Ferrari show off new SF1000 car with a touch of theater

Baku, February 12, AZERTAC

Ferrari showed off their 2020 Formula One car with a theatrical show of pride and passion on Tuesday, assuring success-starved fans that it was also very different under the skin to last year’s model, according to Reuters.

The SF1000, marking the Italian team’s 1,000th race that comes up this year, is the car Ferrari hope can end six years of Mercedes domination and dash Lewis Hamilton’s bid to equal Michael Schumacher’s record seven titles.

If the red machine looked superficially similar under the stage lights to the 2019 version, team principal Mattia Binotto said appearances were deceptive.

“We have been as extreme in all the concepts as we could,” he told a global audience watching as the car made its appearance on stage at Reggio Emilia’s opulent Romolo Valli opera house.

“The entire car, power unit, has been packaged to have a very narrow and slim body shape.

“It may look very similar to last year but, believe me, it’s completely different and a lot of the concepts are very extreme,” added the Swiss-born Italian, who is starting his second year at the helm.

Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, on stage with 22-year-old Monegasque team mate Charles Leclerc, gave it his immediate seal of approval.

“I like it a lot,” said the German, who also showed off his Italian in addressing the audience. “And it’s a little bit more red than last year.”

Ferrari last won a drivers’ title with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and a constructors’ championship in 2008.

The season starts in Australia on March 15.