Ferrari 641

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, once the car's development was complete. 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; according to Prost, it was the best car of the year.

The Ferrari 641 was also the first Formula One car to use an effective traction control system, which debuted at the 1990 Portuguese Grand Prix in Estoril. Ferrari technicians developed the rudimentary system—which used software and a wheel speed sensor—in less than two weeks following the Italian GP on September 11. 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. Nichols designed the car with Alain Prost’s smooth driving style in mind. Prost worked to improve the reliability of the gearbox and to bring the Ferrari team closer together. A variable inlet trumpet system was tested throughout the season but did not become standard equipment.

Ferrari's major coup was signing reigning World Champion Alain Prost from McLaren to partner Nigel Mansell. The car scored six wins in the 1990 season (Prost five, Mansell one).

Prost's development work helped the 641 chassis to be extremely fast and competitive. He scored five wins, including a victory from 13th place on the grid in Mexico, where he challenged Ayrton Senna for the championship. In the same race, Mansell outfoxed Gerhard Berger with a daring passing move at the fearsome Peraltada corner. Although the car occasionally struggled in qualifying, it appeared to have the edge on the McLarens in race trim, particularly at high-speed circuits. At the British Grand Prix, Mansell dominated qualifying while Prost struggled. Prost convinced the team to switch the chassis before the race, which he won while Mansell retired with gearbox failure while leading and promptly announced his quitting the sport.

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. Mansell finished 5th and scored one win, including an 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.

Tiff Needell drove the 641 on Top Gear in 1995 in a segment where Jeremy Clarkson tested a Ferrari F50. The segment included a drag race and comparisons between the two cars, as the F50 road car is based on the 641. The 641 has also been featured in several video games, including F1 2019, F1 2020, Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends, and the Forza Motorsport series.

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)