Comments on: What becomes of formula one cars after the season ends?

By: shanghai_nile

shanghai_nile — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:33:57 +0000

I never knew Ferrari sold their old cars. I guess I better start saving…

Most teams do keep their cars. Some they keep whole and other they pull them apart. I remember someone (possibly Big Ron) describing them as “a very expensive paper weights”.

Then again, Renault and Flavio like to give them away as congratulations and birthday pressie to Alonso.

By: Brad T

Brad T — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:29:10 +0000

The teams will either store them at their facilities or after a coupe of years turn them into show cars.

Also teams will eventually sell them. Ferrari sold some of their race cars a few months ago.

By: GSH

GSH — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:05:52 +0000

Wait for technology to outdate the model then they sell it

By: RedbullRacingFan

RedbullRacingFan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:24:28 +0000

they give them to spyker and toyota..

By: michinoku2001

michinoku2001 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:04:21 +0000

They often end up in run what you brung racing:

By: martin_rulz6

martin_rulz6 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:34:37 +0000

George has the answer down pretty well, but to also add, for some teams where there 2008 cars might not be exactly ready, they will still use the old design until a 2008 model is ready to go, but you usually find that among the smaller teams.

By: carve the canyon

carve the canyon — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:19:22 +0000

Depending on the team the cars get stored for a couple of years till the technology is old enough and the cars can be sold. I believe Ferrari waits 3-5 years before there cars can be sold. I believe these cars can be had for a fraction of what it cost to develop them. I believe the F2001 or F2002 car sold for something like $1.5 million USD.

But during the off season the cars can be used for demonstration and publicity events.

By: George S

George S — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:09:06 +0000

Depends on the team. Many go into storage because the technology still needs to be protected from prying eyes. A good number end up in museums, both of the team’s own and other museums. A few make it into private collections. Ferrari has a very unique program called Corse Clienti where for a large sum of money, you can buy an F1 car from Ferrari (at least 2 years old to protect technology) and they will maintain and operate it, as well as coordinate trackdays for you to drive your car at. Most of these occur at Fiorano and Mugello, Ferrari’s two circuits, but I believe they have occured at other venues. Another Ferrari exclusive, as far as I know, is that they sell various parts, mostly engine, but a few body pieces, from their cars in the Ferrari store, worthwhile if you are looking to own a piece of a real F1 car.

Hope this gives you a good idea of the fate of F1 cars of past seasons.