Ferrari 641

The Ferrari 641 (also known as the Ferrari F1-90)[2] was the Formula One racing car with which the Ferrari team competed in the 1990 Formula One World Championship. Driven by Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, it won six Grands Prix.

Ferrari 641
Ferrari 641/2 (chassis 117)
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorFerrari
Designer(s)Enrique Scalabroni
Steve Nichols
Predecessor640
Successor642
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisKevlar and Carbon fibre composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, push-rod actuated torsion bar springs, and telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrod actuated coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
EngineFerrari Tipo 036 3.5 L (213.6 cu in), 65° V12, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionFerrari 7-speed semi-automatic
Power680 bhp (507 kW; 689 PS) @ 12,750 rpm
FuelAgip
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsScuderia Ferrari SpA
Notable drivers1. Alain Prost
2. Nigel Mansell
Debut1990 United States Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
1661435

Development

The 641 was a developed version of its predecessor, the 1989 Ferrari 640, designed by John Barnard. The updated 641 design was overseen by former McLaren designer Steve Nichols after Barnard left Ferrari to join the Benetton team. The car was powered by a 3.5-litre V12 engine, first with the type 036, and later in San Marino with the updated 037. The V12 was rated at 680 bhp (507 kW; 689 PS), only slightly down on the 690 bhp (515 kW; 700 PS) Honda V10 engines used by McLaren, but not as flexible or as good at delivering power out of slow corners as the Honda, the Renault V10 engine used by Williams or the Ford-Cosworth HB V8 used by Benetton. Despite its heavier engine, the 641 was among the best handling cars on the grid. Prost declared it the best car of the year.[3]

The car scored 6 wins in the 1990 season (Prost 5 wins, Mansell 1 win). Incorporating the semi-automatic gearbox developed during the previous season, the car was seen to be technically advanced. The aerodynamics were reworked and the chassis gave a slightly longer wheelbase than its predecessor. Ferrari's major coup was signing reigning World Champion Alain Prost from McLaren to partner Nigel Mansell. As such, Nichols designed the car with Prost's smooth driving style in mind. A variable inlet trumpet system on the engine was tested throughout the season but did not become standard equipment.

Alain Prost driving the 641 at the 1990 Canadian Grand Prix.

Prost worked hard on improving the reliability of the gearbox and also worked behind the scenes to bring the whole Ferrari team closer together. Prost's development work helped the 641 chassis to be extremely fast and competitive, and he scored five wins, including a remarkable victory from 13th place on the grid in Mexico, and challenged his nemesis Ayrton Senna for the championship. In the same race, Mansell outfoxed Gerhard Berger with a daring passing move at the fearsome Peraltada corner.[4] Although the car occasionally struggled in qualifying, it appeared to have the edge on the McLarens in race trim, particularly at high-speed circuits.[5] At the British Grand Prix, Mansell dominated qualifying while Prost struggled. Feeling that Mansell's car was superior to his own, he convinced the team to switch the chassis before the race, which he won while Mansell retired and promptly announced his quitting the sport.[6] However, the famous collision between Prost and Senna at the Japanese Grand Prix sealed the Drivers' Championship for Senna and the Constructors' Championship for McLaren. Prost finished runner-up in the championship and Mansell finished 5th and scored 1 win, including excellent performance in his last race for Ferrari at Adelaide, where he finished 2nd and almost won that race from Nelson Piquet and his Benetton-Ford. It would be another seven years before Ferrari would challenge for either championship again.

Ferrari 641 at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Top Gear

Tiff Needell drove the 641 on Top Gear in 1995 in a segment where his co-host Jeremy Clarkson tested a Ferrari F50 and did a drag race against Needell in the 641 and some comparisons as well because the F50 road car is based on the 641.

The Ferrari 641 was featured in the Codemasters F1 2019 (video game) as a dlc for the "Legends Edition".

Complete results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. WCC
1990 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Tipo 036
Ferrari Tipo 037
V12		 G USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 110 2nd
Alain Prost Ret 1 4 Ret 5 1 1 1 4 Ret 2 2 3 1 Ret 3
Nigel Mansell Ret 4 Ret Ret 3 2 18 Ret Ret 17 Ret 4 1 2 Ret 2

Chassis log

The current locations of the 641 chassis are:

  • 115 - Museum of Modern Art (USA)
  • 116 - destroyed in testing
  • 117 - Museo Ferrari (Italy)
  • 118 - Private collection (Germany)
  • 119 - Private collection (Switzerland)
  • 120 - Private collection (Germany)
  • 121 - Private collection (UK)

References
  1. "1990 Ferrari 641 F1 - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  2. "Ferrari F1-90". Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  3. "Prost's infamous 1990 F1 Ferrari to go under the hammer". New Atlas. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. Master, Matt. "Mansell makes Ferrari history in Mexico". magazine.ferrari.com. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. "1990 Ferrari 641 F1 - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. "1990 British Grand Prix race report - Decline and Fall". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
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