The F310 was the first Ferrari F1 car to adopt the V10 engine format, which was engineered by former Honda technician Osamu Goto. This configuration was selected as the optimal compromise between the power of a V12 and the fuel efficiency of a V8. The name "F310" refers to the 3-litre, 10-cylinder engine, a naming convention consistent with Ferrari's 312 series used from 1966 to 1980.
Initially designed by John Barnard, the F310 was the only car in the 1996 field to feature a low nose section, while competitors utilized the aerodynamically efficient high nose. Barnard intended the F310 to be an evolving project, and a high nose was eventually adopted permanently from the Canadian Grand Prix onward. The car was also the first in Formula One to feature dashboard gauges mounted directly to the steering wheel.
During the 1996 season, the F310 proved to be a front-running car, with Schumacher securing three Grand Prix victories. However, it lacked the pace and reliability of the dominant Williams FW18. Development was complicated by structural issues that forced the team to use parts from the 1995 car early in the season. Reliability was a persistent challenge, exemplified by Irvine's run of eight consecutive retirements.
In 1997, following the departure of Barnard and the arrival of Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, the team introduced the F310B. Using the original car as a base, the new technical team improved the mechanicals and aerodynamics, though the car initially suffered from front-end stability issues. A new front wing assembly later improved the package, and the F310B ultimately secured five race wins.
The improved performance allowed Michael Schumacher to challenge for the World Championship until the final round. This progression aligned with a statement Schumacher made in 1995, where he hoped to win a few races in 1996 before challenging for the title in 1997. The championship battle ended in controversy at the final round, where a failed defensive maneuver by Schumacher against Jacques Villeneuve resulted in Schumacher's retirement and his subsequent disqualification from the 1997 season results. Ferrari, however, retained their points in the Constructors' Championship.
Across two seasons, the F310 and F310B achieved a total of eight wins, 22 podiums, 7 pole positions, and 172 points. Despite these results, the car was criticized by those who developed and drove it. Eddie Irvine described the F310 as "almost undriveable" and a "piece of junk," while John Barnard admitted the car "wasn't very good." Schumacher later compared the car's aerodynamic drag to that of "a parachute."
The F310 appears as a classic car in the video games Formula 1 97 and F1 2013.
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