Sport - Italy

Ferrari unveils its new Formula One car

Article published on the 2009-01-14 Latest update 2009-01-14 14:23 TU

Ferrari rolled out their new F60 model this week
(Credit: Ferrari)

The new F60 race car unveilled on Tuesday celebrates 60 years in formula one for Ferrari and their driver Felipe Massa took it 100 kilometres (60 miles) around the sunny Tuscan track, before describing it as "very different".

After winning the constructors' championship, but failing to win the driver's championship in 2008, Ferrari want to be certain that its F60 is ready for the Australian Grand Prix.

The F60 was unveiled on Ferrari's website on Monday, and Massa, the runner-up in the driver's championship, described the 55th Italian Scuderia Ferrari as "cute".

After his test drive on Tuesday he said it "went well", and reported no problems with the new F60 which he later described as "beautiful". He was reflective when asked about losing to Hamilton last season on the last lap of the final grand prix at his home circuit in Brazil, and said, "the worst days help you learn."

The team's spokesperson Luca Colajanni said they were looking forward to the new season. "It's always a new challenge when you bring a new car on the track," he said.

"New challenge ... difficult, because this year we will only have 20 days of testing available," Colajanni said as he spoke to RFI on the drive back from Mugello. 

Formula one teams have new regulations to comply with this year and Ferrari's car features different wings, suspension and a special kinetic energy system. KERS, or, kinetic energy recovery system, is a regenerative braking mechanism that stores energy for future use and the sport's ruling body, the FIA, are hoping to promote green technology in 2009.

Ferrari has developed their KERS system with Magneti Marelli, and Massa has been positive about the system so far. "The KERS works. We started off carefully, picking things up as we went along and everything worked."

The team continue testing in the new Algarve circuit in Portugal next week and the new season starts in Melbourne on 29th March.