Ferrari F310
Ferrari F310B
The F310 on display at the National Motor Museum
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorScuderia Ferrari
Designer(s)John Barnard
(Technical Director, F310)
Ross Brawn
(Technical Director, F310B)
Gustav Brunner
(Chief Designer, F310)
Rory Byrne
(Chief Designer, F310B)
Willem Toet
(Head of Aerodynamics)
Nicoló Petrucci
(Chief Aerodynamicist)
Paolo Martinelli
(Engine Technical Director)
Predecessor412 T2
SuccessorF300
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)Independent Push Rod Activated
Suspension (rear)Independent Push Rod Activated
Length4355mm (171.5in)
Width1995mm (78.5in)
Height970mm (38.2in)
Wheelbase2900mm (114.2in)
Engine1996: Ferrari Tipo 046 75-degree V10.
1997: Ferrari Tipo 046/2 75-degree V10.
TransmissionFerrari Transverse sequential semi-automatic paddle-shift
1996: 6 Speed
1997: 7 Speed
Power715 hp @ 15,550 rpm.[1]
FuelShell
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsScuderia Ferrari
Notable drivers1./5. Germany Michael Schumacher
2./6. United Kingdom Eddie Irvine
Debut
First win
Last win
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
3382275
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Ferrari F310, and its evolution, the F310B, were the Formula One racing cars with which the Ferrari team competed in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. It was driven in both years by Michael Schumacher, who was swapped with Benetton in favour of Jean Alesi and Eddie Irvine.

This was the first Ferrari Formula One car to run on Shell fuel since the 312B3 that competed in the 1973 season.

F310

F310 at the Museo Ferrari

The F310 proved to be a front-running car, but without the outright pace or superb reliability which led to the Williams FW18s dominating 1996. Schumacher was able to win three Grands Prix, but the F310's shortcomings were shown by Irvine's run of eight consecutive retirements, most of them mechanical, as well as three straight double retirements. Schumacher was realistic about his aims for the season, saying that he hoped to win a few races before challenging for the title in 1997. Development also proved troublesome, with the cars having to use the 1995 car's parts early in the season whilst structural problems were cured.[2]

This car was notable as being the first Ferrari F1 car to use the then more conventional V10 engine format, because a V10 engine offered the best compromise between power and fuel efficiency; the V12 was powerful but thirsty, and the V8 lacked the straightline speed of the V10. The name F310 refers to the engine type, a 3 litre, 10 cylinder (V10) - a nomenclature consistent with that used for Ferrari's F1 cars from 1966 to 1980 (the 312, 312B and 312T), and similar to that used for the 2006 Ferrari 248. The engine was also called the 310. It was engineered by former Honda technician Osamu Goto.[3]

Ferrari was the last team to retain a low nose concept on their cars for the first half of the 1996 season (top), while eventually introducing a high nose after the Canadian Grand Prix (bottom)

Initially, the F310 was the only car in the 1996 field to have a low nose section, with the other teams having all switched to the more aerodynamically efficient high nose which was first seen on the 1990 Tyrrell 019. The high cockpit sides were meant to aid cooling and aerodynamics but in fact had the opposite effect. From the start, however, chief designer John Barnard had announced his intentions to design a high nose for the car, saying that the F310 would be an ongoing project with the ultimate goal to win the world championship. The high nose was eventually adopted permanently from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards. The F310 was the first F1 car to feature the dashboard gauges mounted to the steering wheel.[4] In an interview in 2012, Irvine said he did not have fond memories of the F310, calling it "an awful car", a "piece of junk", and "almost undriveable", as did John Barnard, who admitted that the car "wasn't very good".[5] Schumacher himself, reflecting many years later on the F310, referred to it as "a parachute."[6]

F310B

Michael Schumacher drove his F310B to second place at the 1997 German Grand Prix.

With the hiring of Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn to replace Barnard (who left mid-season in 1997 after Jean Todt decided the entire team including the design offices had to go back to Italy; and with Barnard not wanting to relocate to Italy because of personal reasons, Ferrari sold him the British-based Ferrari design offices, Ferrari Design and Development); part of the dream-team that would give Ferrari six straight Constructors' Championships from 1999 to 2004, they used the F310 as a base for the F310B, improving its shape and mechanicals, making a 5 time winning car in the process.[7]

The F310B was better performing and much more reliable than its predecessor but suffered stability issues at the front of the car. A new front wing assembly introduced shortly after Brawn and Byrne joined the team improved the package.[8]

Regardless, double-champion Michael Schumacher was true on his 1995 promise that "in 1996 we will win three grands prix, then in 1997 we will challenge for the championship" by taking the challenge to the last round. He was, however, unable to hold off a storming drive by title challenger Jacques Villeneuve; a botched attempt by Schumacher at defending his position ended up with him in the gravel, retired, and eventually disqualified from the 1997 season results. The team nonetheless retained their constructors' points.[9]

In total, the F310 and F310B won eight Grands Prix, were on the podium 22 times, and achieved 7 pole positions and 172 points.

Other

The car appears in the video game F1 2013 as one of the classic cars.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1996 F310 Ferrari Tipo 046
V10		 G AUS BRA ARG EUR SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR JPN 70 2nd
Michael Schumacher Ret 3 Ret 2 2 Ret 1 Ret DNS Ret 4 9 1 1 3 2
Eddie Irvine 3 7 5 Ret 4 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret
1997 F310B Ferrari Tipo 046/2
V10		 G AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR 102 2nd
Michael Schumacher 2 5 Ret 2 1 4 1 1 Ret 2 4 1 6 6 Ret 1 Ret
Eddie Irvine Ret 16 2 3 3 12 Ret 3 Ret Ret 9 10 8 Ret Ret 3 5

References

  1. ↑ "Ferrari F310 (1996)". www.ferrari.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Pressure on Ferrari (again)". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Ferrari F310". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Tech Tuesday: Under the skin of Michael Schumacher's first Ferrari winner". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Smit, Dylan (4 January 2019). "Schumi's Struggle - 1996 Ferrari F310". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Hoare, Callum (3 January 2019). "Michael Schumacher: F1 legend's LAST interview before accident REVEALED on 50th birthday". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "Ferrari special: How Schumacher and Todt transformed the Scuderia". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "1997 Ferrari F310B". audrainautomuseum.org. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "BBC News | Europe | Schumacher loses championship runner-up crown". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
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