In keeping with the times, in a somewhat sedate launch, Ferrari unveiled their 2010 challenger to the world on Thursday, promising greatness and glory.

With Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa on hand, the covers were taken off the Scuderia’s latest F1 car, the F10, which is the result of months of work given Ferrari’s decision to focus on the year ahead in the midst of a dismal 2009 Championship.

The new car, which predominantly features the Santander branding, carries a much larger fuel tank given the new ban on refuelling. It also has bulges similar to last year’s Red Bull RB5 and the double-decker diffuser.

Added to that the new front wing has end plates that resemble those used on Brawn’s 2009 Championship-winning car, while the sidepods have a unique shape which is designed to maximise airflow to the rear of the car, and the back of the car appears very clean and narrow.

The Italian marque has high hopes for their new car, determined to return to the front of the pack after a seeing lagging in the midfield.

“This Championship will be very important for us,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali. “The last Championship, for different reasons, was not very positive, that is why we are dealing with this one looking to be competitive – and this is what Ferrari deserves to have.

“We have two new drivers, why two new drivers? Fernando Alonso, is a twice World Champion and we will say after the second one he will have a third one. He already appears among the big champions in F1, it is the right moment for him, for us, he wants to be successful and we want to repeat what the team concept is in our group.

“Felipe, we are talking of a new version of Felipe, but after such a dramatic Championship like last year with the accident in Hungary and such a fantastic season, Felipe has all the assets to prove that he is a very successful one, he can prove that he wants to restart his pathway that destiny interrupted it in Hungary. Good luck to both of them.”

Planetf1.com