Tyrrell 026

The Tyrrell 026 was the car with which the Tyrrell Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season, it was the last Tyrrell car to compete in F1. It was driven by Ricardo Rosset and rookie Toranosuke Takagi.

Tyrrell 026
Toranosuke Takagi driving the Tyrrell 026 at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorTyrrell
Designer(s)Harvey Postlethwaite (Technical Director)
Mike Gascoyne (Deputy Technical Director)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Ben Agathangelou (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor025
SuccessorBAR 01
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)double wishbones, pushrod, horizontal coil-spring/damper
Suspension (rear)double wishbones, pushrod, horizontal coil-spring/damper
EngineFord Zetec-R, 3.0-litre 72-degree V10
TransmissionTyrrell six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power710 hp @ 15,000 rpm[1]
FuelElf
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsPIAA Tyrrell
Notable drivers20. Ricardo Rosset
21. Toranosuke Takagi
Debut1998 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
16000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

This was Tyrrell's last year in F1, as Ken Tyrrell had sold the team to British American Racing prior to the first race.[2] Paul Stoddart had almost bought the team prior to BAT's takeover, but the deal was done. Nevertheless, Stoddart's European Aviation sponsored the team and provided transportion during the season.[3]

Tyrrell left the team soon afterward BAT's takeover in anger, after Rosset was chosen to drive alongside Takagi, rather than 1997 Tyrrell driver Jos Verstappen. The team had a V10 engine and a reasonable chassis, but the season was seen as a holding year before BAR took over in 1999. The car retained the tower sidepod mounted wings introduced by Tyrrell the year before. The wings had been copied by other teams but were banned partway into the season.[4] The team was also disadvantaged by having an over-eager rookie in Takagi, who nevertheless showed flashes of potential, and Rosset, who proved to be too slow.[5]

Ken Tyrrell preferred to retain Verstappen but new team principal Craig Pollock signed Rosset due to his superior sponsorship money. Tyrrell was so incensed at this that he quit the team before the first race. His ire may not have been misplaced as Rosset failed the 107% qualifying cutoff on several occasions, and his performance at Monaco infuriated his mechanics so much that they defaced his paddock scooter, changing the letters in Rosset to spell tosser.[6]

The team was unclassified in the Constructors' Championship, with no points but behind Minardi due to the Italian team having a better finishing record.

Current locations

The two Tyrrells raced by Takagi and Rosset are currently owned by Dutchman Frits van Eerd. He races the cars in the EuroBOSS series.

Paul Stoddart bought most of the team's assets including the 026 chassis, which formed the basis of his Minardi two seater cars.[7]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1998 PIAA Tyrrell Ford V10 G AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN 0 NC
Ricardo Rosset Ret Ret 14 Ret DNQ DNQ 8 Ret Ret 12 DNQ DNQ DNS 12 Ret DNQ
Toranosuke Takagi Ret Ret 12 Ret 13 11 Ret Ret 9 Ret 13 14 Ret 9 16 Ret

References
  1. "Engine Ford Cosworth". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. Henry, Alan. "Tyrrell sells on team to new force". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. "Paul Stoddart attempts to enter the F1 before Minardi". 31 July 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. "New Tyrrell 026 Breaks Cover". Crash.net. 21 January 1998. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. "Toranosuke Takagi". Motor Sport Magazine. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. Noble, Jonathan (1998). "1998 FIA Formula 1 World Championship: Monaco GP". In Strang, Simon (ed.). Autosport Grand Prix Review 98. Haymarket Publications. p. 93.
  7. "The 2018 upgrade plan for a 20-year-old F1 car". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 21 January 2020.


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