The 125 F1 was Ferrari's first Formula 1 racing car and an evolution of the 125 S sports car. Enzo Ferrari developed it with Valerio Colotti and Gioacchino Colombo; it was initially named 125 GPC, for "Grand Prix Compressore." Under the hood worked a supercharged 1.5-liter V12 that, despite low compression, produced 230 PS at 7000 rpm. The suspension caused friction among the designers: Giuseppe Busso favored a De Dion axle, Colombo a swing axle. For 1950, the rear torsion bar suspension was replaced by a De Dion tube.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Learn moreOrigins · Engine and supercharger · Evolution
Origins
The first sketches for a Formula 1 Ferrari originated in the early postwar years and were penned by Giuseppe Busso. When Gioacchino Colombo moved from Alfa Romeo to Ferrari, he discarded Busso's designs and developed his own concept. Ferrari opted for Colombo's variant, even though Nuvolari praised the De Dion axle. Chassis and transmission were designed by Valerio Colotti. The tubular frame featured longitudinal and transverse members; steering was via worm and sector, with drum brakes on all four wheels providing braking power.
Engine and supercharger
The 1.5-liter V12 featured a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and two valves per cylinder. With a compression ratio of only 6.5:1, the supercharged engine produced 230 PS at 7000/min. However, the single-stage Roots-type supercharger could not deliver the high peak output needed to challenge the eight-cylinder Alfa Romeo 158 and the four-cylinder Maserati 4CLT. Spirited driving and an agile chassis partially compensated for this.
Evolution
For 1949, the wheelbase was extended from 2160 to 2320 mm, and the engine was revised with dual overhead camshafts and a two-stage supercharger. Delivering 260 to 280 PS, it yielded five Grand Prix victories. In 1950, Ferrari abandoned the troublesome superchargers in favor of larger displacement, and Lampredi's 275 engine replaced the original Colombo unit. The transmission was a non-synchronized five-speed gearbox; in 1950, a likewise non-synchronized four-speed gearbox transaxle followed.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Ferrari 125 F1
When was the Ferrari 125 F1 raced?
The Ferrari 125 F1 was raced from 1948 to 1950.
How much power does the Ferrari 125 F1 have?
Power of the Ferrari 125 F1: NNN hp.
What engine does the Ferrari 125 F1 have?
Engine of the Ferrari 125 F1: 1497 cm³ V12 supercharged Ferrari Colombo.
How fast is the Ferrari 125 F1?
Top speed of the Ferrari 125 F1: 260 km/h.
Who engineered the Ferrari 125 F1?
Engineering of the Ferrari 125 F1: Enzo Ferrari, Gioacchino Colombo, Valerio Colotti.
What are the predecessor and successor of the Ferrari 125 F1?
Successor: 375 F1/166 F2.
