Ferrari F1 2004 - Fastest ever F1 car?

[djones]

This may have been covered before but do people think the F1 2004 is the fastest Formula One car ever built?

[zenvision]

I think fastest is quite a loose term. What do you actually mean?

[Ogami musashi]

F2004 holds all race records except:

Malaysia by JPM in 2004
Spa by Kimi raikkonen in 2004 too
Turkey because first gp was in 2005
Japan because it was raining in 2004.
Spain because the race record is now with the re shaped track (so it belongs to masa this year)
All the other race records belong to Schumacher (mostly) and Barichello.


Of all the tracks only 3 don't belong to a 2004 car and all for the reason that 2004 car did not run onto them/ran in raining.

Actually in 2005 some cars while in qualify did better qualifying times one some tracks that 2004 car.

in 2006 and 2007 some qualifying/pratice times were very close to the 2004 one but in race off by 1.5 to 3 seconds.

in 2004 car had more downforce, more power, better accelerations.

[CMSMJ1]

Yes - the F12004 was a pinnacle of the age.

It is shame that we have gone somewhat backwards but I have no doubt that the laptimes it produced will be surpassed.

Ironically by cars going faster around corners which flies in the face of Max's aero and tyre regs..

[bar555]

I think a photo comparison between F2003GA-F2004-F2005 would be nice , don't you think so?? Let me know whether to start such a comparison or not ???

[modbaraban]

I think a photo comparison between F2003GA-F2004-F2005 would be nice , don't you think so?? Let me know whether to start such a comparison or not ???

Tat would be nice.

Also A23 - SA05 - SA06 and EJ15 - M16 - C8-VII. By far not the best cars these were, but it would be interesting to see the how the low-budget developments are made too.

[West]

In terms of outclassing the field... yes, it was one of the fastest cars ever. It made 2004 the most boring season in recent history. It was so good, Ferrari stopped devloping it around Spa, I believe.

[megz]

Stick a Merc V10 in 2007's Ferrari. Now that methinks would be the fastest Although was it not the Williams FW26 that holds the fastest recorded speed of an F1 Car in a race weekend at Monza at around 376kph?

[DaveKillens]

The McLaren MP4-4 of 1988 won all but one race that season, easily exceeding the Ferrari of 2004 as far as dominating the field.

The MP4/4 took 15 wins from 16 races, 15 pole positions, and 199 points, all in a single season.
The Ferrari F2004 won 15 of 18 races

Other dominant cars in Formula One history.
Ferrari F2002
Ferrari F2004
Lotus 79
Mercedes-Benz W196
Williams FW14

[kimi]

the 1988 season was a great season if u talk about how team rivalry goes..

the MP4-4 was simply very dominating with senna and prost behind the wheels as they were racing each other.but i think in 2004 the case was a bit different as there were no one else who could match the ferrari's pace.

[BreezyRacer]

I would have to agree that the 2004 car was probably as fast as F1 will get for quite a while. While some 2005-06 cars ran close, if you put those year's tires on the 2004 car it would be no contest.

[DaveKillens]

In 1988 we saw two drivers in identical cars battle it out to the end. In 2004, we saw Michael Schumacher win a boatload of races, because his teammate was instructed to support Michael. In 1988 we saw a battle. In 2004, we saw a procession.

I need some clarification. If you're talking about speed, sheer speed, then the Honda owns that crown. If we're talking about the most dominanat car, it's the MP4-4

[RacingManiac]

I think he is talking about laptime Dave, which is not unreasonable to assume F2004 was the fastest(laptime) F1 car in recent years(perhaps ever). 2004 had no long-life engine, V10 instead of V8, and still rev to 19k. No 2005's long-life tire. I think the current V8 cars will be faster if given the same power as the V10, but sheer pace the 2004 car will probably remain as fastest for sometime(especially now with the 10 year engine freeze.)

[Tom]

I think the F12004 is perhaps the ugliest car I've ever seen, the colour is so bland, the nose is massive and it generally looked fat. Compared to the '07 Ferrari, racing in a different shade of red every month, most slim and elegent car of the season.

Although that has little effect on its lap times I'm sure.

[DaveKillens]

Agreed Tom, although the 2004 was a killer on track, it never turned my crank as far as aesthetics. Especially that big wide nose. But it's a personal interpretation. One man's eye candy may be an eyesore to another.