Ferrari F138 launch

[prisonermonkeys]

These threads will be coming thick and fast now, as we have eight car launches in six days. And tomorrow we'll be getting a double-dose, with the Ferrari F138 and Force India VJM06 being unveiled together at Maranello and Silverstone respectively.

The F138 is expected to abandon the step-nose concept, which is unsurprising given that Luca di Montezemolo was one of its biggest critics this this last year. The chassis name refers to the year the car will be raced - 2013 - and marks the way this season is the last season where Formula 1 will use V8 engines.

Launch schedule:

Lotus E21 - January 28th (launch thread)
McLaren MP4-28 - January 31st (launch thread)
Ferrari F138 - February 1st
Force India VJM06 - February 1st
Sauber C32 - February 2nd
Red Bull RB9 - February 3rd
Mercedes AMG F1 W04 - February 4th
Toro Rosso STR8 - February 4th
Caterham CT03 - February 5th
Williams FW35 - February 19th
Marussia MR02 - TBA

Now, I don't hold a monopoly on these threads, but I do seem to be the one creating all of them (much like last year). But I'm going to be away this weekend, so someone else is probably going to have to create threads for the Sauber, Red Bull, Mercedes and Toro Rosso launches.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

This is apparently an image from the F138:

It looks like it's part of the front wing assembly, connecting the wing to the nose. So it could be very similar to this fan-made concept:

Ferrari also uploaded this teaser image on Twitter, but it appears to be the F2012.

 

[GTPorsche]

 

[Samus]

You should add links to the launches in these threads.

http://f138.ferrari.com/en/#/f138

 

[SilverArrow]

So they've decided on the vanity panel too.

 

[dhandeh]

So they've decided on the vanity panel too.

Prisonermonkeys should be able to answer this, he can spot one a mile off.

 

[Ardius]

So Lotus put more red on their car, Ferrari put more white on theirs.

 

[Furinkazen]

So Lotus put more red on their car, Ferrari put more white on theirs.

I quite like the Ferrari's looks.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Whisper it quietly, but I quite like how the subtle changes to the livery look... Before it was just red, now it has presence. Again, it looks very similar to last years car. Yes Alonso challenged for the championship, but surely they will be even further off the pace with just evolution changes. The McLaren has some nice new concepts which I'm sure will see it being more competitive. Only differences I can see on the Ferrari are slots in the rear wing end plates (and that probably isn't close to the final edition anyway) and a new shape to the nose.

 

[Mike Rotch]

I like the black accent along the bottom, but it looks they have gone a bit overboard with how much space they plastered sponsor's logos all over.

Also a bit curious about the funny little nostril flap thing going on on the front airdam vent.

 

[XoravaX]

Looks quite Ferrari-ish. Stylish as always.

So they've decided on the vanity panel too.

Ferrari has always taken the look of their cars very seriously. Enzo himself didn't allow any sponsors' logos on the cars, because they were ugly in his opinion. He even wanted to remove the racing numbers, but FIA didn't allow that.

 

[dice1998]

To me, this lookes a million times better than last years car.

Then again, function over form so here's to hoping it's a better overall performer than last year's F2012.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Looking more closely from the side on profile, they have gone for an interesting approach to the rear portion of the engine cover - you can see both back wheels from side on as they have cut out a large portion of the body work, much more then the McLaren or Lotus.

 

[VolkswagenX]

Any good comparison photo's of the 2012 and 2013 cars? I like how the 2013 car looks btw

 

[Liquid]

Very much a fan of the black colour running along the sides and bottom.

A very handsome car. Much more handsome than last year's...

 

[Rossell2]

Its a bit big for here so here's the 2012 car:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYOOlnLGHIU/Tyun2P04hLI/AAAAAAAATIY/Hz-qrMtOlTY/s1600/ferrari_f2012-1.jpg

 

[Anghammarad]

It looks just like an F1 car.

 

[priesty_lfc]

Ferrari also uploaded this teaser image on Twitter, but it appears to be the F2012.

Would have loved it to have been this, looks really cool!

Anyway, liking the F138 a lot, hope it turns out to have the performance from the start

 

[Bram Turismo]

If it weren't for the sponsorships, manufacturers should really look at the fan-made liveries. Because that fan made Ferrari at the top of the page is drop-dead gorgeous!

 

[Hun200kmh]

I'm not and I suppose none here are qualified to discuss more than looks, so here the technical analysis by Racecar Engineering

 

[G.T.Ace]

The Ferrari is the most interesting looking one so far.

 

[Centura]

I like the new livery. It looks better than last year's.

 

[sems4arsenal]

agreed,love the livery.Actually the fan made preview (with the alot of black) has a pretty decent livery aswell

 

[Samus]

I like that they're trying to actually 'design' a livery rather than just painting the whole thing red but the way the white line just abruptly stops is a bit, well, abrupt.

 

[Seismica]

I have to say, I really like the look of this one.

I'm tipping this one for the driver's championship this year (With Massa of course, because that would be absolutely hilarious).

Definitely more interesting than the Mclaren.

 

[Samus]

You're tipping a car based purely on it's looks with many of the final parts either disguised or not present?

 

[Seismica]

You're tipping a car based purely on it's looks with many parts either disguised or not present?

Yes

When a car looks fast, it usually is. Plus, they have added that white go faster stripe.

 

[AerodyManiac]

I don't like the looks of the new nose and the new shade of red.

If it weren't for the sponsorships, manufacturers should really look at the fan-made liveries. Because that fan made Ferrari at the top of the page is drop-dead gorgeous!

This. 👍

I love the fan-made livery on the first page as well. Reminds me of the Ferrari F1 cars in the '80s.

 

[Centura]

Agree. The new lively looks good, at least better than the old one, in my opinion, but you can't even compare either of them to the fan-made concept on the first page. It's so gorgeous.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

It's a shame those pics comparaison are not with the final 2012 version of the cars, which would be much more interesting.