Ferrari 641
 Ferrari 641/2 (chassis 117) | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Ferrari | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | John Barnard(Technical Director) (initial design) Steve Nichols(Technical Director) Enrique Scalabroni(Chief Designer) Henri Durand(Head of Aerodynamics) Claudio Lombardi(Engine Chief Designer) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | 640 | ||||||||||
| Successor | 642 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | KevlarandCarbon fibrecompositemonocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, push-rod actuated torsion bar springs, and telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, pushrod actuated coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Engine | FerrariTipo 0363.5 L (213.6 cu in), 65°V12,NA,mid-engine,longitudinally mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Ferrari7-speedsemi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Power | 680 bhp (507 kW; 689 PS) @ 12,750 rpm | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Agip | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Scuderia Ferrari SpA | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 1. Alain Prost2.  Nigel Mansell | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1990 United States Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 1990 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 1990 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1990 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
TheFerrari 641(also known as theFerrari F1-90)[2]was theFormula Oneracing car with which theFerrariteam competed in the1990 Formula One World Championship.Driven byAlain ProstandNigel Mansell,it won six Grands Prix.
Development[edit]
The 641 was a developed version of its predecessor, the 1989Ferrari 640,designed byJohn Barnard.The updated 641 design was overseen by formerMcLarendesignerSteve Nicholsafter Barnard left Ferrari to join theBenettonteam, once the car's development was complete. The car was powered by a 3.5-litreV12 engine,first with the type 036, and later inSan Marinowith the updated 037. The V12 was rated at 680 bhp (507 kW; 689 PS), only slightly down on the 690 bhp (515 kW; 700 PS)HondaV10 enginesused by McLaren, but not as flexible or as good at delivering power out of slow corners as the Honda, the Renault V10 engine used by Williams or the Ford-Cosworth HB V8 used by Benetton. Despite its heavier engine, the 641 was among the best handling cars on the grid. Prost declared it the best car of the year.[3]
The Ferrari 641 was also the firstFormula One carto use an effectivetraction control system,which debuted at the1990 Portuguese Grand PrixinEstoril;less than two years before a traction control system debuted on the eventually highly successfulWilliams FW14B.Ferrari technicians sat down on the Tuesday after theItalian GPon September 11, and developed a rudimentary traction control system, which debuted in Portugal less than two weeks later. The system was relatively simple and straightforward; using just somesoftwareand awheel speed sensor.[4]
Incorporating thesemi-automatic gearboxdeveloped during the previous season, the car was seen to be technically advanced. The aerodynamics were reworked and the chassis gave a slightly longer wheelbase than its predecessor. Nichols designed the car withAlain Prost’s smooth driving style in mind. Prost worked hard on improving the reliability of the gearbox and also worked behind the scenes to bring the whole Ferrari team closer together. A variable inlet trumpet system on the engine was tested throughout the season but did not become standard equipment.
Racing history[edit]
Ferrari's major coup was signing reigning World Champion Prost from McLaren to partnerNigel Mansell.The car scored six wins in the 1990 season (Prost five, Mansell one).
Prost's development work helped the 641 chassis to be extremely fast and competitive, and he scored five wins, including a remarkable victory from 13th place on the grid inMexico,and challenged his nemesisAyrton Sennafor the championship. In the same race, Mansell outfoxedGerhard Bergerwith a daring passing move at the fearsome Peraltada corner.[5]Although the car occasionally struggled in qualifying, it appeared to have the edge on theMcLarensin race trim, particularly at high-speed circuits.[6]At theBritish Grand Prix,Mansell dominated qualifying while Prost struggled. Feeling that Mansell's car was superior to his own, he convinced the team to switch the chassis before the race, which he won while Mansell retired with gearbox failure while leading and setting fastest lap of the race promptly announced his quitting the sport.[7]However, the famous collision between Prost and Senna at theJapanese Grand Prixsealed the Drivers' Championship for Senna and the Constructors' Championship for McLaren. Prost finished runner-up in the championship and Mansell finished 5th and scored 1 win, including excellent performance in his last race for Ferrari at Adelaide, where he finished 2nd and almost won that race fromNelson Piquetand hisBenetton-Ford.It would be another seven years before Ferrari would challenge for either championship again.
Aftermath[edit]
Top Gear[edit]
Tiff Needelldrove the 641 onTop Gearin 1995 in a segment where his co-hostJeremy Clarksontested aFerrari F50and did a drag race against Needell in the 641 and some comparisons as well because the F50 road car is based on the 641.
In popular culture[edit]
The Ferrari 641 was featured inCodemasters'F1 2019as aDLCfor the "Legends Edition", the 2012 video gameTest Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends,Forza Motorsport 7,andForza Motorsport.
Complete results[edit]
(key) (results inboldindicate pole position; results initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Scuderia Ferrari | FerrariTipo 036 Ferrari Tipo 037 V12 |
G | USA | BRA | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 110 | 2nd | |
| Alain Prost
|
Ret | 1 | 4 | Ret | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Ret | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Ret | 3 | ||||||
| Nigel Mansell
|
Ret | 4 | Ret | Ret | 3 | 2 | 18 | Ret | Ret | 17 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 2 | Ret | 2 |
Chassis log[edit]
The current[when?]locations of the 641 chassis are:
- 115 -Museum of Modern Art(USA)
- 116 - destroyed in testing
- 117 -Museo Ferrari(Italy)
- 118 - Private collection (Germany)
- 119 - Private collection (Switzerland)
- 120 - Private collection (Germany)
- 121 - Private collection (UK)
References[edit]
- ^"1990 Ferrari 641 F1 - Images, Specifications and Information".Ultimatecarpage.com. 28 January 2010.Retrieved23 August2010.
- ^"Ferrari F1-90".Formula1.ferrari.com.Retrieved25 September2013.
- ^"Prost's infamous 1990 F1 Ferrari to go under the hammer".New Atlas.22 April 2009.Retrieved6 February2020.
- ^"Traction control and ABS".Motorsportmagazine.com.7 July 2014.Retrieved14 November2021.
- ^Master, Matt."Mansell makes Ferrari history in Mexico".magazine.ferrari.com.Retrieved6 February2020.
- ^"1990 Ferrari 641 F1 - Images, Specifications and Information".Ultimatecarpage.com.Retrieved6 February2020.
- ^"1990 British Grand Prix race report - Decline and Fall".Motor Sport Magazine.7 July 2014.Retrieved6 February2020.
Other sources[edit]
- AUTOCOURSE1990-91 byAlan Henry
- AUTOCOURSE1991-92 byAlan Henry
