The Ferrari is number three, of course, as Schumacher was #3 in 2000, and ’98-‘99 as well, but this year’s season (2001) his car will be wearing the proud #1 of the World Driver’s Champion. In this example, it is also the placing of Ferrari in the Constructor’s Championship, yet the number really does belong to Michael, as the number on the car is “earned” by the driver, and not the manufacturer. The last time we saw the number one on a Ferrari was ’96, when Michael brought it to Ferrari, after having earned it driving a Benetton-Renault. The last time before that was when Alain Prost brought it over, after having won it driving a McLaren-Honda! The last time a Ferrari driver sported the number one as a result of actually driving a Ferrari to the World Championship was back in ’79, courtesy of Jody Scheckter. That was so long ago that Jody’s son is now a test driver for the Jaguar F-1 team, and his team-mate’s son (one Jacques Villeneuve) has won the World Driver’s Championship himself! My, my, how time flies!!

Back to Our Subject

F-1 numbering digressions aside, The Mattel “generic F-1” body is the same as the ’99 car, as expected, and aside from not getting it all that right in the first place, the good news is that it’s certainly no worse! In addition to the updates of sponsor names, and the addition of the “Schumacher” tag on the air box, all the names and logos are much more sharp and clear than my ’99 example. The tires are correctly updated to Bridgestone, and the (new for ’00) FedEx and TicTac markings are applied. This time Mattel has also included the Shell markings on the side pods (should have been there last time too!), and put the Ferrari prancing horse team markings much closer to the correct position on the body. The Aspreys are gone (correctly), and the FIAT, Magnetti Marelli (ignition bits), Brembo (brakes), SKF, etc. are retained. The “E” for the fire extinguisher button on the air box has been added, but so has an “N” marking above the front left suspension arm. None of my photos of! the real cars are showing this, and I have no idea what it might mean! Perhaps one of our readers could enlighten me!

Overall, Then . . .

Overall, I would give this Ferrari high marks, certainly a step up from last year, and its always good to see another one of Michael’s cars in our “scale.” It comes as no surprise that the “Marlboro” logos are left off the air box and the rear wing, but is it too much to ask to have the blank “white area” on the air box, as used in “non-smoking” races in Europe? Guess so, and I certainly know that lots of kids would take up smoking as a result of playing with cigarette logo’d slot cars! Leaving the worst complaint for last, Mattel has once again gotten the driver’s suit and helmet all wrong (see photos). For some reason (same reason as before?) they are all black, looking rather like the Arrows suits of two years ago, or the black Lotus suits from their JPS days. Next time guys, just leave the helmet and fire suit red! Okay?

Over at Jordan

In third place overall, and hence sporting numbers 5 and 6 for 2000 is the Jordan Team, coming off a fine year which included a couple of wins for Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the EJ-09 Jordan Mugan-Honda with major sponsorship from Benson and Hedges cigarettes. Unfortunately 2000 didn’t treat them nearly as well, slipping behind Williams and BAR in the Constructor’s Championship. Could this mean that Mattel will treat us to the first British American Racing (Reynard) Honda in our scale? One can hope! As popular as Mr. Villeneuve is, you would think it might help sell sets (and cars) in Canada and the U.S. anyway. Regardless, Mattel has been faithful in bringing us examples of the Jordan F-1 cars over the past three years, and this is yet another fine example. The Buzzin Hornets “logo” is used in races where tobacco advertising isn’t allowed; a kind of tongue in cheek way of saying B & H without really saying it. As if every F-1 fan doesn't really know who’s paying the bills (at least a hefty part of them) on any given team. Said hornet is also nicely emblazoned on each side of the nose cone. All that aside, this Jordan too is Bridgestone shod, with engine called out “Mugen-Honda” Deutsche Post, PlayStation, the team’s web site (www.f1jordan.com), Brother, MasterCard, Keinin, Anglian Water, Hewlett Packard, Lucent and Intercond, at the appropriate place (or close to it) on the body panels, nose, air box and wings.

There’s getting to be nearly as many sponsor names on an F-1 car as a proper NASCAR, aye! Eddie Jordan maybe of worst of them all (or is that the best?) at collecting sponsors for his team. Whether Jordan is a little big team or a big little team, there always seems to be room for yet another small sponsor logo! It helps pay all the bills for keeping the racing cars on the track, and I’m sure his famous pit babes aren’t inexpensive either! They sure look expensive! Pit Babes? Yes, well, Jordan is famous for his huge parties and his decorative pit babes, but we’re here to discuss a much smaller size race car (supplied w/o scale pit babes!).

On the downside is the usual complaint, i.e. the drivers suits are turned out in black, not yellow as is proper for a Jordan driver of this most recent era. And the wheels should be black in the center, with only a yellow rim around the outside. Yes, I suppose, I should be happy with the detail we’ve got and not nit pick all the little things that could have been done better. And any modeler worth his small bottle of Testor’s paint can paint the centers black, then rub the rims clean before the paint dries! And there you have it. If you can fabricate little O.Z. decals for the yellow rim part, I’ll really be impressed! In conclusion, another fine job from the folks at Mattel, and a worthy addition to any “HO” Formula One collection.

But Wait, There’s More!

Not about the bodies, but about the chassis, and the rear bulkhead in particular. My friend Rick Jocham pointed out that there is a new rear bulkhead afoot at Mattel (so to speak) and should you happen to turn one of these most recent F-1 cars over, you’ll see what I mean. As you look at the rear bulkhead from the bottom, you will see that there isn’t as much of it as there used to be. One half of the traction magnet retaining section is cut away, and yes, it’s a four-dot bulkhead, for those of you who count such things. I haven’t had a chance to track test this new bulkhead, much less substitute it for a well grooved bulk head from one of my Super Stock legal Tycos. It is notable, and those of you who race stock-based Tyco-Mattel motor/chassis should at least be aware that it exists. Finally, and this may not be new, I see that it now says “Mattel” molded right into the chassis. Not that it used to say Tyco! Since I haven’t had my nose stuck into such racing cars for awhile, I have no idea what the current urban myth says about chassis with “Mattel” on the side. Once again, perhaps you racers could enlighten me! In the meantime, and bulkhead foolishness aside, I must again thank Mattel for the efforts in the direction of “HO” Formula One slot cars, and encourage them to continue into the future.