Ferrari to use 2001 cars for first 3 GPs!!

[vat_man]

From DailyF1.com

After weeks of speculation, the Ferrari team announced this evening that they are to run their modified 2001 chassis at the first Grand Prix of the season and not the brand new F2002 that they unveiled last week at Maranello.

The decision was taken this afternoon in Maranello, after an in-depth analysis of the data accumulated during the F2002's first development days.

"The new car has proved to be very quick right from the start, but we do not have sufficient time at our disposal to be entirely sure about its total reliability for the first round of the season," said team boss Jean Todt. "Therefore, we have decided to go to Melbourne with the F2001, which even in this winter's tests, has proved to be very competitive and reliable. We think it will be able to bring home valuable points for the championship. Next week, we will continue our on-track development of the F2002, as well as fine tuning the F2001 for the first race."

 

[vat_man]

Well, I may have gone off the deep end saying three gps, but it's a definite for Melbourne, and there was speculation on grandprix.com it might not be until Imola (which is the fourth race) that we see the F2002.

 

[KevinPSX]

Well, it'll probably still do well.

 

[f1king]

Ahhhhhh too bad!

 

[Pupik]

Long ago, (15 years ago, but that's 105 in F1 years) most teams didn't have their new cars ready for the first race. I think in 1989 only about 3-4 teams had new chassis for the first race at Brazil.

I don't think Ferrari has much to worry about concerning the old car.

 

[Dudley]

IT was very common up until the mid-1990s, teams used to save the new car for the european rounds.

 

[f1king]

Well I used to love ferrari until schue came in, as soon as he leaves ferrari ill be a fan again, I dont think it matters what they use, they will be beat this year.

 

[vat_man]

There's a suggestion at Daily F1 that it's not reliability concerns, but legality issues that have resulted in this decision.

The talk is McLaren have got some concerns over the legality of the gearbox...

To quote:
"McLaren boss Ron Dennis has already said that is concerned that a rival team are not completely within the rules with their new gearbox, while FIA President Max Mosley has also stated that he is concerned that teams are attempting to increase the range of the gearbox by using twin clutch systems.

"We are very comfortable that everything on our car is completely consistent with the regulations," Dennis said earlier this year. "We are not so sure about other people's. It will all unfold."

Mmmm - no doubt Ferrari will have no problems getting approved, or in the event that they get disqualified, they'll get through on appeal...

 

[KevinPSX]

http://www.fia.com/homepage/selection-a.html

That's an interview with Mosely. About halfway down the page gearboxes are mentioned.

 

[Dudley]

Is it me or does F1King just use cut and paste for every post?

 

[Fiat500]

The latest "Secret Diary of Adrian Newey" at www.itv-f1.com has a thinly veiled stab at the latest Ferrari tecnology and FIA policies. It's quite an amusing read.