Ferrari has unveiled their car for the 2023 Formula 1 championship challenge, the SF-23, as they look to end their championship drought. The Italian team was joined by their drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, and new team boss Fred Vasseur, as they unveiled the car from their Maranello base.
The car was painted in a striking red and black livery, with the latter a common theme of this launch season as teams look to save weight. Both drivers took the car out onto the nearby Fiorano circuit for its first laps.
Ferrari is looking to build on their improved form of 2020, where they finished second in the championship behind Red Bull, in a bid to become champions of Formula 1 for the first time since 2007.
Both drivers, Leclerc and Sainz, have already shown their potential in the F1 championship. Leclerc proved himself a front-runner last season despite falling well short of the title-winner Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Sainz finally won his first race, giving the team a much-needed boost.
Leclerc, who is entering his third season on the team, was enthusiastic about the new car and its chances of success. “Our Valentine is our new car,” he said, referring to the car’s name, ‘SF-23’. The team will be looking to make the most of their improved form and use the SF-23 to challenge for both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships in 2023.
With the increased competition from Mercedes and Red Bull, it will be a tough challenge, but Ferrari is hopeful that their new car and drivers can help to end their championship drought. Only time will tell if the SF-23 is the car that can take Ferrari back to the top of Formula 1.
With the season set to start in March, the team will be hoping that the SF-23 can help them to challenge for the championship and end their long wait for silverware.