Ferrari again tweaks name of 2011 F1 car

(GMM) Ferrari has tweaked the name of its 2011 car for a second time as a legal dispute with Ford ends.

American carmaker Ford, owning the "F-150" trademark for one of its full-size pickup truck models, launched legal action after Ferrari called its new formula one car F150.

Ferrari, however, responded by saying F150 was merely an abbreviation for the full name F150th Italia, in celebration of this year's anniversary of Italian unification.

Ford announced on Friday that it had called off the legal action but did not say why.

Some hours later, Ferrari admitted that it has now also dropped the 'F' prefix from the designation.

In Ferrari's always-cynical 'Horse Whisperer' website column, the team said it made the tweak "in order to avoid the slightest risk of anyone confusing a formula one car with a pickup truck".

"Let's hope the matter is now definitely closed," added the unnamed columnist, "and that we can concentrate on more serious matters".