Ferrari may stop selling retired Formula One cars to customers

[challenger24]

Since 2003, Ferrari has let some of its most hardcore customers buy old Formula One race cars. The F1 Clienti program facilitates sales of F1 cars to a select group of customers, and provides technical support to people who bought Ferrari F1 cars before the program was established. But F1 Clienti may soon be no more.

Ferrari will stop selling its old F1 cars to private buyers because the newer cars are just too complex, Ferrari F1 test driver Marc Gené told Autocar at a preview of the new Ferrari World theme park in Barcelona. The F138 used during the 2013 season will be the last F1 car offered for sale, he said.

“They are just too difficult to maintain,” Gené said of F1 cars from the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons. For the 2014 season, F1 implemented rules requiring all teams to use full hybrid powertrains, with 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engines assisted by electric motors. Those rules, which are still in effect, help lower F1’s carbon footprint, but also create cars that are much more complicated than previous generations.

“Just to fly them over, the battery needs some extra safety requirements for the plane,” Gené said. Newer hybrid F1 cars have onboard battery packs that store electricity, which can be recovered from the brakes or the turbocharger. The 2013 F138 used a much simpler form of electric assist, working with a 2.4-liter V8. F1 says the current hybrids produce the same power as the old V8 cars, but are 35 percent more fuel efficient.

Under the current F1 Clienti program, Ferrari routinely flies retired F1 cars around the world for owners to drive. The automaker organizes its own events, but owners can also have cars delivered to a track of their choice. Ferrari sends a team of technicians with each car, and offers tutoring from Gené and others, so owners can live out their Michael Schumacher fantasies without crashing.

Ferrari is selling the F138 right now, and prices are going up in anticipation of the end of F1 car sales, Gené said. Since F1 Clienti started in 2003, only cars at least two years old have been offered for sale. This is to keep the latest equipment from falling into the hands of rival teams, according to Ferrari.

[Chrixxx]

yes I confirm, the hyrid turbo F1 Cars will not be sold to private clients.

[challenger24]

yes I confirm, the hyrid turbo F1 Cars will not be sold to private clients.

not really true. They are thinking about at take much closer looks to the costumers...

[woody]

Who would want to drive the current cars when the cars of the early 2000's are the fastest most agile cars EVER built by ANYONE?....I'm friends with a guy named Bud Moeller, and he says the F2004 simply has no equal...even today's cars would stand no chance...simply because they haven't the brute power and grip...or the tires...it's an amazing fact that the grooved Bridgestones, meant to slow down the cars, actually made less friction to the road allowing even more speed. All of the current speed and lap records are held by the F2004 car shod with the grooved Bridgestones, except for MSC's 2002 Hungaroring lap

Records for each track....still standing...

Magny-Cours - 1:15.377 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004
Nürburgring GP - 1:29.468 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004
Monza - 1:21.046 - Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari F2004
Melbourne - 1:24.125 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004
Interlagos - 1:11.473 - Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams BMW, 2004
Sepang - 1:34.223 - Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW FW26, 2004
Bahrain - 1:30.252 - Michael Schumacher Ferrari - F2004 ( GP Circuit)
Montreal - 1:13.622 - Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari F2004
Silverstone - 1:18.739 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, F2004. (Bridge Circuit)
Hockenheimring- 1:13.780 - Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren, 2004
Hungaroring - 1:19.071 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2002,
Shanghai - 1:32.238 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004
San Marino - 1:20.411 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, F2004,
Monaco - 1:14.439 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004
Catalunya - 1:17.450 - Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004 ( Pre Chicane)

[challenger24]

Good point woody, but many peole want the modern cars also. I am more with you...

[Chrixxx]

Cata who runs the F1 Clienti program told me back in April 2016 that the running costs and amount of needed track support for the V6 Hybrid Cars is much much higher compared to the NA Generation ( which is already expensive) Also remember the Alonso "accident" in Barcelona caused by the electric system and the last thing u need is that. So they told me that they will stop selling cars and just keep the program alive for cars up to the F138. Yes for sure you can modify the current cars and take out all the Kers/Hybrid system but it will be a different car. Maybe they changed their mind and find some ways to offer also the newer generation.

[challenger24]

Cata who runs the F1 Clienti program told me back in April 2016 that the running costs and amount of needed track support for the V6 Hybrid Cars is much much higher compared to the NA Generation ( which is already expensive) Also remember the Alonso "accident" in Barcelona caused by the electric system and the last thing u need is that. So they told me that they will stop selling cars and just keep the program alive for cars up to the F138. Yes for sure you can modify the current cars and take out all the Kers/Hybrid system but it will be a different car. Maybe they changed their mind and find some ways to offer also the newer generation.

Interesting, thank you