©F1i
CASING AND CARTRIDGE
On the Ferrari, like on other cars, the gearbox is housed in a carbon casing that also contains various other components (oil pump, dampers, etc.). The casing is the rear backbone of the chassis and features mounting points for the engine, wishbones, rear wing central pillar, and rear crash structure. Inside, the gearbox slots in like a cartridge. The first image shows the gearbox outside the casing, while the second displays it once it is fitted and covered by a carbon seal. One can also spot the drive shaft.
First devised by Aldo Costa on the 2004-spec Ferrari F2004, the system has been copycatted elsewhere since then. Why is that? Well, while teams can only change the gearbox every five grands prix, they are allowed to tweak the casing as they see fit (in order to modify the suspension geometry for instance).
On the series of pictures above, one can clearly see how the gearbox slots in like a cartridge in the carbon casing, which has been cut out at the top to house the turbocharger and opened on the sides to allow the exhaust pipes through. Besides the hydraulics, one can spot a star-shaped metallic component in the middle of the gearbox: it is a bearing carrier that ensures all different parts, especially the drive shaft, are positioned correctly. Bearings are mounted inside.
