Tyrrell 025
| Industry | Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Products | Formula One car |
The Tyrrell 025 participated in the 1997 Formula One World Championship with drivers Mika Salo from Finland, marking his third year with Tyrrell, and Dutch racer Jos Verstappen, who transferred from Footwork.
Development
Building upon the design of the previous year's 024, the 025 transitioned from Yamaha V10 power units to more dependable Ford V8 engines, opting for reliability over outright horsepower. Among its technical advancements was a single-plane front wing aimed at enhancing airflow beneath the chassis. On circuits demanding high downforce, such as Monaco, the car featured unique "X-wing" aerodynamic appendages adjacent to the cockpit—painted yellow for Verstappen and dark orange for Salo. These devices increased downforce but were prohibited from the 1998 season onwards due to concerns over pitlane safety after multiple teams adopted similar features.
Race history
The 1997 campaign was underwhelming for Tyrrell. Despite having a well-balanced chassis, capable drivers, and sound race tactics, intensified competition meant the team primarily contended with fellow V8-powered outfit Minardi. Although the 025 demonstrated a closer pace to front-runners compared to the previous season, qualifying and race results saw the team fall further behind.
Tyrrell's sole points came courtesy of Mika Salo's clever no-stop strategy at the 1997 Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished fifth despite sustaining front wing damage. These points would be Tyrrell's last in Formula One, as Ken Tyrrell sold the team to British American Tobacco, which rebranded it as British American Racing for the following season. Paul Stoddart, who later owned Minardi, was a major sponsor and nearly took ownership of Tyrrell himself, proposing an extensive three-year technical development plan that included building an in-house wind tunnel and utilizing his European Aviation fleet for logistics; however, the BAR acquisition was already completed.
The team concluded the year tenth in the Constructors' Championship with two points.
Livery
The 025 sported a white and black color scheme reflecting its principal sponsor, PIAA, which returned after previously backing Tyrrell in 1991. During the British Grand Prix, Tyrrell promoted Xena: Warrior Princess, while the rear wing carried branding for NRG Energy Drink.