Ferrari kicked off their 2013 Formula 1 campaign with the launch of their F138 machine.
The car was launched at their factory in Maranello, Italy. Members of the team and media gathered for the big reveal, which was also streamed online via their website.
Fernando
Alonso and Felipe Massa’s new toy is the 59th single seater created
by Ferrari. Its predecessor took Alonso to the runner-up spot in the
championship, the team finishing runners-up in the constructors too.
After the presentation the team’s two drivers revealed the new car to the world. Team Principal Stefano Domenicali described the car as an “evolution of last year’s car”, unlike rival team McLaren’s risky new design revealed on Thursday.
He continued at the launch, saying "The key objective is to immediately deliver a competitive car to the drivers,"
"Unfortunately in recent seasons we have not been able to get to the start of the season right on top of what we are doing like our competitors.
"We need to be competitive from the start of the season."
The team reported on the changes, saying 'The bodywork elements have been redesigned to allow for changes to the positioning and layout of the exhausts. The dynamic air intake, mounted above the cockpit has been redesigned, as have been the intakes to the side pods, which in turn have also been optimised in aerodynamic terms, while maintaining unchanged the overall cooling system.'The rear of the car is much narrower and more tapered on the lower part. The configuration of the front and rear wings derives directly from the last versions used on the F2012, partly because development of that car ran all the way to the final race of last season.'
Driver Felipe Massa, who goes in to his eighth Formula 1
season, said at the launch "It's always a good
feeling - the first feeling - to see the car. I've had many presentations
already in my career from Ferrari," Massa
said at the launch.
"I've some feelings that were not very positive in a few years, to see the car for the first time. Other years, it was very positive.
"I have to say that this is a very positive feeling. Maybe it's just my personal feeling but I think it was nice to see the car."
Alonso said at the big car reveal "I think the likelihood of seeing seven different race winners in the first seven races, like last year, will be impossible," he said.
"There will be a maximum of two or three teams battling for the title, and one of those will definitely be Ferrari."
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| (c) Ferrari |
The name of
the car symbolises the year, 2013, and the V8 engine that competes in its final
season this year.
The car was launched at their factory in Maranello, Italy. Members of the team and media gathered for the big reveal, which was also streamed online via their website.
Fernando
Alonso and Felipe Massa’s new toy is the 59th single seater created
by Ferrari. Its predecessor took Alonso to the runner-up spot in the
championship, the team finishing runners-up in the constructors too.
Felipe Massa
will be the first to drive the car at the first scheduled winter test at Jerez. He will share
duties with newly signed development driver Pedro De La Rosa, whilst Alonso
will wait till winter testing returns to Barcelona.
Before the
drivers uncovered the car, there was a short film highlighting the work and
dedication of the team and its employees since the sports inception in 1950.
The team also paid tribute to some of its most successful and iconic road cars.
After the presentation the team’s two drivers revealed the new car to the world. Team Principal Stefano Domenicali described the car as an “evolution of last year’s car”, unlike rival team McLaren’s risky new design revealed on Thursday.
He continued at the launch, saying "The key objective is to immediately deliver a competitive car to the drivers,"
"Unfortunately in recent seasons we have not been able to get to the start of the season right on top of what we are doing like our competitors.
"We need to be competitive from the start of the season."
The most notable
difference to the cars appearance is the absence of the stepped nose. They
Italian icons decided to fit the “vanity panel”, covering the step in the nose
and creating a more elegant front end. The team are hoping that the beauty will
take either Alonso or Massa,
who has a newly extended 1 year contract, to the title in 2013.
The car’s
livery has also evolved, with splashes of black decreasing the red dominance. The
F138 continues to use the pull rod front suspension, a feature McLaren have
nabbed from their rivals. The team also debuted a new sponsor from China, Weichai Power.
The team reported on the changes, saying 'The bodywork elements have been redesigned to allow for changes to the positioning and layout of the exhausts. The dynamic air intake, mounted above the cockpit has been redesigned, as have been the intakes to the side pods, which in turn have also been optimised in aerodynamic terms, while maintaining unchanged the overall cooling system.'The rear of the car is much narrower and more tapered on the lower part. The configuration of the front and rear wings derives directly from the last versions used on the F2012, partly because development of that car ran all the way to the final race of last season.'
Ferrari last
won the drivers championship in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, whilst the last time
they lifted the constructor’s trophy was in 2008.
"I've some feelings that were not very positive in a few years, to see the car for the first time. Other years, it was very positive.
"I have to say that this is a very positive feeling. Maybe it's just my personal feeling but I think it was nice to see the car."
Alonso said at the big car reveal "I think the likelihood of seeing seven different race winners in the first seven races, like last year, will be impossible," he said.
"There will be a maximum of two or three teams battling for the title, and one of those will definitely be Ferrari."
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