheels (front and rear): 13"

Competition history

Notable entrants

Scuderia Ferrari

Notable drivers

Fernando Alonso
6.

Felipe Massa

Debut

2012 Australian Grand Prix

Races	Wins	Poles	Fastest laps
2	1	0	0

The Ferrari F2012 is a Formula One racing car designed by Scuderia Ferrari for the 2012 Formula One season. The car was launched on 3 February at Ferrari's facility in Maranello.The car, which is driven by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, made its debut at the first pre-season test at Jerez.

Design

Like most 2012-specification cars, the F2012 features a 'stepped nose' to conform to new FIA safety regulations. However, the design of the car was criticised, with Felipe Massa claiming that the team needed to carry out substantial work in order to understand the car. Furthermore, the F2012 have both at the front and at the back pull-rod suspension which Ferrari did not have on the 150° Italia. L-shaped inlets also feature on the sidepods as McLaren had last season.

It was reported that Ferrari had developed a "reactive ride height" suspension system, a mechanical device designed to maintain ride height under braking which they hoped to use in their 2012 car. The FIA ruled that devices contravene the regulations as they could improve the aerodynamic peformance of cars, which led to the device being banned.

Season overview

During testing journalists reported several reports of problems with the car's handling. It understeered travelling into the curve and oversteered as the car came out out of the curve. Ferrari denied that the car was under-performing, but during the Australian Grand Prix both Alonso and Massa went off the track after struggling with the handling, and could only qualify 12th and 17th respectively. Alonso finished the race fifth, while Massa retired after a collision with Williams driver Bruno Senna.

In the week before the Malaysian Grand Prix, Ferrari took the extraordinary step of preparing a brand-new chassis for Massa. Unable to explain the difference between Alonso and Massa's performances in Melbourne, the team prepared the chassis for Massa in the belief that the car he used in Australia was flawed.

In the race, extreme weather conditions led to Alonso taking the lead after round of pit stops. The Ferrari F2012 showed it has very good performance in damp conditions, but as the track started to dry, Sauber had better pace than Ferrari and Pérez cut Alonso's advantage from seven seconds to just half a second. Soon Alonso pitted from the lead and Pérez a lap later, keeping Alonso in first position because Pérez had to drive a whole lap longer on intermediates, while Alonso, having pitted, drove that lap on mediums thus increasing the advantage over Pérez to 5 seconds. Pérez again started chasing down Alonso and again cutting the advantage, but his front tyres began to wear out quickly because of driving just behind Alonso's F2012 which eventually led to Pérez making a mistake, thus having him again more than five seconds behind Alonso. There wasn't enough time to chase him again so Alonso went on to win the race, the first for the brand-new F2012.