where tobacco advertising was still permitted, replaced witha
stylised barcode design in those where it was forbidden. While
pushing back against pressureto drop the ‘barcode’, Ferrari
changed the colour of the car to a richer, darker and less
Marlboro-packet-like shadeof red from Monaco onwards.
Although Räikkönen wonthe opening round in Melbourne,
Fernando Alonso hit back for McLaren by winning in Malaysia,
and Räikkönen’steam-mate Felipe Massathen wonin Bahrain
and Spain before Lewis Hamilton consolidated his impressive
rookie formwith two victories. Theresult was the McLaren pair
eked outan ear ly advantage overthe Ferrari duo before they
fell intoa state of civilwar, Alonso feeling unloved in atea m
that had nurtured Hamilton sincehis kart ing days.
Reliability was not the F2007’s strongestsuit, and its
gentleness on its tyres – aided no doubt by theunusual gas
within the Bridgestone carcasses – was as much of a hindrance
in qualifying as it was advantageous in races.Massa slid out
of the four-way battle forthe drivers’ crown when an inertial
damper (present on the Ferraris mid-season, and a legal
alternative to Renault’s tuned mass dampers banned in 2006)
failed at Monza. Hamilton ought to have claimed the title at
the penultimate round in Shanghai, but McLaren tied itself ina
strategic knot while pointlessly – indeed, vindictively – trying
to ensure hefi nished ahead of Alonso on the road. Instead
Räikkönen cantered to victory as Hamilton slithered into theSPECIFICATION
ChassisCarbonfibre monocoque
SuspensionDouble wishbones, pushrod-actuated
coil-over shock absorbers (front), rotary dampers (rear)
EngineFerrari 056 V8
Engine capacity2398cc
Power790bhp@19,000rpm (estimated)
GearboxSeven-speed seamless-shift semi-automatic
TyresBridgestone
Weight600kg
Notable driversKimi Räikkönen,Felipe MassaRACE RECORD
Starts 34
Wins 9
Poles 9
Fastest laps 12
Other podiums 13
Points 204gravel having pitted at least a lap too late on badly worn tyres.
When Hamilton thenfl uffed the dramaticdenouementat
Inter lagos, and Massapolitely deferred toteam orders and
handed victory to Räikkönen, it brought a remarkableend to
an ex traordinary season. Ofthe three driver s in contention,
Räikkönen wasthe least likely to liftthe trophy,and yet he did
so afte r a day when Ferrari executedits race perfectly.
McLaren was subsequently stripped of its points andfi ned,
leaving Ferrari to enjoy its championship double – which
remains its most recent. Though it took theconstructors’
honours in 2008, diminishing returns set in thereafter. Few
other Ferraris since havelooked as complete as the F2007.GP RACING JULY 2020 79
where tobacco advertising was still permitted, replaced witha
stylised barcode design in those where it was forbidden. While
pushing back against pressureto drop the ‘barcode’, Ferrari
changed the colour of the car to a richer, darker and less
Marlboro-packet-like shadeof red from Monaco onwards.
Although Räikkönen wonthe opening round in Melbourne,
Fernando Alonso hit back for McLaren by winning in Malaysia,
and Räikkönen’steam-mate Felipe Massathen wonin Bahrain
and Spain before Lewis Hamilton consolidated his impressive
rookie formwith two victories. Theresult was the McLaren pair
eked outan ear ly advantage overthe Ferrari duo before they
fell intoa state of civilwar, Alonso feeling unloved in atea m
that had nurtured Hamilton sincehis kart ing days.
Reliability was not the F2007’s strongestsuit, and its
gentleness on its tyres – aided no doubt by theunusual gas
within the Bridgestone carcasses – was as much of a hindrance
in qualifying as it was advantageous in races.Massa slid out
of the four-way battle forthe drivers’ crown when an inertial
damper (present on the Ferraris mid-season, and a legal
alternative to Renault’s tuned mass dampers banned in 2006)
failed at Monza. Hamilton ought to have claimed the title at
the penultimate round in Shanghai, but McLaren tied itself ina
strategic knot while pointlessly – indeed, vindictively – trying
to ensure hefi nished ahead of Alonso on the road. Instead
Räikkönen cantered to victory as Hamilton slithered into the
SPECIFICATION
ChassisCarbonfibre monocoque
SuspensionDouble wishbones, pushrod-actuated
coil-over shock absorbers (front), rotary dampers (rear)
EngineFerrari 056 V8
Engine capacity2398cc
Power790bhp@19,000rpm (estimated)
GearboxSeven-speed seamless-shift semi-automatic
TyresBridgestone
Weight600kg
Notable driversKimi Räikkönen,Felipe MassaRACE RECORD
Starts 34
Wins 9
Poles 9
Fastest laps 12
Other podiums 13
Points 204Inter lagos, and Massapolitely deferred toteam orders and
handed victory to Räikkönen, it brought a remarkableend to
an ex traordinary season. Ofthe three driver s in contention,
Räikkönen wasthe least likely to liftthe trophy,and yet he did
so afte r a day when Ferrari executedits race perfectly.
McLaren was subsequently stripped of its points andfi ned,
leaving Ferrari to enjoy its championship double – which
remains its most recent. Though it took theconstructors’
honours in 2008, diminishing returns set in thereafter. Few
other Ferraris since havelooked as complete as the F2007.