The 2013 Ferrari will be called F138
Contrary to predictions that anticipated a new car simply called F2013, following its predecessor, Ferrari has ultimately decided to name its latest model F138, referring to the year 2013, which will be the last for the V8 engine before the introduction of Turbo V6 in 2014.
Known until now by the code name project 664, the new Ferrari, which will be presented on Friday in Maranello, will ultimately be named F138, a choice that defies predictions but is not by chance: « The name of the fifty-ninth car built by Ferrari to compete at the highest level of motorsports is a combination of the current year and the number of engine cylinders, marking the fact that this will be the last year of V8 engines in Formula 1, thus ending an eight-year career, » explains the Scuderia on its website.
Indeed, unlike most teams that use the same series design from one year to the next, like McLaren, Williams, or Red Bull, Scuderia Ferrari has a habit of choosing the names of its cars based on the context. For instance, in recent years, the Ferrari 150° Italia of 2011 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Italian Unification, while the F60 of 2009 celebrated the 60th anniversary of Formula 1 and consequently that of the Scuderia in the category. The name F138, which marks the end of the V8 engine cycle, also harks back to the Ferrari F1 248 of 2006, whose name directly referred to the 2.4l V8 engine.
If the F138 will be distinguished from its predecessor by name, it should also differ in appearance, with the Spanish newspaper Marca estimating that the upcoming Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa car should have a more classic look, as Ferrari has likely decided to follow the FIA’s provisions to conceal the stepped noses characteristic of the 2012 cars. According to some leaks, the F138 should also feature smaller sidepods and Coanda exhausts, while maintaining the pull-rod front suspension philosophy adopted on the F2012.
