Formula One: Ferrari unveil new car 'SF90' ahead of 2019 Championship as they aim to end decade-long title drought

Maranello: Ferrari unveiled its new Formula One car on Friday, one that it hopes can finally end its title drought. [caption id=“attachment_6094221” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Team principal Mattia Binotto and drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc were on stage for the presentation of the car, which has been named SF90 to commemorate the Italian manufacturer’s 90th anniversary in 2019. They were joined by Ferrari chairman John Elkann and CEO Louis Camilleri. “The car embodies the latest state of the art technology, reflects the new regulations for the coming season and is the fruit of the combined enormous work and talent of everyone in the Scuderia,” Camilleri said. The new matte livery radiates the classic Ferrari red, with splashes of black and hardly any white. “I’m really excited and I can’t wait to get in. I’m looking forward to this year. I think the team is on the right path and hopefully we can continue improving,” Vettel said. Vettel won the opening two races of the 2018 season and took pole position in three of the first four but Ferrari’s performance waned as the year went on, enabling Mercedes to win a fifth straight drivers’ title with Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari hasn’t won a title since taking the 2008 constructors’ championship, while Kimi Raikkonen claimed the team’s last driver’s title back in 2007.

The wait is over! Here is the #SF90#essereFerrari pic.twitter.com/xMUjIQ5MC5

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 15, 2019

“Last season was our best in the last 10 years, yet we fell short of our objectives. Such a setback is never easy to swallow, but I assure you we look ahead with strong commitment and determination,” Camilleri said. It is Vettel’s fifth season with Ferrari but Leclerc’s first after replacing Raikkonen. “I’m extremely excited to start this new adventure. It’s a dream since I was a child. It’s a very emotional day for me,” Leclerc said. Binotto has also been promoted from chief technical officer, taking over from Maurizio Arrivabene. The season opens on 17 March at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.