It was a St. Valentine’s Day to recollect for Scuderia Ferrari followers worldwide. At round lunchtime, the SF-23, the Maranello marque’s challenger for the approaching Formula 1 season, was unveiled on the firm’s Fiorano observe. It is the 69th automobile constructed by Ferrari to compete in motor racing’s blue riband class, which begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 5 March.
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Fans within the stands. The day was filled with surprises, beginning with the presence of 500 followers in a grandstand specifically erected on the Fiorano observe, making this the very first launch to be staged after two years of digital automobile displays. Before the launch, the drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz greeted the group, together with many members of the assorted Scuderia Ferrari Clubs and college students from Muner, the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna, and a few from the Alfredo Ferrari Higher Education Institute, together with their academics.
Car on observe. The SF-23, whose title marks a return to the format of the Scuderia Ferrari initials mixed with the yr of competitors, as has been the case for many of the hybrid period, was first seen on video. But then got here the announcement that, for the primary time since 2017, the automobile would truly take to the observe on launch day. Which of the 2 drivers would get behind the wheel first was determined by Fred Vasseur tossing a particular coin, with Leclerc’s and Sainz’s race numbers- 16 and 55 – one on all sides. Charles received and drove the SF-23 for its first couple of laps, whereas Carlos bought his flip shortly afterwards.
Special livery. The SF-23 livery options some components in bare carbon, whereas the historic “long F” emblem seems on the rear wing. The purple color can also be model new, created by Ferrari Design: a matt model of the Formula 1 automobile, and shiny on the 499P Hypercar, which makes its endurance racing debut this yr.
Charles Leclerc #16
Our complete crew has put quite a lot of work into this new automobile, and seeing it in entrance of us for the primary time feels superb. It implies that the beginning of the season may be very shut, which is all the time an thrilling second.
It felt nice to drive it right here at Fiorano right this moment, sharing the expertise with our Tifosi and companions. We nonetheless have to attend for the primary laps of testing to make actual assessments.
Our goal for the season will likely be to do even higher than final season, convey house extra victories and be extra constant. The greatest objective will likely be to win each championships, and we’ll do every little thing to attain this.
Carlos Sainz #55
Having the possibility to unveil the automobile in entrance of our Tifosi has been nice, as that is my first launch occasion in entrance of an viewers since I joined the Scuderia. I wish to thank everybody who has joined us on such a big day, each right here and on-line worldwide.
This automobile outcomes from everybody on the crew’s ardour and onerous work throughout the previous months, and it definitely appears like one other step ahead. Our objective can’t be aside from to maintain pushing ahead and making an attempt to convey house extra race wins, being aggressive and combating for the World Championships. I can’t wait to hit the observe in Bahrain and get this new season going!
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal
Over the previous 5 weeks, I’ve had the possibility to get to know many crew members. We have an incredible group of individuals right here, and it’s clear that motivation is excessive all through the crew.
Today we launch SF-23, our 2023 contender, with our companions and Tifosi, and I’m delighted with how the automobile appears. I really like the purple and the ‘Effe Lunga’ that spans throughout the rear wing, reminding us of our heritage. Our focus will quickly shift to a different side, which is its pace and efficiency. We have two proficient drivers who’re each desirous to win and have the talents to attain this.
Our goal is to win the championship, which is not going to be simple as our rivals may have the identical goal in thoughts. We should convey the appropriate mindset and all the time work on being higher tomorrow than we’re right this moment.
Enrico Cardile, Head of Chassis Area
Our 2023 automobile is an evolution of the one we raced final yr, nevertheless it has been utterly redesigned. On the aerodynamic aspect, we elevated vertical downforce to adapt additional to the brand new aero rules and obtain the specified stability traits. The suspension has additionally been redesigned to help aerodynamics and enhance the vary of changes that may be made to the automobile on the observe.
The most blatant adjustments are within the entrance suspension space, the place we’ve moved to a low-track rod. The entrance wing can also be totally different, as is the development of the nostril, whereas the bodywork is a extra excessive model of what we noticed final season.
Enrico Gualtieri, Head of Power Unit Area
Preparation work for the brand new season is normally one of many busiest instances of the yr, and this winter was no exception. PUs have been frozen since final yr, together with fluids, oil and gasoline, and the one modifications allowed are these associated to reliability, which was our Achilles Heel final season.
We targeted on the interior combustion engine and the electrical motors. At the identical time, we tried to capitalise on the expertise gained on observe final season and checked out all of the suggestions and indicators of weak spot from the PU elements we used. We additionally revised our meeting procedures.
We tried to grasp the basis causes of the issues we encountered on observe and used all our accessible instruments to try to remedy them. It concerned all areas, from design to experimentation, to check new options rapidly. The work by no means ends, based mostly on steady enchancment of the elements to try to attain the required stage of reliability.
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