Ferrari has become first team to unveil
its new 2016 Formula 1 car, the SF16-H, as it aims to push Mercedes to
the wire in the 2016 championship. The team opted for an online launch,
with team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, technical director James
Allison and drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on hand to
reveal the Scuderia's new challenger. The livery sports more white than
has been seen in recent years, predominantly on the engine cover and
front wing.
In terms of making
the car "properly competitive", according to Allison, Ferrari has opted
for changes in a number of areas. The nose is shorter and higher,
impacting positively on the aerodynamics, while after four years with a
pullrod suspension, the car is now fitted with a pushrod system. Ferrari
has worked on its power unit's architecture, making it tighter and
narrower, so influencing the engine cover, which again aids aero. The
engine team has also improved combustion, the turbo and air intake in a
bid to find more performance.
"Back in 2013, Ferrari was not at the
right level, the championship, except for maybe doing pitstops. We've
worked very hard on all of those areas. Last year was a decent step
forward and we hope this car will be another good step forward to make
us properly competitive. We have improved across the board. All our
hopes are in this car, and we can't wait to see it on the track."
Asked as to the car's prospects,
Arrivabene said:
"Normally I am not setting the objectives, my boss sets the objective
for the team. I think this year, we need to push a bit more. We would
like to fight until the end for the championship. I know that is not
going to be easy, because our competitors are not sleeping, but we are
committed to do our best."
Vettel still finished 105 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings, with Mercedes 275 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. That underlined the gap Ferrari still has to bridge to Mercedes this year if it is to consider itself a realistic title contender.
