Ferrari launch new car; make the F1 title their 2016 target

Reuters: Ferrari showed off what they hope will be a Mercedes-beating car last week with the target of fighting for the Formula One championship right to the end of the season.

While world champions Mercedes had their 2016 car running for the first time at a grey Silverstone circuit for a private filming day, Ferrari revealed their red and white SF16-H car in an online presentation.

Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, who last year set a target of three victories after the sport’s most successful team failed to win anything in 2014, set the bar considerably higher this time.

Four times champion team mate Sebastian Vettel who won his titles with Red Bull and joined Ferrari last year, said he couldn’t wait to get the brand new car out on the circuit.

“I think first of all it looks beautiful. As Maurizio touched on there has been a lot of work going on and I think it is very, very exciting times. To really define my impressions we will have to wait and go on the track but now I think it is a beautiful car and should be a decent step up,” said the German during the online presentation.

“Naturally our goals are growing. I think we have a fantastic year last year, obviously my first season with the team. Naturally we all want more: last year we finished second overall in the constructors (championship) so there is only one more step, which is a difficult one to take, but hopefully this car hopes us achieve it,” he added.

Ferrari have not won a driver’s title since Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, who is still with the team, won in 2007. They were last constructors’ champions in 2008.

The Finn, now 36 and the oldest driver on the starting grid, wanted another shot at a championship.

“Obviously, for myself I want to do well and win races and fight for championships so let’s see what we can do. Obviously, it is very early days and we haven’t run the car yet, not even a single lap, so we wait and see how we go with testing and then go from there but I am sure we will be ready for the start of the year,” said Raikkonen.

Arrivabene hopes the team will be able to close the gap on Mercedes this year.

“Our competitors, especially Mercedes that are the first in class, they are not waiting for us to beat them. But, I think that we try to do our best. For sure, we are not going to the races to play. We want to go to the races to put our red car - red and white this year - in front of the others. But, I recognise that our competitors, especially Mercedes, they are very, very strong,” said the Italian.

The new Ferrari F1 car SF16-H in Fiorano, Italy – REUTERS