Introducing the SF-24: Ferrari’s Big Departure

The day that fans have been waiting for the most has finally arrived: the opening of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Ferrari unveiled the new vehicle it plans to use to battle head-to-head with Red Bull, the squad that has recently dominated the top division of international motorsports.

Since the world championship's founding in 1950, Ferrari and Formula 1 have gone hand in hand. Since then, Cavallino has not missed a single event and is the only team to have missed no championships.

The team with the most driver and team titles is the Italian squad. However, their vehicles are not limited to success. Seasons in which they have defeated every opponent have alternated with several setbacks and years of relative obscurity.

Being the last team to introduce their 2024 challenger, Ferrari unveiled their Formula 1 vehicle, a breakthrough upgrade that will allow them to take on Red Bull.

Introducing Ferrari’s SF-24

With a rich history that includes sixteen Constructors' World Championship titles and fifteen Drivers' Championships, the Ferrari team is the most established institution in Formula 1. Its legacy extends back to the 1950 inaugural season. In fact, the only team to have participated in every Formula 1 season is Ferrari.

The only team other than Red Bull to pop the cork on the top step was Ferrari, who only managed one victory last season, via Sainz in Singapore. The goal is to increase that haul this year, overtake Red Bull, and maintain our position as leaders more frequently.

After learning that Lewis Hamilton had signed a contract with the Italian company for the 2025 season, the Maranello-based team finally unveiled its new vehicle for the 2024 campaign: the SF-24. A few days ago, using a video in a digital event, the Italian team announced the news on social media and introduce the SF-24 model. This will be Charles Leclerc's sixth car since joining the team in 2019 and Carlos Sainz's fourth and final, at least for this initial phase in Ferrari.

Enzo Ferrari, the man behind one of the most recognizable brands in motorsport, was presented clearly speaking over a big video screen featuring famous moments from the Prancing Horse's history: "The most significant triumph is the one that lies ahead," the statement suggests.

Following that, the new Ferrari's chassis is revealed as a continuation of the tale. It will retain the vehicle's traditional colors, with thin lines of yellow and white running throughout the body of the car. Nonetheless, with the primary goal of improving the SF24's correct window of use and driver predictability, Ferrari tried to abandon its design from the previous two years and create a car more akin to a Red Bull.

With this new iteration, the Maranello-based team hopes to make a big impression in the upcoming season and compete for the drivers' championship against Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz, who will step down in 2025 to be replaced by Lewis Hamilton.

What’s new in the Ferrari SF-24

The objective for this year's Ferrari with regard to 2024 is straightforward. Provide a machine that is tolerant and increases drivability and consistency. However, even though the attempts to make the new Ferrari SF-24 “a big departure", many experts state that it still looks a lot like the previous models. Apparently, the revolutionary change in this latest edition is not quite visible.

The SF-24 is distinguished not only by the inclusion of exposed carbon fiber and the color yellow, but also by a major reworking of the pontoon region, with larger, more pronounced air intakes that help to create a wide channel.

Enrico Cardile, Technical Director for the Chassis, claims that “every area of the car has been redesigned” and built on a “completely new platform”. In comparison to Red Bull, one area where they and all of their competitors struggled was the rear wing. Cardile claims that in an effort to increase their potency and straight-line speed, the team has modified their approach.

The body redesign altered the car's layout with the assistance of the technical team, which was headed by Enrico Cardile. Compared to the SF-23, the chassis built by Fabio Montecchi is approximately 50 millimeters longer and weighs less. The behavior with a full or empty gasoline tank is connected to the gearbox modification.

Furthermore, in the lead-up to the season's official start on March 2 at the Bahrain circuit, there have been rumors that the Italian squad may add new players to the group.

This unveiling was also a surprise for Sainz, who will be running his final campaign with Ferrari and its SF-24 basic features.