Ferrari presents the F138 Formula 1 car in Maranello
Ferrari has presented its F138, the car with which the Italian squad hopes to return to championship glory in the 2013 Formula 1 season.
Ferrari has presented its F138, the car with which the Italian squad hopes to return to championship glory in the 2013 Formula 1 season.
The car, whose name is a combination of the current year and a tribute to the V8 engines that will be used for the last time this season, is the 59th grand prix single-seater produced by the Maranello-based squad.
The F138 has been developed in the Toyota windtunnel in Cologne following Ferrari's decision to shut down its own unit in order to upgrade it.
Ferrari described the F138 as an 'evolution' of the F2012, with pullrod suspension retained at the front and rear.
It has however made changes at the rear of the car to allow the exhaust layout to be changed. The air intake above the cockpit and the sidepod intakes have also been revised to boost the car's aerodynamics.
The car is the product of two distinct design groups: one group working on the F138, the other on the team's 2014 car.
Ferrari is seeking to hit the ground running with its new car after a dismal performance by its predecessor when it made its testing debut last year.
Despite that, the historic Italian outfit managed to stay in the championship fight until the end of the year, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso losing out to Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel in the final race of the season in Brazil.
"The key objective that we must have is of immediately delivering a competitive car to our drivers," team boss Stefano Domenicali acknowledged.
"Unfortunately in recent years we have at the beginning of the winter not been able to be right on top of what we are doing.
"We have tried to look at our organisation to be much more effective in the preparations over the coming week."
Two-time world champion Alonso will be partnered by Felipe Massa again this year after the Brazilian secured a one-year contract extension thanks to his resurgence in the second half of the season.
Massa will be tasked with driving the F138 for the first time next Tuesday at Jerez.
2013 pre-season dates
Car launches Team Date
Lotus January 28
McLaren January 31
Ferrari February 1
Force India February 1
Sauber February 2
Red Bull February 3
Mercedes February 4
Toro Rosso February 4
Caterham February 5
Marussia February 5
Williams February 19 Testing
Venue Date
Jerez 5-8 February
Barcelona 19-22 February
Barcelona 28 February-3 March
Keep checking AUTOSPORT for the latest news from our reporters at every 2013 Formula 1 car launch, plus comprehensive galleries and in-depth technical analysis of the new cars
Ferrari F138 - full coverage:
Ferrari F138 in pictures
Technical analysis: Ferrari F138
Ferrari stays realistic on goals for F138
Alonso sure missing test right decision
Analysis: Ferrari right to be optimistic
Analysis: Why evolution was no option for McLaren
New Force India VJM06 Formula 1 car unveiled at Silverstone
2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver
2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver 2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver
Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction"
Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction" Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction"
The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix
The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race”
Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race” Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race”
Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around
Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around
Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward
Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.