Ferrari unveiled their 2023 Formula 1 car, the SF-23, in front 500 passionate Tifosi at Maranello as they look to end their 15-year wait for a championship.
Most prominent is the Ferrari name on the back of the black rear wing, which will be on the car at each of the 23 Grand Prix, beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3-5.
Both drivers drove the new car following the launch at Ferrari‘s test track in Fiorano, with Charles Leclerc taking to the wheel first to complete two laps.
“I can’t wait for the season,” said Leclerc. “2022 was a good step forward compared to the two difficult years in 2020 and 2021.
“We’ve done a great job working on it [the new car] and trying to address the weaknesses that we had on this car and hopefully it will be better.
“The goal is to win. The feeling of winning is what motivates me and all the team. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car and hopefully getting that championship.”
Ferrari finished second in the constructors’ championship to Red Bull in 2022 after their title challenge fell apart in the middle of the season.
During that period, Carlos Sainz won his maiden F1 race at the British GP and is embarking on his third season with Ferrari.
A coin toss decided that the Spaniard would drive the new car second, but would have three laps in the SF-23.
“It’s been a long winter for us,” said Sainz. “We had a full December to debrief the year, have a holiday but immediately on January 1 my body was asking to go racing again.
“Obviously a lot of preparation, a lot of tie spent in Italy since the second week of January, training, spending time with my engineers.
“We actually did a test here in an old here in Fiorano. We are as prepared and charged up as we can be.”
