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Tyrrell 025

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Tyrrell 025
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorTyrrell
Designer(s)Harvey Postlethwaite (Technical Director)
Mike Gascoyne (Chief Engineer-Aerodynamics)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Predecessor024
Successor026
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)double wishbones, pushrod, twin damper
Suspension (rear)double wishbones, pushrod, twin damper
EngineFord ED4 & ED5 75-degree V8s
TransmissionTyrrell six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power665 hp @ 13,700 rpm[1]
FuelElf
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsPIAA Tyrrell Ford
Notable drivers18. Netherlands Jos Verstappen
19. Finland Mika Salo
Debut1997 Australian Grand Prix
Last event1997 European Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
17000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Tyrrell 025 was the car with which the Tyrrell team competed in the 1997 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by Finn Mika Salo, who was in his third season with the team, and Dutchman Jos Verstappen, who moved from Footwork.

Development

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The 025 was an evolution of the previous year's 024, with Ford V8 engines instead of Yamaha V10s in the interests of reliability. However, this came at the expense of power against the V10 cars.

As ever, the team used a fair degree of technical innovation. The 025 eschewed a double support front wing for a single plane unit aimed at cleaning up airflow under the car.[2] On high-downforce circuits (such as Monaco), two additional wings were installed on either side of the cockpit. To distinguish between the drivers, Verstappen's were painted yellow and Salo's dark orange. These "X-wings" would be banned during 1998 after safety concerns in the pitlane, by which point other teams had begun using them.[3]

Race history

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The year was largely disappointing for the team. The chassis was well-balanced, the drivers were quick and the strategy was good but the increase in competitiveness in the sport saw them restricted to a battle with fellow V8 runner Minardi for much of the season. The team's frustration came from the cars often being closer in terms of raw pace to the front-runners than in 1996, but further away on the grid and in the race results.

The team's two points came from an inventive non-stop run from Salo at the 1997 Monaco Grand Prix to finish fifth, despite a damaged front wing. They would prove to be Tyrrell's last points in F1, as Ken Tyrrell subsequently sold the team to British American Tobacco, becoming British American Racing for the 1999 season.[4] Paul Stoddart, later owner of Minardi, became one of the principal sponsors. He almost bought the team and indeed had offered Ken Tyrrell a three-year plan to completely overhaul the team's technical department which included an in-house wind tunnel and use of his European Aviation company's aircraft for the team's transportation but the deal with BAR had already been done.[5]

The team eventually finished tenth in the Constructors' Championship, thanks to the two points earned by Salo at Monaco.

Livery

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The 025 was painted with black and white livery with a new main sponsor PIAA. At the British Grand Prix, the team promoted the series Xena: Warrior Princess.

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1997 Tyrrell Ford V8 G AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR 2 10th
Jos Verstappen Ret 15 Ret 10 8 11 Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 13 16
Mika Salo Ret 13 8 9 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 11 Ret Ret 10 Ret 12

References

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  1. ^ "Engine Ford Cosworth • STATS F1".
  2. ^ "Tyrrell-Ford 025". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. ^ "10 Banned Race Cars". HowStuffWorks. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Forgotten F1 Friday: Tyrrell 025". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. ^ "As a part of the Tyrrell 2000 ..." verstappen.nl. Retrieved 21 January 2020.