The F310 was the first Ferrari F1 car to utilize a V10 engine, a configuration chosen because it offered the best compromise between power and fuel efficiency. The V12 was powerful but thirsty, while the V8 lacked the straight-line speed of the V10. Engineered by former Honda technician Osamu Goto, the engine was named the 310, following a nomenclature consistent with Ferrari's 1966–1980 cars.
While the F310 was a front-running car, it lacked the pace and reliability of the dominant Williams FW18. Schumacher secured three Grand Prix victories in 1996, but the car's shortcomings were evident in Eddie Irvine's season, which included a run of eight consecutive retirements, mostly due to mechanical issues. The team also suffered three straight double retirements. Early development was troubled, forcing the team to use parts from the 1995 car while structural problems were resolved.
The car's design was notable for several features:
Nose Design: Initially, the F310 was the only car in the 1996 field with a low nose. Chief designer John Barnard eventually introduced a high nose, which was adopted permanently from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards.
Cockpit: The car featured high cockpit sides intended to aid cooling and aerodynamics, though these actually had the opposite effect.
Instrumentation: The F310 was the first F1 car to feature dashboard gauges mounted directly to the steering wheel.
Despite Schumacher's wins, the car received harsh retrospective critiques. Irvine described it as "almost undriveable" and a "piece of junk," while Barnard admitted it "wasn't very good." Schumacher himself later referred to the car as "a parachute."
Following a mid-season management shift in 1997 where Jean Todt moved design operations back to Italy, Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn replaced John Barnard. They used the F310 as a base for the F310B, improving its shape and mechanical reliability. Although the F310B suffered from front-end stability issues, a new front wing assembly introduced by the new technical team improved the package.
The F310B was a five-time winner and allowed Schumacher to challenge for the title until the final round of the 1997 season. However, during the title-deciding race, a botched attempt by Schumacher at defending his position against Jacques Villeneuve ended with Schumacher in the gravel and retired. He was eventually disqualified from the 1997 season results, though the team was permitted to retain their constructors' points.
Across both the 1996 and 1997 seasons, the F310 and F310B achieved a total of eight Grand Prix wins, 22 podiums, 7 pole positions, and 172 points.
Marlboro served as the team's major sponsor, becoming the title sponsor by 1997. Ferrari used "Marlboro" logos except at the French, British, and German Grands Prix in both seasons, where tobacco advertising restrictions were in place.
The F310 is featured as a classic car in the video game F1 2013 and also appears in Formula 1 97.
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