Brendan Lines

February 12, 2020

Ferrari lifted the covers off its 2020 challenger the SF1000 in spectacular fashion at a launch ceremony near their Maranello factory last night.

A grand entrance – Image F1.com

So far Ferrari’s rivals’ 2020 livery and car launches have been very tame by comparison. Last nights ceremony was a throwback to the halcyon days pre the Global Financial Crisis when teams were more liberal with their budgets.

But it is with good reason the arrival of the SF1000 was heralded by the swell of an orchestra and Ballet dancers.

As the aptly named SF1000 will compete in Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix later this year.

1000th race in 2020: Image-F1.com

But the real significance of this Ferrari is; it could be the car that finally topples Mercedes for the Drivers and Constructors World Championship.

Team Principle Mattia Binotto spoke at the event about the SF1000’s development.
“The starting point was the car of last year, the SF90,” said Binotto. “But certainly we have been extreme on the concept as much as we could… It may look similar to last year but it’s completely different to the one of last year, and a lot of the concepts are very extreme on [the SF1000],” he said.

Drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc’s first outing head-to-head with Mercedes will be at the Australian Grand Prix in March.

It’s hoped the SF1000 will adapt more quickly to the Albert Park circuit than its SF90 predecessor, which Vettlel and Leclrec finished fouth and fifth respectively.

Vettel said to F1.com that the team and more importantly the drivers are united after the ‘blow-up’ in Brazil last year.
“We both learned the lesson what happened in Brazil,” he said.

“We are free to race but we are also team mates. A lot of people [work] on the car, we are a team, and things in Brazil shouldn’t happen. I’ve learned from it. The margins will probably be a bit bigger.”

The SF1000 will make its track debut at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya for pre-season testing on February 16.