The first pictures of Ferrari’s new car for the 2019 F1 season have leaked online ahead of its official launch today.
The team finished second to Mercedes for the last two seasons and will be targeting nothing less than the championship with its new car, named the Ferrari SF90.Ferrari say the new car features a slimmer engine cover to improve its aerodynamic efficiency. This has been achieved by repositioning parts of the power unit’s ancillary components. The team describes the car’s air intake as being more similar to the design used on its 2016 car.
Other parts of the car follow the major 2019 rules changes which allow for a wider front wing and enlarged rear wing but also require shorter bargeboards.
Within the team there have been two significant changes ahead of 2019. Charles Leclerc has joined the driver roster alongside Sebastian Vettel, replacing outgoing driver Kimi Raikkonen.
There has been change at the top of the team as well. Former team principal Maurizio Arrivabene left Ferrari at the beginning of the year and has been replaced by Mattia Binotto.
[smr2018test]
Pictures: Ferrari reveals new SF90 for 2019
Video: Ferrari reveals new SF90 for 2019
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Tom
15th February 2019, 9:21
stop ruining it for everybody in this goddamn world
Jere (@jerejj)
15th February 2019, 9:26
The Mission Winnow logo on the rear wing is now grey instead of white as it was at the tail-end of last season. A bit of black on the front wing as well.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
15th February 2019, 9:29
@jerejj – yeah, I think they want to break that red/white association with Marlboro.
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 10:11
and they did a matte paint job, wasn’t expecting that
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
15th February 2019, 10:17
My thoughts too.
I would imagine it was planned to be white until Australia kicked off about PMI, and may return to white if and when the heat subsides.
That Alfa front wing has really thrown a spanner in the works this year. I still dont know what to make of it. It seems like a bad idea to me at first glance but then I’m Jon Snow when it comes to aerodynamics.
I still kinda hope it’s the Ferrari family stealing a march.
Maybe its tusk-nosed nonsense, maybe the others are bluffing and when the cars roll out at Catalunya they will all carry that design because it’s the optimal solution, or maybe its just Alfa playing games.
Whatever the answer is I can’t wait until Monday to find out
Oxnard (@montalvo)
15th February 2019, 11:39
My guess is that the Mission Minnow lettering will actually look white when daylight shines directly upon it.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
15th February 2019, 19:55
@fullcoursecaution – yeah, that does make a lot of sense!
@montalvo – if they’ve done that, that’ll be clever, and smart of you to have also thought of it.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
15th February 2019, 9:27
So, last year’s car with a front wing that holds between Alfa and Merc/RB.
Doubt this is what it’ll look like on Monday.
JFCVT
15th February 2019, 9:47
Wow, mate red it is, then. I, for one, like it and for once the italian press was right!
The car looks way too simple to be Melbourne-ready, IMHO. The front wing looks similar to the Alfa one and they went with Red Bull-style placements for the mirrors
On the sponsorship side, the lost Weichai and Singha (the latter was expected, as their logo was seen in the Alfa yesterday)
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 9:54
The McLaren nose? Not even McLaren uses that anymore, and they awful
GeeMac (@geemac)
15th February 2019, 10:06
Or maybe McLaren are so awful they don’t know they’d stumbled onto something good…
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 10:08
Doubt it that it would be the team that wrongfully developed their car for 3 months without noticing it that will uncover it
GeeMac (@geemac)
15th February 2019, 10:33
They did drop those rear wing strakes last season at just the time Mercedes and others started to use them, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
Lee1
15th February 2019, 10:18
The solution McLaren came up with for their nose could well have been very good for a particular purpose. They are likely not using it now because they need the nose to do something different, not because it was not a good solution to a particular problem. Ferrari likely now need to solve the same issue as McLaren did and so have used the same solution.
