A few days after unveiling the new SF-23 single seater, Ferrari unleashed it on the track for the purpose of capturing promotional photo and video footage. Interestingly, two examples of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio undertook camera car duties, looking small and bouncy compared to the menancing F1 that was chasing them.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is widely considered as one of the most driver-focused models in its segment, but as is the case with all production vehicles – let alone SUVs – it comes nowhere close to the power and handling of a Formula 1 single-seater. As you can see in the video below, the SUV is going flat-out, while the F1 goes as slow as possible, with some lightning quick maneuvers aiming for a more dramatic look to the resulting footage.
Read: F1’s Carlos Sainz Buys His First Car After Driving A VW Golf His Parents Bought Him 9 Years Ago
The video was uploaded by Varryx on his YouTube and Instagram profiles, showing the unconventional vehicle combination in action. The red Stelvio is a humble Veloce – most likely with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS). On the other hand, the stealthy camera car with the roof-mounted crane and the non-reflective black wrap is based on the performance-focused Quadrifoglio featuring the 2.9-liter bi-turbo V6 producing 503 hp (375 kW / 510 PS) in stock form. While none of them could rival the monstrous output of the electrified F1 powertrain, the extra oomph of the latter comes handy to battle the added weight from all the filming equipment.
Despite its higher center of gravity, the SUV bodystyle is beneficial for vehicles with camera duties. Those cars often accommodate photographers in the trunk, and need to have enough space for camera and sound operators inside the cabin. The only model from Maranello that complies with those guidelines is the Ferrari Purosangue, although its high cost and limited availability don’t make it a great fit for the role.
All of the F1 teams have unveiled their single seaters for the 2023 season, ahead of their racing debut at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 3. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be driving the Ferrari SF-23 this year, with the former sitting behind the wheel for the promo video shootout.