MODEL Ferrari F2006

ENGINE Ferrari V10

TIRES Bridgestone

DRIVERS
Michael Schumacher
Rubens Barrichello

SPORTING DIRECTOR
Jean Todt

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Ross Brawn

PROFILE

Ferrari is the oldest, most famous team in F1 - and is also the most successful. The Italian team has racked up more wins than any other in the sport's history, and now holds the record for the number of constructors' championships.

Ferrari was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari, after several years as the sports car division of Alfa Romeo. Ferrari entered into F1 in 1950, and have since won 10 constructors' championships. In recent years, however, the team has suffered. Not since 1979, with Jody Schekter, had a Ferrari driver taken the World Chmapionship. They had come close, with Prost in 1990, and with Irvine in 1999. There had been some constructors' titles after '79, but they were few and far between.

The team's fortunes changed in 1996, when reigning world champion Michael Schumacher joined the team, with the goal of bringing Ferrari back to the top of F1. With him from Benetton came Ross Brawn, the undisputed King of F1 tactics. At first, Ferrari's fanatic supporters, the tifosi, were skeptical about Schumacher, and did not believe that he was emotional enough to drive for the Italian team. The team achieved 2nd place in the constructors' championship for the next three years, and were well on course to take both titles in 1999, until the brakes on Schumacher's car failed at Silverstone, and the Ferrari went nose first through the tyre wall, and crashed into the concrete wall behind, braking one of the German's legs. This put him out for all of the rest of the season, except for the last two races, where he made an incredible comeback.

Eddie Irvine emerged as a title contender for the team, but failed to take the crown after going into the final race in Japan with a lead over rival Hakkinen. The combined efforts of Irvine and Schumacher were enough to secure the team the constructors' title, so all was not lost.

Ferrari focused on giving Schumacher the car he needed for 2000, and the season started well, with the German winning three races in succession. New signing Rubens Barrichello was clearly closer to Schumacher than Irvine had ever been, but was still blown away by the double world champion's skill. After several retirements mid-season, Hakkinen had amazingly managed to restle the lead away from Schumacher, but four straight wins at the end of the season secured both titles for the Italian team, much to the delight of fans around the world.

WEB SITE

http://www.ferrari.it