Ferrari’s new car was unveiled online today after snow forced the cancellation of the official launch.
The car is to be called the F2012, although its internal code number is 633. The project has been led for the first time by British technical director Pat Fry. Like other cars seen so far, it has a dramatic stepped nose.
Launching the car, the team gave an interesting detailed description of its development:
“Practically every area of the car has been fundamentally revised, starting with the suspension layout. Both the front and rear feature pull-rods, aimed at favouring aerodynamic performance and lowering the centre of gravity. The front wing is derived from the one introduced on the 150º Italia in the final part of its racing life and has been evolved from there. Further evolutions are planned in this area for the opening races of the season.
“The nose has a step in it that is not aesthetically pleasing. With the requirement from the regulations to lower the front part, this was a way of raising the bottom part of the chassis as much as possible for aerodynamic reasons. The sides have been redesigned, through modifications to the side impact structures, the repositioning of the radiators and revisions to all aerodynamic elements.
“The lower part of the rear of the car is much narrower and more tapered, a feature achieved partly through a new gearbox casing and a relocation of some mechanical components. In recent years, the area of exhausts has been crucial in terms of car performance and much effort was expended on this front, based on changes to the regulations introduced this year.
“The rear wing is conceptually similar to the one used in 2011, but every detail of it has been revised and it is now more efficient. Naturally, it is still fitted with DRS (a drag reduction system,) which is operated hydraulically. The front and rear air intakes for the brakes have been redesigned and work was carried out in collaboration with Brembo to optimise the braking system.
“The engine in the F2012 is an evolution of the one that powered last year’s car, which is inevitable given that the technical regulations forbid any modification to internal components aimed at increasing performance. Furthermore, much effort has gone into improving its installation in the new chassis, so as not to penalise the aerodynamics of the car.”
Adam Cooper F1 
The ugly step and platypus noses will have to go for 2013 – Bernie and the sponsors won’t stand for it.
An easy enough reg to change – extend the maximum height back to another plane.
While they are at it, it would be good to have other rules to de-emphasise under-car aero and bring the shapes that govern downforce back where we spectators can see them.
I thought Ferrari weren’t going to be conservative this year? McLaren have managed a car without a nose step. Do we expect all the others to have them?
The pointed nose and sharp step are very ugly but I actually like the design from the roll hoop backwards. The front of the ‘step’ is a great place for a sponsors logo though.
If it’s fast I don’t FA will care how it looks.
A pullrod FRONT suspension, and at that the rods are very nearly parallel to the ground, don’t know how they’re going to get the same sort of suspension dynamics that a pushrod system gives when its set up like that. Seems to me the last time we saw this sort of front suspension was on the 2001 Minardi PS01, I’m sure Fernando has fond memories of how well that went.