The Ferrari F2008 is a Formula One motor racing car that was constructed by Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro to compete in the 2008 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, who both remained with the team for a second and third season, respectively. As of the 2023 season, the F2008 remains the most recent Ferrari Formula 1 car to win the World Constructors' Championship.

Design

The chassis was designed by Aldo Costa, Simone Resta, Tiziano Battistini, Marco Fainello, John Iley and Marco de Luca with Mario Almondo playing a vital role in leading the production of the car as the team's Executive Technical Director and with Gilles Simon in charge of the engine and electronics division assisted by David Salters (engine design and development) and Mattia Binotto (engine operations). It features a new standard Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is the electronic system that controls all the cars, produced by McLaren Electronic Systems. This was included to comply with the new regulations. The ECU also removes most of the driver aids used in previous seasons, including traction control, engine braking, and electronically-assisted starting system. It also makes the management of the differential, engine, and gear changes easier. The car also weighs more than last season's F2007 chassis due to rule changes which include the gearbox which has to be used for four consecutive races, higher side protection around the driver's helmet, etc.

Launch

The car was unveiled to the public on January 6, 2008. World champion Kimi Räikkönen gave the car its first shakedown at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on January 7, 2008.

Sponsorship and livery

Like its predecessor, the F2008 was painted all red. The team's principal sponsor is Philip Morris, the parent company of Marlboro. Ferrari was the only team to have a cigarette brand as its main sponsor in 2008, despite the tobacco advertising ban. Although Ferrari could have used the Marlboro logos in Bahrain, Monaco, and China, Ferrari did not use the lettering in these races either. So it happened that throughout the season the brand name was indicated by a bar code and was not seen in any race. Etihad Airways joined as a new sponsor and advertised on the back of the rear wing. Once again, Martini returns for third and final year with the team. The logo was blocked out in France due to alcohol advertising were outlawed.

Incidents and accidents

Ferrari F2008K

On November 11, 2008 on the Fiorano track, Ferrari carried out a test session with Räikkönen, Massa and Badoer, who were driving an F2008 equipped with an SREC, with the aim of introducing this technology on the Ferrari F60 from 2009.

Gallery

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance. Räikkönen's fastest lap at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remained the lap record until it was broken by Lewis Hamilton during the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix.