Ferrari steals spotlight from Mercedes with new F1 launch

By Farzana Chaumoo

There’s a little under two months to the start of the 2018 FIA Formula One season, and pre-season announcements are heating up.

Reigning Formula 1 champion, Mercedes, revealed their new car that will compete in the 2018 season. Team boss Toto Wolff said the Mercedes F1 W09 EW Power+ doesn’t have major changes as the regulations have remained stable. The most visible change is aerodynamic, and how tight the packaging and bodywork is.

However, the new challenger has been improved upon in all aspects over its predecessor, and is said to be pushing technological boundaries. The team has described its W09 EW Power+ as “the most advanced machine ever conceived by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport”. In addition, it’s also the fastest Mercedes Formula One car in history.

When questioned about their main rivals, Wolff answered: “It’s very dangerous before the season has started to reduce our major competitors to one or two teams. Ferrari is very strong; Red Bull is very strong. I’m curious to see how McLaren will perform with the Renault engine. The step up of the (Renault) works team itself will be interesting to see. Williams has gone quite radical, so I think you have to take everybody seriously."

Piloting the two W09 EQ Power+ F1 entries for Mercedes this season will be Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

Ferrari’s new F1 entry

Following the Mercedes pre-season launch announcement, Scuderia came with their new 2018 Ferrari SF71H red bombshell, a car the Ferrari F1 team is hoping will end four years of Mercedes dominance.

From Sky Sports notes, the 2018 car has improvements in the form of its sidepods and cooling system, and there’s a longer wheelbase underneath, growing a lot closer to that of the competing Mercedes car. The rest of the changes are all under the engine cover.

The SF71H is powered by Ferrari’s new single-turbo 90-degree V6 062 Evo engine, described by Jalopnik as “1600cc of fury”, combined with a 4 Megajoule hybrid system. Top-class hybrid Le Mans prototypes make use of double that, but seemingly that’s enough for F1.

The SF71H’s engine is mated to a semi-automatic 8-speed Ferrari transmission that includes a reverse gear and ultra-fast electronically controlled paddle shifts. Furthermore, to help maximize traction, there’s a hydraulically controlled limited-slip differential.

For interest’s sake, Ferrari’s new F1 car rides on 13-inch Brembo wheels with ventilated carbon-disc Brembo brakes, controlled through a brake-by-wire system. The car is also built on a chassis constructed with an ultralight carbon fiber and honeycomb composite structure.

Ferrari drivers were asked about the car, and naturally, they were excited to get out on the track to see how the car performs and behaves.

Many are questioning Raikkonen’s form, as he remains the last driver to win a world championship for Ferrari, especially since Formula 2 champion and young Ferrari development driver Charles Leclerc is stepping up to the Sauber F1 team. However, he looked composed and confident on stage at the launch.

"It looks nice, and usually when it looks nice, there’s speed also, but obviously we will see that next week at the upcoming test," Raikkonen said. "Last night, I saw it for the first time in one piece. We get to try it soon and that’s when we really see what it is and what it can do."

2017 championship runner-up Sebastian Vettel commented saying, "Some minor things change every year, but the chassis is mostly a development - and now is obviously the time where you see the car, it’s all ready, so you want to get in, go out on the track and have a go".

The pressure is on for Ferrari as they take on the championship hunt. Last year it was close – until it seemed like they hit ‘self-destruct’ in Singapore. It’s going to be an exciting season.