STEWART SF02 Ford VJ Zetec-R

   The second year in Formula 1 is preparing to be a real litmus test for the new Stewart Team, especially given the huge investments made by the Ford Motor Company which, with the five-year agreement signed with the Scottish team, wants to return to being a significant presence in the world of the top open-wheel series. Economic support also in '98 is guaranteed by the HSBC banking group which guarantees sufficient funds for the development of the good SF01 of '97, from which the new Stewart SF02 derives very closely. Given the long work, lasting over two years, carried out by Jackie Stewart to set up a competitive team also in '98, the team continues with the same team of technicians who designed the previous single-seater, composed of the Technical Director Alan Jenkins, the Chief Designer Dave Amey, assisted by the young Andy Flamming, while the important role of Head of Aerodynamics is always covered by Eghbal Hamidy, a profound expert in the aerodynamics of modern single-seaters given his recent past at Williams under the direction of Newey.

STEWART SF02, Rubens Barrichello
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP '98

   The introduction of the new technical regulations, which concern the reduction of the track width as well as the use of grooved tires and increased shock absorption zones, force the designers of the SF02 to completely review the single-seater and so the Cosworth technicians take advantage of this to make some important changes to the 72° V10 Ford VJ Zetec-R. In fact, to optimize the work, the design of the engine, carried out in Ford's research and engineering center in Dunston in the United Kingdom, and of the chassis which is designed and built in Milton Keynes, proceeds along the same time line, providing a perfect opportunity to both groups of designers to collaborate closely, focused on lowering the center of gravity, reducing the overall width and improving air flows, both internal ones and those necessary to power the V10 capable in this new version of delivering 735hp at 16.000 rpm.

STEWART SF02, Jan Magnussen
Imola, San Marino GP '98

   During the presentation ceremony of the SF02, although the single-seater derives directly from the '97 car, Technical Director Jenkins reiterates the economic effort made by the small English team to radically modify all the components of the single-seater. Externally, in fact, the SF02 is practically identical to its ancestor, with only the rear area being slightly more tapered and cleaner, but under the skin there is a completely new carbon fiber monocoque frame with honeycomb structure, push-rod suspension revised geometries to better work with narrower tracks and new grooved tires, also for this year Bridgestone, a completely updated engine with a cooling system reduced to a minimum to reduce weight and a fully new automatic six-speed longitudinal gearbox and always built by Stewart herself.

STEWART SF02, Jan Magnussen
Montecarlo, Monaco GP '98

   Also in '98 the pair of drivers from '97 was confirmed, with Rubens Barichello entrusted with the role of first driver and Jan Magnussen, father of the current Haas driver Kevin, with the role of second driver. The partnership with Ford, which in addition to being the engine supplier also provides the technical know-how for the electronic part, creates quite a bit of pressure on the small team and so the expectations for the new season, as Jenkins always said, are those of enter the top ten straight away, constantly aiming for the points zone. However, the limited time available to test the new single-seater does not allow the Stewart team to have a competitive car and the start of the season is completely forgettable, with the new SF02 slower than the previous SF01.

STEWART SF02, Rubens Barrichello
Interlagos, Brazilian GP  '98

   The growth in performance of the other teams, however, plunged Stewart's team into the sad reality of being at the bottom of the pack and in the first four races of the championship the team achieved only 2 tenths places and six retirements. The first points finally arrived in the Spanish Grand Prix, with Barrichello fifth, but already in the following race in Montecarlo the two SF02s were forced to retire again. Two more good results arrive in Canada, the best of the season, with Barrichello fifth and Magnussen sixth. Despite everything, the Danish was put on foot from the next race, replaced by Jos Verstappen, father of the three-time World Champion Max, but the results did not change, indeed, if possible, things got even worse with an infinite series of retirements and with only the tenth Barrichello's place in Monza as a decent result. Unfortunately, the lack of reliability of the SF02 did not allow the Scottish team to obtain the desired results and the '98 Championship ended sadly, with only 5 points to its credit and eighth place in the constructors' classification.