Photo: Etienne (Li) · CC BY-SA 3.0
The F1/87 was an entirely new car developed by Gustav Brunner alongside new technical director John Barnard; Barnard arrived from McLaren and worked out of a dedicated design office in Guildford because he did not want to work in Italy. The car looked far sleeker than the F1/86 and was equipped with a six-speed transmission. Also new was the 1.5-liter 90° V6 turbo, the Tipo 033, tailored to the 4-bar boost limit and replacing the old 120° V6. The car was driven by Michele Alboreto and Gerhard Berger. A Formula 1 turbo engine did not return to Ferrari until 2014 with the F14 T.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Good to know
- John Barnard had been responsible for the MP4/2 and the TAG-Porsche engine at McLaren before joining Ferrari; his office was named the Guildford Technical Office (GTO).
- Berger came close to winning in Portugal, but spun and handed Alain Prost his record-breaking 28th victory; he later admitted he had been worrying too much about Prost.
- In Adelaide, a one-two finish was achieved after Senna in the Lotus-Honda was disqualified for oversized brake cooling ducts.
- Berger's victories were the first back-to-back Ferrari wins since Villeneuve in Monaco and Spain in 1981.
Learn moreDevelopment · Engine and boost pressure · Season progression
Development
Gustav Brunner, formerly of ATS and RAM, designed the car with input from John Barnard, who joined Ferrari after six successful years at McLaren. Design work had begun in 1986 while Barnard was still at McLaren. He later noted that had he started from a clean sheet, he would have designed a car that looked quite different, but a redesign would have been costly and time-consuming. Despite an unchanged fuel tank capacity, the car appeared far sleeker than the F1/86.
Engine and boost pressure
In 1987, the FIA introduced controversial pop-off valves that limited boost pressure to 4.0 bar in an effort to rein in the escalating power of turbo engines. The 90° Tipo 033 replaced the Tipo 032, an evolution of the turbo engine first used in 1981. The new engine radiated less heat; as a result, the roll hoop was left exposed above the engine cover rather than being faired in. The transmission was a newly developed 6-speed unit.
Season progression
Initially, the car was fast but suffered from persistent understeer. A new rear wing made it even more competitive by the German race; it was nearly as fast as the Williams-Honda, but less reliable. From Hungary onward, Berger qualified among the top three on the grid at every race. He took victories in Japan and Australia and scored three pole positions.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Ferrari F1/87
When was the Ferrari F1/87 raced?
The Ferrari F1/87 was raced in 1987.
How much power does the Ferrari F1/87 have?
Power of the Ferrari F1/87: 880-950 hp at 11'500 /min (1987) 650-720 hp at 12'000 /min (1988).
What engine does the Ferrari F1/87 have?
Engine of the Ferrari F1/87: 1987: mid-, longitudinally -mounted, 1496 cm³, Ferrari Tipo 033, 90° V6, turbo, 4.0 bar turbo limited; 1988: mid- ….
Who engineered the Ferrari F1/87?
Engineering of the Ferrari F1/87: John Barnard (Technical Director); Gustav Brunner (Chief Designer); Jean-Jacques His (Chief Designer).
Who drove the Ferrari F1/87?
Drivers of the Ferrari F1/87: Italy Michele Alboreto, Austria Gerhard Berger.
How many races did the Ferrari F1/87 win?
The Ferrari F1/87 took 3 wins in 32 races.
What are the predecessor and successor of the Ferrari F1/87?
Predecessor: F1/86. Successor: 640.
Enjoying the site? How to support it.
1988