Ferrari 125 F1

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Ferrari 125 F1
Manufacturer Ferrari
Production19481950
SuccessorFerrari 275 F1
ClassFormula One car
Engine1.5 L Colombo 125 V12
Wheelbase2160 mm (85 in)
2320 mm (91 in)
Length3685 mm (145 in)
Width1400 mm (55 in)
Height1025 mm (40 in)
Curb weight710 kg (1565 lb)
DesignerGioacchino Colombo
See also the 125 S, a sports racer sharing the same engine

The 125 F1 Ferrari's first Formula 1 car. It shared its engine with the 125 S sports racer which preceded it by a year, but was developed at the same time by Enzo Ferrari and famed designer, Gioacchino Colombo.

The 125 F1 used a supercharged 1.5 L V12 engine and sported a steel tube-frame chassis with longitudinal and cross members[1]. It had a double wishbone suspension with a transverse leaf spring in front and a torsion bar in the rear which was upgraded to a de Dion tube for 1950. Worm and sector steering and four-wheel drum brakes were the norm for the time. The 2160 mm (85 in) wheelbase was uprated to 2320 mm (91 in) in the 1949 redesign.

The 125 F1 was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) 60° V12. It had a single overhead camshaft on each bank of cylinders with a 60° angle between the two banks. The endine had two valves per cylinder fed through one Weber 40DOC3 or 50WCF carburettor. With just a 6.5:1 compression ratio, the supercharged engine still produced 230 hp (172 kW) at 7000 rpm. However, the Roots-type single-stage supercharger was incapable of producing the high-end power required to compete with the strong eight-cylinder Alfa Romeo 158 and four-cylinder Maserati 4CLT. Strong driving and a nimble chassis, however, allowed the company to place third in its first outing, at the Valentino Grand Prix on September 5, 1948, and the company persevered in racing.

For 1949, the engine was further modified with dual overhead camshafts (though still two valves per cylinder) and a two-stage supercharger. This combination gave the car better top-end performance and the resulting 280 hp (209 kW) gave it five Grand Prix wins. Development continued the following year, but the problematic superchargers were dropped in favor of larger displacement and Lampredi's 275 engine superseded the original Ferrari engine.

[edit] Racing

The 125 F1 debuted at the Valentino Grand Prix on September 5, 1948. Three cars were fielded, with drivers Prince Bira of Siam, Nino Farina, and Raymond Sommer who placed third in the race.

Victories
DateLocationDriver
October 24, 1948Garda Circuit, SalòGiuseppe Farina
July 3, 1949Switzerland Grand Prix, BernAlberto Ascari
July 31, 1949Zandvoort Grand PrixLuigi Villoresi
August 20, 1949Daily Express Trophy, SilverstoneAlberto Ascari
September 11, 1949Italian Grand Prix, MonzaAlberto Ascari
September 25, 1949Masaryk Circuit, BrnoPeter Whitehead
July 13, 1950Jersey Road RacePeter Whitehead
August 12, 1950Ulster Trophy, DundrodPeter Whitehead
October 1, 1950Interstate Race, InterlagosFrancisco Landi
January 25, 1951São Paulo Grand PrixFrancisco Landi
May 20, 1951Governador Noguera Garcez Race, InterlagosFrancisco Landi
June 28, 1951Bõa Vista Grand Prix, Rio de JaneroFrancisco Landi

[edit] References

  • Ascerbi, Leonardo (2006). Ferrari: A Complete Guide to All Models. Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-2550-2.

[edit] Sources

  1. GILCO ferrari 125 GP chassis. Gilco Design. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.
Ferrari Formula One cars
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40s 1950s 1960s 1970s
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125 275
340
375
500 553
625
555
D50
801 412
246
256 156 158
1512
312 312 B 312 T
1980s 1990s 2000s
01234 56789 01234 56789 01234 56789
312 T 126 C 156/85 F1/86 F1/87 640 641/642/643 F92A F93A 412T F310/B F300 F399 F1-2000 F2001 F2001
F2002
F2002B
F2003-GA
F2004 F2004M
F2005
248 F2007
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