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 10:22
oh Lee, don’t me sensible. It is still the off season, don’t spoil my almost humour
Chris Lloyd (@chrisr1718)
15th February 2019, 10:49
Most of the cars still use that nose, or a variation of it. I think it’s only Mercedes and McLaren that don’t.
kkrzewniak
15th February 2019, 10:58
As noted by other’s Ferrari isn’t the only team using this design. Also if memory serves this is something they already used in 2018.
Iosif (@afonic)
15th February 2019, 10:00
Are we sure these are photos? Looks like a 3D rendering.
Johnny H.
15th February 2019, 15:23
You’re absolute correct, these are just renderings!
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
15th February 2019, 10:05
I’m torn here. Ferrari launch is undergoing now and the car is not yet unveiled. I’m sure if you decided to publish these renders you have good reason to think they’re true, but I would have preferred an article saying that there has bean a leak, without actually showing the pics.
GeeMac (@geemac)
15th February 2019, 10:12
There is a lot hidden in these renders so they are largely pointless from a technical point of view, but the livery looks great. Having the “MissionwindefinitelynotPhilipMorrisorMarlboro” logos in black/grey rather then white makes them a lot less jarring.
Jesper (@jesperfey13)
15th February 2019, 10:13
Looks like matte, I like it!
Piotr (@piotrzukowski)
15th February 2019, 10:15
The fact that Ferrari is the only team which leaked the visuals of the car before the official release is also a statement on the security quality / reliability of the staff.
SPIDERmaN (@spiderman)
15th February 2019, 10:23
it’s possible that this photo release is a planned leak by ferrari themselves…ahead to gauge reactions….these photos are too detailed…for mere leaks ….its a statement of some sort..
jhg103 (@joshgeake)
15th February 2019, 11:03
They literally do this every year
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
15th February 2019, 11:33
Then other website would have had them – I can’t go into detail how Keith acquired the pics, but le me assure you that this was no deliberate leak by Ferrari.
tony mansell
15th February 2019, 11:45
But they are all over the official f1 website…
Piotr (@piotrzukowski)
15th February 2019, 12:18
@dieterrencken
Which brings us back to my point.
Maybe it’s stereotyping the German reliability, but I somehow cannot imagine the pics of a Mercedes leaking before launch. It just shows how serious the company and its employees are about their business. At least one Ferrari employee must have decided that it is OK to jeopardize the Ferrari launch show (maybe it’s not a big deal, but anyway), and, what is perhaps more alarming, he/she must have felt comfortable enough to expect to get away with it.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
15th February 2019, 13:30
@piotrzukowski that’s because Merc is not red. Follow me: who is always responsible for every hacking occurring everywhere? Russians and Chinese. And which manufacturer do you think they’ll hack, someone who’s neutrality-grey as Mercedes? Or freedom-blue like Red Bull? Or COMMUNIST-RED?
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
15th February 2019, 14:19
@piotrzukowski that’s because it would go against the brand image Mercedes builds for themselves: as you said, ‘German reliability‘, seriousness, ‘you can trust us and our products‘; this is the way Mercedes wants you to see them. Ferrari, on the other hand, wants to be seeing as fun, desirable, passionate, ‘our fans are so anxious to see our new car they can’t wait a few hours‘ kind of brand. so it would make sense for them to “leak” images ahead of launch…
that said, if @dieterrencken assures us that he and Keith think this is a legitimate leak, I’m more than willing to trust them…
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
15th February 2019, 15:29
@arrows98 I had said it wasn’t a deliberate leak, I didn’t say anything about legitimate. Legitimate implies planned, and knowing what i do about how they were obtained, I know the leak was neither planed not deliberate.
Tony Mansell, yes they are now all over the website, but weren’t when we revealed them at 10am – they appeared on the website well over an hour later
Piotr (@piotrzukowski)
15th February 2019, 16:14
@arrows98 I never saw the Ferrari brand as a “fun” brand (compared to e.g. RedBull). If I were to name one immediate connotation with Ferrari, it would be exclusivity – and I believe this is what their marketing is actually trying to achieve (limited editions, offers to member of the Family of Ferrari owners etc.). And the exclusivity thought goes strongly against leaking pictures in advance to the scripted, prepared and exclusive show which was their launch.
