Binotto: the SF71H “an evolution” of its predecessor

After a blank 2016 campaign, the venerable Italian team bounced back last year to emerge as the main rival of Mercedes, reigning four-time world champions. The stability of the technical regulation has prompted Ferrari to build on the strengths of its previous chassis while improving its weak points.

« The new car represents an evolution of last year's car, said Binotto during the presentation of the SF71-H. We tried to maintain its strong points, first and foremost some aggressive aerodynamic concepts. The 2017 car performed very well on slow circuits. We tried to make its successor stronger on fast tracks as well. Reliability was also at the heart of our concerns (Ferrari experienced a series of engine problems in the second half of the season, editor's note).

The main difference is a longer wheelbase as well as more aggressive sidepod air intakes. The team did a superb job of making the whole thing even more compact. There are a lot of changes under the body as well. The most visible modification from the outside remains the Halo, which is a very intrusive element in the design since it has an impact on the mass of the car, its center of gravity, as well as the flow of flow towards the box air and rear wing. »

Ten years after its last world title, Ferrari hopes that its new optimized mount, which also features a low-positioned T-wing at the rear, will allow it to finally return to the top.