Ferrari have unveiled the car they hope will end a decade-long Formula 1 title drought in 2019.
Ferrari lost out to Mercedes in 2018 despite having a faster car at least as many times as their rivals, after a series of errors by Sebastian Vettel and the team.
The wait is over! Here is the #SF90#essereFerrari pic.twitter.com/xMUjIQ5MC5
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 15, 2019
Team work! #essereFerrari #SF90 #ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/D7cgfufehn
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 15, 2019
With a new driver line-up of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, plus a new team principal Mattia Binotto – who, having been with Ferrari since 1995, moves up from his role as Chief Technical Officer to replace Maurizio Arrivabene – change was in the air at the official presentation of the new car at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, just outside of Maranello.
Leclerc is set to become the youngest driver to race for Ferrari since Ricardo Rodriguez, off the back of a stellar rookie season with Sauber, which saw him earn the nod to replace Scuderia stalwart Kimi Raikkonen for 2019.
He’ll be alongside a Sebastian Vettel looking to equal Lewis Hamilton’s five world titles this season by claiming his first drivers’ championship since 2013.
Ferrari team boss Binotto says the team has tried to be as “extreme” as possible with its new SF90 Formula 1 car.
The Maranello team has improved to become a regular challenger to Mercedes over the past two seasons but is still bidding to end a title drought that stretches more than a decade.
Ferrari’s new car, the SF90 to commemorate the manufacturer’s 90th anniversary in 2019, has been revealed in a red and black livery.
Their greatest rivals Mercedes, who have dominated the F1 turbo-hybrid era by winning all the five seasons have on Wednesday launched a new car AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+.
The new car has an improved power unit and the car has been designed around new regulations aimed at making the racing closer by reducing the disruption caused to the aerodynamics of a car following another.
Five-time and defending champion Lewis Hamilton aims to become just the second driver in history to win six world titles when the season start in Melbourne, Australia on March 17.