The COAT - Round Two - Ferrari Tipo 500 vs Red Bull RB8
The seventh match in Round Two, and we have the Ferrari Tipo 500 up against the Red Bull RB8
The Ferrari took a 5-0-0 win in Round One over the Ferrari F2003-GA and the Williams FW16
Ferrari Tipo 500 (goodwood.com):
When Alfa had packed up its 160 and swanned off into retirement, there was space for a new manufacturer to dominate. That team would be Ferrari. As regulations had changed this car was not a Formula 1 car. F1 was running to F2 regs, and Ferrari were the only team to have a car already designed for the new formula. The 500, in the hands of Alberto Ascari, would repeat the feats of Alfa the previous two seasons, winning every single race that he entered. Ascari actually skipped the first round, in Switzerland, to have a go at the Indy 500 – a fruitless attempt where he qualified 25th and retired after a spin. Team-mate Piero Taruffi took his only F1 victory, before Ascari returned and won every other race that season.
The following season was a comparative disappointment, Ascari won only five of the eight races entered, the title and the 500 would only be defeated in the all-important home round in Italy. After two seasons the rules reverted to Formula 1 regs, and the 500 was retired with a 100 per cent championship record and a 93.3 per cent win record in the races it had entered. Impressive. And in reality the 500 did soldier on, as the following 625 F1 was just a modified 500 chassis with a 2.5-litre engine. It won two more races, one in ’54 and one in ’55 before being retired for good.
The Red Bull drew 2-2 with its stable counterpart, the RB9 - before a deciding vote.
Red Bull RB8 (snaplap.net):
The Red Bull RB8 was the car with which Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing won their third consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title in 2012.
Red Bull Racing dominated Formula 1 in the early 2010s and RB7 was particularly impressive during 2011. However, a new car had to go through a major development once the blown diffuser was removed. That change hit Red Bull harder than any other team. During the first pre-season test it was clear that RB8 lacks balance. For the final pre-season test, the layout uniquely featured a channel underneath the side pod to feed the center of the diffuser. The team continued to develop the layout, exploiting more and more downforce. The performance of the car became better but obviously, it was just a fraction of what could have been achieved one year before.
Just before the last third of the season, Red Bull brought in an update that was decisive when it comes to championship – a new nose, a double DRS system, and improved wings made that car stronger.
The last race of the season was rainy Brazilian Grand Prix. The battle between Vettel and Alonso culminated after German collided with Bruno Senna on the first lap and dropped to the back of the grid. Spaniard was close to winning the title but not for a long time. Vettel recovered quickly and was able to finish the race in 6th place. Alonso finished 2nd which wasn’t enough for the title as he finished the season three points behind the Red Bull driver who had his third trophy in a row.
The Red Bull RB8 wasn’t as impressive as its predecessor. The other teams were more competitive in 2012, so RB8 had a harder task en route to the trophies. In 2012, the Red Bull RB8 drivers won 7 out of 20 races in 2012 (Vettel 5, Webber 2). The team had a total of 14 podiums, 8 pole positions (Vettel 6, Webber 2) and 7 fastest laps (Vettel 6, Webber 1).
The Ferrari took a 5-0-0 win in Round One over the Ferrari F2003-GA and the Williams FW16
Ferrari Tipo 500 (goodwood.com):
When Alfa had packed up its 160 and swanned off into retirement, there was space for a new manufacturer to dominate. That team would be Ferrari. As regulations had changed this car was not a Formula 1 car. F1 was running to F2 regs, and Ferrari were the only team to have a car already designed for the new formula. The 500, in the hands of Alberto Ascari, would repeat the feats of Alfa the previous two seasons, winning every single race that he entered. Ascari actually skipped the first round, in Switzerland, to have a go at the Indy 500 – a fruitless attempt where he qualified 25th and retired after a spin. Team-mate Piero Taruffi took his only F1 victory, before Ascari returned and won every other race that season.
The following season was a comparative disappointment, Ascari won only five of the eight races entered, the title and the 500 would only be defeated in the all-important home round in Italy. After two seasons the rules reverted to Formula 1 regs, and the 500 was retired with a 100 per cent championship record and a 93.3 per cent win record in the races it had entered. Impressive. And in reality the 500 did soldier on, as the following 625 F1 was just a modified 500 chassis with a 2.5-litre engine. It won two more races, one in ’54 and one in ’55 before being retired for good.
The Red Bull drew 2-2 with its stable counterpart, the RB9 - before a deciding vote.
Red Bull RB8 (snaplap.net):
The Red Bull RB8 was the car with which Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing won their third consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title in 2012.
Red Bull Racing dominated Formula 1 in the early 2010s and RB7 was particularly impressive during 2011. However, a new car had to go through a major development once the blown diffuser was removed. That change hit Red Bull harder than any other team. During the first pre-season test it was clear that RB8 lacks balance. For the final pre-season test, the layout uniquely featured a channel underneath the side pod to feed the center of the diffuser. The team continued to develop the layout, exploiting more and more downforce. The performance of the car became better but obviously, it was just a fraction of what could have been achieved one year before.
Just before the last third of the season, Red Bull brought in an update that was decisive when it comes to championship – a new nose, a double DRS system, and improved wings made that car stronger.
The last race of the season was rainy Brazilian Grand Prix. The battle between Vettel and Alonso culminated after German collided with Bruno Senna on the first lap and dropped to the back of the grid. Spaniard was close to winning the title but not for a long time. Vettel recovered quickly and was able to finish the race in 6th place. Alonso finished 2nd which wasn’t enough for the title as he finished the season three points behind the Red Bull driver who had his third trophy in a row.
The Red Bull RB8 wasn’t as impressive as its predecessor. The other teams were more competitive in 2012, so RB8 had a harder task en route to the trophies. In 2012, the Red Bull RB8 drivers won 7 out of 20 races in 2012 (Vettel 5, Webber 2). The team had a total of 14 podiums, 8 pole positions (Vettel 6, Webber 2) and 7 fastest laps (Vettel 6, Webber 1).