the F310B: photo by Ferrari
The Ferrari team have unveiled their 1997 car, the F310B, with their drivers Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine at the Maranello (Italy) factory today. The new car has to bring the Schumacher the championship this year, like Benetton-Boss Flavio Briatore said last week: "Ferrari will not be pleased if Schumacher doesn't become champion this year."
Schumacher however was very cautious about the new car: "I think this year we are looking for reliability and an improvement on last year, the real championship for us should come in 1998."
The aerodynamics of the new car has changed substantially over last year's. It holds remarkable similarities with the 1996 Williams-Renault.
The V10 engine has been improved dramatically according to Ferrari.
Jacques Villeneuve, last year's runner up in the championship, has ruled out the possibility that Damon Hill has a chance of becoming world champion for a second year in a row, with the TWR F1 team. The Canadian believes he's the most likely candidate for this season's title.
Villeneuve said to the BBC radio: "I don't think he's going to be an opponent but he is very good. I don't think the whole package is ready to win although I'm sure they could surprise us once in a while. I am going in with the championship in mind. There is only one spot better I can go and I will have to work hard to make sure I get that spot.
He added: "Heinz will be a tough adversary, I'm pretty sure Schumacher will be very tough to beat as well, and you never know what's going to happen with the McLarens and the Benettons so it's going to be a tough championship. As regards the constructors championship, Ferrari will be the opposition, the one we will have to work against."