Ferrari launch F10 Photos and Video

Scuderia Ferrari has officially launched the F10, the car with which it plans to enter and contest the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship.

After several weeks earlier announcing that the new car’s launch would be streamed online via Ferrari’s official website the new single-seater was officially unveiled in Maranello at the GT Assembly Line Pavilion around 10.30am today.

The new car has a lot of expectations to fulfill, both with the team and the tifosi; Ferrari having stopped development of the F60 (previous years contender) mid season having dubbed the car as difficult to drive and claiming it’s design could not be adapted fully to the multiple deck diffusers.

Ferrari F1 F10 Front

At the pre-launch speech, Ferrari supremo Luca di Montezemolo further raised expectation for the new car, suggesting that the car must become part of a “turning point” for Ferrari.  “This car must be a turning point!” said the Italian.

The F2010’s design is credited to Nicholas Tombazis, Ferrari’s chief designer and technical director Aldo Costa.  The same men who are recognized for designing several of Ferrari’s previous single-seaters.   Ferrari newly hired engine man, Luca Marmorini has contributed his part in working to solve Ferrari 056 engine’s fuel consumption woes.  Interviews with both men will be up shortly.

Ferrari F1 F10 Front Side Angle

Felipe Massa commented during the launch that he has all the hopes that this new Ferrari will be a championship contender.

Fernando Alonso commented that him and Felipe are “ready to bring the car to it’s full potential”.

Still though, unsubstantiated rumors originating from an Italian reporter writing for the German Press have claimed that the new car has failed to impress Maranello engineers with it’s windtunnel data; going as far as saying, that a B-spec version was already in the pans.

Ferrari F1 F10 Top

As with the launch ceremony, the post-event press conference with drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will also be streamed on the website. (Check back here for quotes and video)

The F10 in traditional and special Ferrari fashion, the car was scheduled for a ’shakedown’ of the chassis with a few laps around Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test track. Dubbed a promotional event by Ferrari in order to stay withing the FIA imposed F1 testing ban and following restriction guidelines, Felipe Massa would have had the honor of driving the car’s first laps.  The shakedown was called off however, due to ice covering parts of the track.

The  next step for the team will be to head to Valencia, Spain for the first week of testing along with a number of other outfits.  Felipe Massa will again drive the F10 on Monday while Fernando Alonso will be testing the new car on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ferrari also added, that the car that sees testing in Valencia will differ technically from the car we saw during the presentation.

The new Ferrari is a far departure from it predecessor the F60, featuring an RB5 (Red Bull) style nose, a unique rear repositioned oil tank and a much larger fuel tank designed around the 2010 no refueling rule.

The F10 also features a multiple deck diffuser, something that the old car could not fully take advantage of due to it’s inherent design.  In an effort to increase downforce, the entire rear end of the car from the rear crush structure to the suspension has been designed with the focus of maximizing the diffuser efficiency.

Ferrari have also made changes to the suspension of of the F60 in order to minimize the effect of fuel weight on ride height.

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