The COAT - Round One - Ferrari F2004 vs Cooper T86

[crmalcolm]

For the seventeenth match in Round One, we have another battle of results vs looks. The Ferrari F2004 vs The Cooper T86.

Ferrari F2004 (drivetribe.com):
How do you follow up a car as successful as the F2002? Pretty simple really, the F2004. Excluding a retirement at Monaco, Schumacher was able to win 12 of the first 13 races of the season. Barrichello supported him in the best way possible, he only achieved 2 wins in the year, but got 14 podiums.

The F2004's legacy in the sport continues to live on as it still [as of 2018] holds numerous records at current circuits. Albert Park, Hungaroring and Monza are just a few of the circuits where the car still holds the fastest lap.

Cooper T86 (formula1.com):
Cooper were constructors who ripped up the rulebook, sparking a rear-engined revolution in 1958 – but by 1967 they were no longer the same force.

Derrick White’s Cooper T86 was menacing, with exposed tailpipes emanating from its screaming V12 Maserati, a monstrous scoop at the front and massive wheels from which its chassis hung low, like a venomous beast. The space-age-alloyed monocoque immediately proved to be lighter and faster than the T81's.

Yet all blame for this car's poor reliability and pace went to the ageing Maserati tipo. Jochen Rindt was reportedly so fed up with the lumbering engine that he deliberately over-revved it at the United States Grand Prix, just to blow it up. The story goes that team manager Roy Salvadori overheard his guilty admission and immediately showed Rindt the door.

That season signalled the beginning of the end for one of F1’s most storied teams. While the T86 looked the part, it couldn’t live up to its predecessors.

[crmalcolm]

Of interest - in comparison with the GOAT debate. Many times it has been said that Schumacher was only as successful as he was because of the car and his unchallenged #1 status. Is the F2004 the epitome of that?

15 of 18 wins, 29 podiums in 18 races. Only two retirements, both from collisions. This was also the car driven by Mick Schumacher at the Tuscan GP 2020.

[Aysedasi]

On looks, for me, the Cooper has it easily (as a one time simracer weaned on GPL that would be the case for any car of that time), but the Ferrari has to get the vote.

[Gerard C]

The Coop' for inspiration, almost an icon. My vote wont change the result but happy to cooperate!

[merak1974]

Why was the Cooper-Maserati T86 picked instead of the similarly looking, but much more successful T81 it succeeded?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by merak1974

Why was the Cooper-Maserati T86 picked instead of the similarly looking, but much more successful T81 it succeeded?

Results are not the only factor that could be used to decide what is the best car.
I took nine different sources to determine the bracket, one of these was an article titled '10 F1 cars we wish were as quick as they looked' which included the T86 in their list.

I will ensure the T81 is included later in Round One as an alternative to vote for.

[S griffin]

The F2004 obviously

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

The F2004 obviously

For what reason?
The voting is close between these two - and the Cooper would get my vote on looks.....

[S griffin]

Um, it was more successful? Isn’t that obvious enough?

[merak1974]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Results are not the only factor that could be used to decide what is the best car.
I took nine different sources to determine the bracket, one of these was an article titled '10 F1 cars we wish were as quick as they looked' which included the T86 in their list.

I will ensure the T81 is included later in Round One as an alternative to vote for.

Fair enough
Thanks.