FERRARI: THE NEW SF-23 UNVEILED

On February 14, Ferrari unveiled the new SF-23, the single-seater from the Maranello stable set to hit the track for the 2023 F1 championship, now just around the corner. The news of its presentation, followed by the subsequent show, created a stir among fans of the Prancing Horse, but also brought pressure.

And rightly so, as last season was more positive for Ferrari compared to previous years: the team returned to victory. However, what began with high hopes ended in disappointment, leaving the realization that perhaps the pit wall lacked the experience and prestige of rivals such as Red Bull and Mercedes.

The two drivers expressed high praise for the new car, whose design takes inspiration from last year’s model but incorporates numerous innovations. Why be optimistic? Because it stems from a strong foundation (the F1-75) and is not merely an evolution. It marks the culmination of a process, with targeted interventions primarily in two areas.

One of last year’s car’s weak points—reliability—should now be resolved. The engine, which in 2022 never operated at full power and was later downgraded to conservative mappings following failures in Barcelona and Baku with Leclerc, and in Austria with Sainz, is expected to deliver an increase of at least 20 horsepower without breaking.

The other major flaw was the performance drop-off during race pace compared to qualifying, particularly evident in the latter half of the season: the rear tires tended to wear quickly in slow corners due to lateral sliding caused by a lack of aerodynamic load. To address this issue, extensive research on the underbody was required to better utilize airflow and improve grip at low speeds, without compromising performance at high speeds. This process involved gradual steps, utilizing simulators and wind tunnel tests, with a series of aerodynamic tweaks invisible to the naked eye.

For the unveiling, Ferrari made no secret of its ambitions, conducting laps at Fiorano with both drivers. While these were not proper tests and no conclusions can be drawn, Leclerc’s radio message to Sainz, saying, “I’m not letting you take it,” referring to a driver switch during the laps, offers hope for a strong season.

A reflection is necessary, though: it’s true that the atmosphere at Ferrari is different. Binotto is gone, replaced by a daring Vasseur, who appears very optimistic and enthusiastic about this season. However, Vasseur’s contribution to the development of the SF-23 has been minimal, as most of the work was done during the previous season under the direction of former TP Mattia Binotto. This doesn’t imply inefficiency—in fact, quite the opposite—but it does mean that Vasseur cannot be blamed for potential shortcomings in the car’s development.

Another consideration is that Mercedes appears to be in form this year, judging by the end of last season. Lewis Hamilton, coming off the first winless season of his career, will be highly motivated, and early rumors suggest the German team could be the true surprise of the season. It is unlikely they will falter for two consecutive years, presenting Ferrari with another serious competitor for the title. Under a Ferrari presentation post, Mercedes even teased the team. Yet the stakes remain open, and only time will tell.

Finally, presenting the car on Valentine’s Day may not be a coincidence—perhaps it’s a sign that fans will fall madly in love with the SF-23.

By Antonio Spampinato