Tech notes: Analysing Ferrari's F2012

Comments from Ferrari over the winter suggested that its new car would be radical, and unattractive. And that's exactly what's happened.

At first sight it's evidently a complete departure from the conservatism of the previous three cars. With its square-edged nose leading back to a complex roll-hoop and sweeping sidepods, the new Ferrari is unlike any other 2012 car seen so far.

With new rules limiting the height of the nose and the top of the chassis, Ferrari has pushed its bodywork right up to the regulatory maximum. This, allied to a rectangular-section bulkhead, makes the nose look spiky and awkward.

However, the greater height beneath the nose does produce increased potential to drive airflow to the leading edge of the sidepods for more downforce.

But it also raises issues with the car's centre of gravity. To make this lower, Ferrari has innovatively opted for a pull-rod front suspension, which places the heavy metal rockers and springs lower down. The team has also reported a small aero gain for this suspension layout.

Towards the centre of the car, the bodywork becomes far more shapely. The roll-hoop forms a triangular opening and a further inlet sits behind it to cool the gearbox. The sidepod fronts are more conventional than was rumoured before the launch, but then follow a unique pattern towards the rear.

The exhausts are routed in the sidepod extensions, with exits facing backwards. It appears that Ferrari is recouping the downforce lost by the ban on blown diffusers, by blowing towards the rear suspension and brake ducts (shaded yellow in the illustration). This is a legal approach, but it will be sensitive to throttle position, as the blown engine mappings are heavily restricted this year.

Although these extensions to the sidepods appear to slope downwards, the exhaust inside is not allowed to be lower than 10 degrees from horizontal. The end of these sidepod extensions also form cooling outlets, so the new Ferrari won't be expected to use the tail funnel popular on the other cars launched so far this year.

At the rear a new gearbox casing allows Ferrari to switch to pull-rod suspension, with similar benefits to those for the front pull-rod set-up. The team confirms that its KERS remains fitted under the fuel tank and not around the gearbox, as was the case with last year's Red Bull.

Ferrari was unable to shake down the car at a snowbound Fiorano, so the car is expected to make its first run at the test in Jerez on Tuesday.