Piotr (@piotrzukowski)
15th February 2019, 16:15
@m-bagattini You’re saying the reds are hacking themselves?
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
15th February 2019, 19:07
sorry @dieterrencken I meant legitimate in the sense that it was an actual leak, not a planned marketing exercise. deliberate would indeed be a better word for it.
@piotrzukowski Ferrari is such a weird brand: they certainly market a bit towards exclusivity but, at the same time, are more than willing to throw their brand on cheap perfumes. but you’re right, fun is not a good word for Ferrari; desirable would be much better, I think.
THOMF1S (@thomf1s)
15th February 2019, 10:16
I was kind of expecting a livery along the lines of Ducatis MotoGP bike…
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 10:31
May i NOW complain that Ferrari’s naming scheme is confusing?
F310
F310B
F300
F399
F1 2000
F2001
F2002
F2003-GA
F2004
F2005
248 F1
F2007
F2008
F60
F10
150° Italia
F2012
F138
F14T
SF15-T
SF16-H
SF70H
SF71H
SF90
Makes perfect sense, right?
VoiseyS (@voisey)
15th February 2019, 10:37
This year’s car may as well be called the P45…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
15th February 2019, 10:49
@mrboerns On the contrary, I like it. Not everything has to increment by one every year. Gives the cars a bit more identity.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 12:21
I would totaly agree @keithcollantine if it wasn’t for this bogus numbering scheme that makes you think there is some sort of system behind it. If you’re gonna be random about it, why not use names? Get crazy!
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
15th February 2019, 13:36
@mrboerns there is meaning behind those numbers, and names. It’s just not sequential.
It is confusing if you see the whole list. But confusing… about what? You’re not supposed to remember them, it’s not a street car, it’s a race car. I personally like, for instance, the -GA they added in memory of Gianni Agnelli. Or the 90 of this year’s anniversary.
SPIDERmaN (@spiderman)
15th February 2019, 14:04
just seen the ferrari advert fir the launch itself and it appears the 90 refers to the 90 years of ferrari existence this year.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 14:06
I think this years 90ies is particulary confusing, as we are just two years off the 70th anniversary and ten off the 60th. Yes i get that they refer to different dates but you gotta admit thats slightly messy. Also the jump from f60 to f10 to 150°. And then again counting sequentially for a bit. then again reverting to the ‘traditional’ capacity/cylinder scheme but never basically just shuffling those numbers around in some abitrary pattern.
Basically, the search for the true random number generator is at an end, just use the Ferrari naming formula from here on out. …can i apply for a turing award now?
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 14:10
Why don’t they just call it the ‘Mustagoafaster’ or whatever they call star destroyers in italian Star Wars
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 10:57
it makes perfect sense. Mercedes has been dominating the Hybrid era, so they scrapped the “H”. SF everybody knows what that means, and 90 is the amount of points that Vettel has to add to his current tally to win the championship.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
15th February 2019, 13:37
@johnmilk I see what you did here :D
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 14:08
You think noone is gonna go triple digit points this year? That is one couragous bet, but i guess the odds are quite rewarding
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 14:44
@mrboerns
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 14:55
@johnmilk
…which is zero
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 15:00
@mrboerns
last year’s, sorry! Damn when have you become so literal?
Asanator (@asanator)
15th February 2019, 10:58
Ferrari’s numbering system in general makes sense and is quite good if you know what you are looking for historically.
The number format usually changes when there is an engine change, the first year of the new format usually denotes a new engine. It went slightly arwry with the F14T which was open to public vote. It should have been F16T or F164T following tradition.
For Example:
412T – 4Valve V12 Transverse Gearbox
F310 – 3ltr 10cylinder
248 F1 – 2.4ltr 8cylinder
F14T (F16T) 1.6Ltr Turbo (the T later changed to H for Hybrid)
Unfortunately they have started including milestone numbers into the runs which confuses things a bit.
