Fighting back: Ferrari guns for 2023 F1 championship with SF-23

MANILA: On Valentine’s Day at their Maranello facility, Ferrari became the eighth team to unveil their brand-new car and livery for the 2023 season. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of the Ferrari F1 Team, as well as new Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, offered fans their first look at the SF-23, which is once more finished in their signature red.

Ferrari — which is vying for their first constructors' championship since 2008 — will be hoping that the SF-23 will be the vehicle that enables them to move up from runners-up in 2022 to champions in 2023.

When Ferrari unveiled the all-new SF-23, it appears to have stuck with the team’s approach from the previous year. According to Formula 1, Scuderia has concentrated on enhancing rather than completely reworking their design.

Last year, Ferrari had a vehicle quick enough to win 12 pole positions, four more than Red Bull, the champion. The sport noted that the new SF-23 "bears a very close resemblance to last year's car, which is perhaps not so surprising."

Ferrari concentrated on the main issue that weakened the title campaign from the previous season, which was thought to be the reliability of the power unit, for the Formula 1 2023 season. The PU operated in detuned state for the remainder of the season after the multiple retirements in the 2022 F1 Baku Grand Prix as the team undertook the protracted project of strengthening the ERS-H system.

The power unit may now be securely operated in the more aggressive manner it was in the early part of last season when it was the most potent unit on the grid, according to the belief. This work was finished over the winter.

Ferrari must believe that this, along with the modifications they have made to the chassis, will be sufficient to compete with Red Bull for a little bit longer than they did in 2022.

"Our 2023 car is an evolution of the one we raced last year, but in reality, it has been completely redesigned," said Head of Chassis Area Enrico Cardile as he outlined the changes. "On the aerodynamic side, we increased vertical downforce to adapt further to the new aero regulations and achieve the desired balance characteristics. The suspension has also been redesigned, to support aerodynamics and increase the range of adjustments that can be made to the car at the track.

Leclerc, who led the championship last season until Round 6 in Spain, where a DNF caused him to slip behind Max Verstappen, indicated he was considering a rematch this year.

“I can’t wait, I can’t wait. I mean 2022 was a good step forward compared to the difficult years that were 2020 and 2021, but we finished second in the constructors’ championship and also finished second in the drivers’ championship,” Leclerc said.

“I’m really looking forward to this new car and I think we’ve done a great job working on it and trying to address the weaknesses that there were in this car. Hopefully it will be better but the goal is to win, clearly. I mean the feeling of winning is what motivates me, motivates all the team too, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car and hopefully try and win that championship.”

Photos from Formula 1

Also read:

Ford returns to F1 as power unit supplier to Red Bull in 2026

David Beckham’s Ferrari 360 Spider goes on sale for £110K

Alfa Romeo's 2023 Formula 1 car poised to boost team in constructors standings