Ferrari F1 – 2000
Michael Schumacher
Arriving at the 2000 season, the Scuderia’s last drivers’ title dated back to 1979, with Jody Scheckter. Since then, the Maranello team had accumulated sorrows, disappointments, and the growing feeling that, despite the talent, something was always missing. The arrival of Michael Schumacher in 1996, accompanied by Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, and Rory Byrne, was the master plan to bring Ferrari back to the top. In 1997 and 1998, the title fight went down to the final race. The following year, Ferrari secured the Constructors’ title, but the Drivers’ title was lost with Schumacher’s accident at Silverstone.
The Ferrari F1-2000 was the weapon built to break the cycle. Designed by Rory Byrne, with Ross Brawn as technical director, it represented an aggressive evolution of the F399. The aerodynamics were entirely overhauled, featuring a lower nose, redesigned sidepods, and an optimized rear diffuser. The engine was the Ferrari Tipo 049, a 3.0-liter V10 capable of delivering around 800 horsepower in race trim and close to 860 in qualifying, thanks to a rev limit that reached 17,300 rpm. The seven-speed semi-automatic Ferrari gearbox featured a quick-shift system that the Scuderia had perfected over the years.
Schumacher won the first three races — Australia, Brazil, and San Marino — imposing a lead that seemed, for weeks, uncatchable. But the McLarens of Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard recovered ground mid-season, with the Finn and the German exchanging the championship lead.
However, after an emotional victory at Monza, Schumacher built an unstoppable momentum towards the title, winning the final four races. The title was sealed in Japan, at Suzuka, and Ferrari also secured back-to-back Constructors’ Championships, thanks to the 10 wins and 21 podiums in 17 races for the F1-2000. It was the first chapter of a hegemony that would extend until 2004, with five consecutive titles for Schumacher. The example presented here is a show car that celebrates this magnificent period in Ferrari’s history.
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Model: Ferrari F1-2000
Year: 2000
Country: Italy
Power: 805 hp / 17,300 rpm
Displacement: 2997 cc
Weight: 600 kg (w/ driver)
Top Speed: 355 km/h (estimated)
Engine: Naturally aspirated Ferrari Tipo 049 V10, 90 degrees, 40 valves
Designers: Ross Brawn (technical director), Rory Byrne (chief designer), James Allison (aerodynamics), and Paulo Martinelli (engine)
Best Result: 10 wins in the 2000 season