Asanator (@asanator)
15th February 2019, 10:59
Grr no Edit button!
Sorry the F14T should have been F164T (1.6ltr 4cylinder Turbo)
reh1v2.0 (@reh1v2-0)
15th February 2019, 16:58
You certainly wanted to say F166T (1.6ltr 6cylinder Turbo)?
Rockie
15th February 2019, 11:09
SF90 indacates 90 years of the scuderia team Nov 1929.
Ben (@scuderia29)
15th February 2019, 10:36
I’m not convinced that these are official
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
15th February 2019, 10:50
@scuderia29 They are.
Martin
15th February 2019, 10:46
God that engine intake looks tiny.
Sonny Crockett
15th February 2019, 10:54
Love the matt paint job.
JB (@)
15th February 2019, 10:57
Love the matte red and livery in general, need to see real photos for the rest of it.
isaac (@invincibleisaac)
15th February 2019, 11:26
Personally I’m a bit disappointed with the colour scheme. Just not a fan of the grey instead of the white, plus the halo looks very dull like last year’s Mercedes – would’ve preferred it to be red like last year. But so long as it’s fast it shouldn’t be an issue
kpcart
15th February 2019, 11:29
While it might look like the sauber front wing, it seems they are going with the same principal, with the out washing on ends.
tony mansell
15th February 2019, 11:46
They all have the boards on the end of the front wing. Its 2019 rule change no?
kpcart
15th February 2019, 12:14
What I meant to right, was ‘it might not look like the sauber’. I’m not talking about the end plate, but just before it how the elements are shaped (see how day drop towards end plates) . Alfa romeos is similar concept but more extreme.
kpcart
15th February 2019, 12:24
What I meant to ‘write’ geez..
chupamelachota racefans
15th February 2019, 12:05
after the sf14t the worst ferrari a have even seen
Joao (@johnmilk)
15th February 2019, 12:09
is that you Fred? come on don’t be rude. The filter only works in English I suppose
chupamelachota racefans
15th February 2019, 12:30
who’s fred??
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
15th February 2019, 13:41
Affectionate term for Alonso.
Not sure why as its not a direct nickname. Though I suppose Fernando comes from Ferdinand which is a bit more Freddy
kpcart
15th February 2019, 14:19
Why is he using it? I’ve read it before but don’t know why people call him that, it seems haters of him use it.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
15th February 2019, 14:59
What a question, because of all the Freddos he got to munch!
kpcart
15th February 2019, 12:12
No photo from the rear, maybe something funky going on like some are saying about mclaren diffuser, which was blacked out in renders. They seem to be moving forward towards the front wheel with the barge board area bits, which others aren’t doing (yet) but is now allowed in New rules.
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
15th February 2019, 12:17
Returning to black looks a lot better than I expected. not a fan of the grey tho
That airbox is intresting though. In an age where most teams use very large rounded opening, Ferrari have RETURNED to the old fashioned triangular opening.
Looks decently fast, bit more intresting colour scheme, probably gonna be quick. Let’s hope for the Tiffosi Vettel keeps it out of the wall and other cars and Leclerc gets the chance to perform
kpcart
15th February 2019, 12:32
More photos just released from the physical car at the launch, the side pod holes are reealy interestingly angled, I can’t tell but maybe up to 30% like they want air to come in from the sides and not just from straight infront. They aren’t seeming to bother with nose airducts.
jamt
15th February 2019, 12:54
No white… this year may be great for Ferrari :)
DC
15th February 2019, 13:45
These pictures are a smoke screen for sure!
SPIDERmaN (@spiderman)
15th February 2019, 14:04
just seen the ferrari advert fir the launch itself and it appears the 90 refers to the 90 years of ferrari existence this year.
Jeff
15th February 2019, 23:52
The fact that the yellow on the UPS, Shell, and Ferrari logo are all different yellows drives my OCD bonkers.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
16th February 2019, 14:48
Is that a Ferrari or a Mission Winnow car? So many ads on the car on every part…