Ferrari F138 launch – first pictures and video
2013 F1 cars
The Ferrari F138 has been launched by the team in Maranello.
Ferrari retain their driver line-up of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa for the fourth year in a row as it bids to taste championship success for the first time since 2008.
Team principal Stefano Domenicali described the car as an “evolution” of the car which the team raced in 2012 and said it represented the “first step” in the team’s development for this year.
The F138 was developed under the internal code name 664 and is the first product of the team’s technical reorganisation.
The car retains the pull-rod front and rear suspension used on last year’s car. According to the team the car’s bodywork has been redesigned to improve its aerodynamic performance – a key weakness of recent Ferraris.
The F138′s Kinetic Energy Recovery System has been revised and lightened. However Ferrari stressed they are keen to repeat the high levels of reliability they enjoyed with the F2012.
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Stefano Domenicali, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Pedro de la Rosa, Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 launch, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138, 2013
-
- Ferrari F138 engine
Ferrari F138 video
More images will be added here.
2013 F1 season
- Vettel: ‘I’m to blame’ for missing out on pole
- Mercedes “moderately optimistic” of victory chances
- Alonso focused on beating Vettel and Raikkonen
- Rain can’t keep Rosberg from another pole position
- 2013 Monaco Grand Prix grid
Browse all 2013 F1 season articles
Images © Ferrari/Ercole Colombo
Magnificent Geoffrey (@magnificent-geoffrey) said on 1st February 2013, 9:08
Oh God. I like the look of a Ferrari. That can’t be a good sign…
dragoll (@dragoll) said on 1st February 2013, 9:28
Lol, flashbacks of 1996? Not that I thought the 96 Ferrari looked good, but Barnard admitted that he liked the look of the design and that he drew inspiration from the flow of the car… Which ended up in being the worst car Ferrari had produced in many years :P
Scotto said on 1st February 2013, 11:16
To me this looks way too busy. They’ve go the nose right; very clean. From there back, it looks like a mess of bolted on parts we usually don’t see until the end of a season. I hope ugly is fast.
Arrrang (@arrrang) said on 1st February 2013, 11:34
Is it just me or does it seems that Ferrari are hiding the rear view of the car?
Nomore said on 1st February 2013, 11:48
right…if u look closely not only they are hiding the rear but there are part missing. Also 0 information about the weight distribution…Domenicali says in decembre that the car we will see it only in Australia…
Hairs (@hairs) said on 1st February 2013, 11:57
weight distribution is fixed under the regs.
Mike (@mike) said on 1st February 2013, 13:46
However, it remains a point of contention, the grey area being that the distribution has the possibility to change.
Jeanrien (@jeanrien) said on 1st February 2013, 23:56
@arrrang Could some ‘Device’ on plan there as suggested by the double air intake above driver’s head … Surely they didn’t putt the duck to the rear wing yet, but the rest seems there to make it happens.
For the reste very similar to last year (except maybe the rear suspension which is quite a big modification)
andae23 (@andae23) said on 1st February 2013, 9:08
Wow! That looks awesome!
matt90 (@matt90) said on 1st February 2013, 10:23
Can’t say that I’m a fan. The front wing supports are still too chunky, and the nose itself is too square. Also, the inlet behind the engine intake makes it look hunch-backed. It’s quite nice otherwise, but the nose in particular is one of the main features that makes a car look nice, and this just doesn’t have an even slightly elegant one.
Flying Lobster 27 said on 1st February 2013, 12:16
The square nose may not be pretty, but I guess it’s been kept because Felipe can conveniently place his boxes there should Ferrari ask him to move out at the end of the year. :D
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl) said on 1st February 2013, 9:09
Oh, this actually look very good.
Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum) said on 1st February 2013, 9:10
The first 2013 car launch I get to watch Live! Ironically, Vodafone internet outage in my area prevented me from watching McLaren launch!
mattshaw85 (@mattshaw85) said on 1st February 2013, 9:10
Personally, I wish they wouldn’t use so much white.
JCost (@jcost) said on 1st February 2013, 9:50
Somehow I like it. I think white goes well with red.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65) said on 1st February 2013, 10:05
@mattshaw85 same. It looks odd too.
Jared404 (@jared404) said on 1st February 2013, 13:22
I guess they have to try and give the cigarette company some value for their sponsorship dollar. Can’t personally see any value from that mutilated cigarette company brand on the car.
Girts (@girts) said on 1st February 2013, 9:10
The white lines, shape of sidepods and lack of stepped nose makes the F138 look surprisingly cute.
Chris (@tophercheese21) said on 1st February 2013, 9:10
Doesn’t look great, but Atleast it’s better than last years. IMO their last beautiful car was the F150
Chris (@tophercheese21) said on 1st February 2013, 9:14
However a I love the new paint job on the rear wing. Looks good!
