A piece of F-1 racing history is going up for auction as Michael Schumacher’s 1997 Ferrari F310B will be sold to the highest bidder next month.
Powered by a 3.0-liter V-10 engine, Ferrari’s racer delivered 730-hp as well 102 points to Ferrari’s drivers, good enough for 3rd during the 1997 F-1 Grand Prix season. But what set the Ferrari- F310B apart from other cars of it era was it design.
With its F310B model Ferrari introduced new driver safety mechanisms, an improved fuel management system, and a completely overhauled engine. But what separated the F310B’s from its competition was the improvements made to its aerodynamics.
“As a single-seat racing car, the F310 B was designed with aerodynamics in mind. Utilizing a large front and rear wing, which allows for maximum downforce at high speeds, the F310 B sticks to the track like nothing else on four wheels. For this model in particular, the Scuderia’s engineers were able to reduce its width and the height of the sides of the cockpit, which had created issues for the engine airbox that was situated directly behind the cockpit.” Reads RM Auctions’ description of the vehicle.
“The nose rides much higher than that on the F310; this is a design characteristic that would remain on Ferrari’s Formula One cars through to the present day. Every form and shape on the car is designed for the pursuit of manipulating airflow in and around the car to feed the mighty V-10 that lies beneath, and to keep it stable at high speeds.”
Beyond its mechanical brilliance, the Ferrari F310B is also a thing of beauty. Even when standing still it’s easy to imagine the scream of its engine and it flies around the track. Because of its beauty and its pedigree the Ferrari F310B could break auto auction records.
Image Video Courtesy of RM Auction & Julio Cezar Kronbauer