FERRARI F1-2000

   What remains to this day the most successful decade in the history of Ferrari in Formula 1 began in 2000, the year in which the World Championship title returned to the hands of a driver of the red team after the last one won by Jody Scheckter way back in 1979. The new Ferrari F1-2000 was conceived by the fantastic team of technicians under the wise guidance of Team Manager Jean Todt and was still composed of Ross Brawn with the role of Technical Director, Rory Byrne as Chief Designer for the single-seater while the chassis was designed by Aldo Costa, Giogio Ascanelli still in charge of the Research and Development sector, Marco Fainello who after being included in the staff in '99 still holds the role of Head of Vehicle Dynamics, Nikolas Tombazis who still holds the role of Head of Aerodynamics even if from this season the young British engineer James Allison was hired as his assistant, arriving from Benetton where he worked in the very important vehicle aerodynamics sector and currently designer of the 2024 W15 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 car.

FERRARI F1-2000, Michael Schumacher
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 2000

   On February 7th in Maranello, with the presence of the then President of the FIAT group Gianni Agnelli and the president of Ferrari Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the new single-seater of the Italian team was unveiled and right from the start one could perceive the feeling of a well-born car, with particular attention to both the aerodynamic and technical details. In fact, even if at first glance it did not seem to differ much from the previous F399, the new Ferrari F1-2000 is the result of aerodynamics designed and refined for the first time entirely in the Maranello wind tunnel, where Tombazis noted that a greater passage of air under the car allowed for an increase in aerodynamic load in the rear diffuser. The nose therefore maintained a very high shape and even the front wing, with two overlapping arrow-shaped flaps, denoted the careful aerodynamic research, while Byrne's hand was especially noticeable in the refinements applied to the chassis. In fact, for the 2000 season the FIA imposed minimum body measurements in order to ensure maximum safety values. The Cavallino technicians managed to obtain the same excellent results while interpreting the rules in an imaginative way, inserting two ribs at the edges of the upper part of the body, thus allowing the chassis to reach the regulation measurements only in those points, gaining aerodynamic penetration on the rest of the surface. The side pods were redesigned to accommodate a different positioning of the radiators, while the protections around the driver's head were "dug out" to free the passage of flows towards the rear wing.

FERRARI F1-2000, Michael Schumacher
Hockenheim, German GP 2000

   The real revolution, however, is due to the engine, the new 2997cc Type 049 V10, the result of the work of 135 technicians coordinated by the Engine Technical Director Paolo Martinelli and the Chief Engine Designer Gilles Simon. The new V10 is reduced in size to around 600 mm in length as well as lightened by around 10 kg compared to its predecessor, settling at 102 kg in weight, approximately the weight of the rival Mercedes FO110J, thanks to the use of special aluminum alloys and particular micro-fusion processes. In addition to the slimming treatment, an important innovation lies in the significant lowering of the center of gravity thanks to the widening of the angle between the heads up to 90°, abandoning the classic 80° architecture of the previous units, which allows a lowering of the heads by 25 mm to the full advantage of the aerodynamic shape of the single-seater with a significant reduction in resistance to advancement. The power of the new Ferrari V10 now reaches 810hp with a rotation speed of 17,600 rpm in race trim, while in qualifying it can be pushed up to 17,900 rpm where the power of about 820hp is reached. Despite the important changes, the new Ferrari 049 remains a point of reference in the 2000 championship as regards reliability with only one breakdown, suffered by Schumacher in France, during the entire season.

FERRARI F1-2000, Michael Schumacher
Montréal, Canadian GP 2000

   Thanks to the reduction in the size of the new engine and the relocation of the oil tank inside the petrol tank, the engine cover is now slimmer, to the full advantage of rear aerodynamics. The gearbox is further stiffened, which is still a seven-speed semi-automatic sequential with electronic control, combined with a new carbon multi-plate clutch. The two regular drivers, confirmed and two-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, and newcomer Rubens Barrichello, as well as third driver Luca Badoer, are also present on the day of the presentation. Schumacher's words, pronounced in a halting Italian "we must be able to win straight away", are prophetic and, after the first pre-season outings where the new F1-2000 proves to be significantly faster than the F399, right from the first race in Australia a one-two by the drivers in red immediately highlights the qualities of the latest creation from Maranello, a sincere car, easy to set up and above all very fast.

FERRARI F1-2000, Rubens Barrichello
Hungaroring, Hungarian GP 2000 

   However, halfway through the season, a reawakening of the McLarens Silver Arrows made Maranello understand that nothing could be taken for granted, but the strength of the Cavallino in the 2000 season was revealed in the ability to react to difficulties, without controversy but all united in the pursuit of the goal that finally seemed to be within reach. The solidity of the Ferrari pit wall, "orchestrated" by technical director Ross Brawn, became a real force during the season, capable of changing race strategies in real time and modifying the timing of pit stops based on the changing weather conditions and traffic on the track, highlighting a lucidity in reacting to various situations that had not been matched by any other team. At the end of the season, the F1-2000 victories would be 10 out of 17 races, 9 by Schumacher and 1 by Barrichello, in Germany on a Sunday that began with the shock of Michael's retirement due to an accident at the start. The title came early in Japan when the German crossed the finish line in first place, beating McLaren rival Mika Häkkinen by less than two seconds. Thus began a magical cycle of successes that only modern-day Mercedes would be able to repeat and improve upon.