Ferrari has just taken the wraps off their challenger for the 2023 Formula 1 season, the SF-23, with a grandiose live reveal and shakedown at their own Fiorano test track. Wearing a familiar black and red color scheme with a twist, the car looks to be as fast as it is pretty.
The SF-23 will be driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, a duo who has been present with the team since 2021, making them one of the most established pairings on the grid. Combined with this new car, Ferrari hopes to recapture the championship odds that slipped from their grasp last year.
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Photos Ferrari
The 2023 car dons a familiar livery — a solid red base paired with black wings like last year — but there are some memorable updates. Most notably, there are sections of bare carbon on the shark fin and nose cone, serving as extra black accents to complement the red. In addition, the end plates of the front and rear wings are now red compared to last year’s black, and the formerly blank top face of the rear wing now features the “Long F” Ferrari logo.
Design-wise, the SF-23 may look similar to last year’s F1-75, but Ferrari ensures us the mechanical changes are significant. “Our 2023 car is an evolution of the one we raced last year, but in reality, it has been completely redesigned,” said Enrico Cardile, Ferrari’s Head of Chassis Area. “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.”
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Photos Ferrari
While other teams have been simply revealing their liveries for 2023, or at most the actual car, Ferrari actually took the SF-23 out on track as part of the unveiling, something they haven’t done since 2017. Both Leclerc and Sainz got the chance to test the SF-23 around Fiorano, with both having much praise for its speed and driving dynamics.
On his part, newly appointed team principal Frederic Vasseur said: “Over the past five weeks, I have had the chance to get to know many members of our team. We have a great group of people here and it is clear that motivation is high throughout the team… Our objective is to win the championship, which will not be an easy task as our competitors will have exactly the same target in mind. We have to bring the right mindset with us and always work on being better tomorrow than we are today.”
Mercedes and Alpine are now the only who have yet to reveal their 2023 cars, their launch dates being February 15 and 16 respectively.
