Ferrari fans to choose name of new F1 car
BY ALAN BALDWIN
Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:18pm GMT
Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil drives during the third practice session of the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo November 23, 2013. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
(Reuters) - Millions of fans worldwide will have a say in choosing a name for Ferrari's 2014 Formula One car via the internet in January, the Italian team said on Friday.
Ferrari's car this season was the F138, a combination of the year and a tribute to the V8 engine in its final campaign before being replaced by a new turbocharged V6 unit with energy recovery systems.
The team, who have Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen as their drivers in a line-up of world champions, have half a million facebook 'likes' while the carmaker has 12.6 million.
The official Ferrari Twitter account (@InsideFerrari) has more than 670,000 followers.
Ferrari finished third overall in the constructors' championship this season, behind champions Red Bull and Mercedes, although Alonso was runner-up in the drivers' standings.
President Luca Di Montezemolo told reporters at a Christmas lunch at the Fiorano test track that he was looking forward to the new driver pairing and expected them to work well together.
Ferrari presented their new engine, designated the 059/3, in virtual fashion with a 3D film shown at the Maranello factory on Thursday.
Engine and electronics head Luca Marmorini told reporters that reliability and economy would be the major concerns for all teams in the new era with drivers having to make 100kg of fuel last an entire race.
"It will be relatively easy to finish with 100kg in some races, others will be more challenging," he warned. "100kg in Melbourne and 100kg in Monaco are not the same at all."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