Shortstick1 (@troylongstaff) said on 1st February 2013, 9:11
The modesty panel tidies the car up a hell of a lot. Good work Ferrari in changing your livery subtly and very effectively, take note Lotus and McLaren!
bertie (@bertie) said on 1st February 2013, 9:16
The McLaren has a modesty panel…
Shortstick1 (@troylongstaff) said on 1st February 2013, 9:22
Never said McLaren didn’t, just that McLaren could’ve changed their livery from mind-numbingly boring to something a little more interesting.
electrolite (@electrolite) said on 1st February 2013, 11:26
Of course, it was really exciting when it first came out.
Dphect (@dphect) said on 1st February 2013, 9:49
Que Prisoner Monkey coming along and try tell us that there isn’t a modesty panel.
;)
Roald (@roald) said on 1st February 2013, 9:13
Looking fantastic! Can’t imagine another car will beat this one’s looks this year!
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero) said on 1st February 2013, 9:14
Hoorah for no step nose!
Journeyer (@journeyer) said on 1st February 2013, 9:15
That modesty panel did the looks of that car a whole lot of good!
On another note, is it me, or is the red this year a little darker and a little more scarlet? It looks awesome.
TomEC1 said on 1st February 2013, 9:21
Good point. Hard to tell at this stage. Would love to see a return of the metallic red of late-2007 and 2008.
tandrews (@tomand95) said on 1st February 2013, 9:23
Yeah the red does look darker to me, it might have been the same colour in 2012, but i swear the ferrari’s are starting to get darker over the years or maybe it’s just the light. I think i will judge the colour when it drives in sunny spain!
codesurge (@codesurge) said on 1st February 2013, 9:29
It would be an interesting reversal if the red actually got darker, as Ferrari’s creation of Rosso Scuderia was because their original Rosso Corsa looked too dark on TV cameras!
Spanky Speed (@spankyspeed) said on 1st February 2013, 11:22
Does Ferrari really play with its red colour?
I somehow can’t imagine that. Most likely the exact hue is exactly defined in the corporate identity manual, or not?
Spanky Speed (@spankyspeed) said on 1st February 2013, 11:23
Ok, just after posting I read this:
“Since 1996 Ferrari F1 cars are painted in a brighter, almost orange day-glo to adjust for colour balance on television screens. The original Rosso Corsa may appear almost dark brown in older television sets. The darker more crimson or claret-like shade of red made a return on the F1 cars at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, possibly in line with the increasing market presence of higher quality high definition television.”
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 1st February 2013, 11:37
I don’t know where that quote’s from, but given F1 wasn’t broadcast in HD until 2011 that seems an unlikely explanation.
Drop Valencia! said on 1st February 2013, 12:22
But digital broadcast was coming in then from analouge… most potential Fez owners were watching on their massive 42 inch plasmas…
Spanky Speed (@spankyspeed) said on 1st February 2013, 13:39
Says so on the Wikipedia page for Rosso Corsa:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosso_corsa
Unfortunately there is no source given.
Wallbreaker (@wallbreaker) said on 2nd February 2013, 1:27
The 2006 Japanese Grand Prix was broadcast in HD exclusively in Japan.
DK (@seijakessen) said on 1st February 2013, 13:06
Ferrari uses a red that matches up with the Marlboro red due to their Philip Morris sponsorship. There might not be a Marlboro logo on the car any longer, but the Scuderia Ferrari logo on the airbox certainly is reminiscent of the Marlboro logo that used to sit there.
Adam Kibbey (@kibblesworth) said on 1st February 2013, 9:16
Damn, that’s one elegant looking car. Loving the front section especially! Guess Lotus were wrong when they speculated everyone else would be using modesty panels. I guess Ferrari either found some aerodynamic/downforce benefit or otherwise just like making beautiful cars. They are Italian after all. Bellissimo!
Here’s the 2012 car at an almost identical angle for comparison
Adam Kibbey (@kibblesworth) said on 1st February 2013, 9:18
EDIT: I mean’t to say that Lotus speculated that everyone else wouldn’t be using modesty panels, of course. Early mornings are a disaster for my clarity of thinking!
SennaPart2 said on 1st February 2013, 10:21
Yeah i was gunna say its funny Lotus saying unlikly others would use them, only for the next 2 cars – 2 of their main competitors – using them :]
codesurge (@codesurge) said on 1st February 2013, 9:17
The white stripes down the side vaguely remind me of AF Corse’s swooshes on their 458 GTE. Overall, a nice tidy looking Ferrari this year (should be a good thing).
codesurge (@codesurge) said on 1st February 2013, 9:22
On further inspection, I kinda wish they ran the Italian tricolore all the way down the nose and behind the sponsor logos, rather than have it end abruptly before the Shell logo.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog) said on 1st February 2013, 12:51
They remind me of Marussia. The livery is cluttered and overdone for me, but more red on the wings is a step in the right direction.
JACoz (@jacoz) said on 1st February 2013, 9:17
I think I love it
tandrews (@tomand95) said on 1st February 2013, 9:17
I like how they’ve used red on the bottom of the front wing and the use of white, I think it’s good to mix it up once in a while.