Ferrari 312B2

The early 1970s marked a return to success for Scuderia Ferrari. Under the direction of Mauro Forghieri, Ferrari developed a new Tipo 001 flat-12 engine, colloquially referred to as a "boxer" engine, though it was not a true boxer engine. This engine design provided a lower center of gravity and a clear airflow beneath the rear wing.

The 312B2 was presented in January 1971 and debuted at the third round of the season in Monaco. During its first season, the car suffered from handling problems; the combination of an innovative rear suspension and new Firestone tires caused severe vibrations when driven close to the limit. For the British Grand Prix that year, Forghieri designed and fitted winglets to the front wings, though these were not seen again afterwards.

In 1972, Ferrari fielded a revised B2 with a more conventional rear suspension. However, the car could not keep up with the progress of the competition. During the season, Forghieri experimented with new front bodywork similar to the Tyrrell 003. It was fitted for the second race in South Africa but was discarded after making the cars uncompetitive.

Forghieri also designed a radical car featuring square bodywork and a full-width nose on a very short wheelbase. Nicknamed the spazzaneve (snowplow) by the Italian press, this version of the 312 B3 was tested by Jacky Ickx and Arturo Merzario but never raced in a Grand Prix.

For 1973, FIAT executives imposed a new technical staff, transferring Forghieri to the experimental department and replacing him with Sandro Colombo. The spazzaneve project was discarded in favor of a new 312 B3 design featuring a full monocoque chassis built by the English company TC Prototypes. In this version, the engine became a fully stressed member.

The 312B2's predecessor, the 312B, saw Jacky Ickx win three Grands Prix in 1970 while battling Lotus's Jochen Rindt. Clay Regazzoni also won the 1970 Italian Grand Prix following Rindt's death in practice. Ferrari finished second in the Constructors' Championship that year.

The 312B2 era began in 1971. The season started with a win by new signing Mario Andretti (driving the 312B), followed later by a victory for Ickx in the 312B2 at the Dutch Grand Prix. However, Tyrrell and Jackie Stewart dominated the season, and Ferrari ultimately finished third in the Constructors' Championship.

In 1972, Ickx won the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in the revised B2, which would be his final Grand Prix victory. Ferrari dropped to fourth in the championship by the end of the year.

At the start of 1973, Ferrari continued to use the aging 312B2 as the new B3 was not yet ready. The car was no longer competitive, with Ickx managing only a fourth place at the opening round. The new 312 B3 debuted at the Spanish Grand Prix but proved slow and unreliable. Ferrari was outclassed throughout the season and even skipped some races, such as the Nürburgring. Ickx left the team halfway through the season, though he achieved a third-place finish at the German Grand Prix driving a McLaren.

During the summer of 1973, Forghieri was recalled as technical director. He revised the B3 by incorporating ideas from the spazzaneve project. For the 1974 season, Ferrari fielded this heavily revised car, known as the 312 B3-74, and signed drivers Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni. The 312B series was eventually succeeded by the 312T in 1975.