F1 | SF90 imposing and mean, Ferrari presents itself as a fearless team

Probably one of the most important legacies of Marchionne - the true demiurge of this Ferrari career - is ambition. That bravado, self-confidence, which is typical of the bold. And what emerges from the presentation of the (red and black) SF90 is precisely a certain ambition, an overflowing desire to excel, a poorly concealed sense of redemption that can be read all too easily between the lines of the protagonists' declarations.

Mattia Binotto, imbued as he is with a quarter of a century of Ferrari culture, even annoys Enzo Ferrari, the president of the Cavallino John Elkann returns to the concept of the National Motor Team, stating that Ferrari represents the Italians and the best of Italy. CEO Camilleri encourages the team to win, improving the results - already good on paper - of 2018.

The word then passes to the pilots. And it is here that Sebastian Vettel regains his role as leader. Praised by the audience, perfectly at ease in the role of leader, he talks about the "Ferrari dream" and the "mission", two words very dear to him. He says he is ready to win the world championship, he regrets not being able to put on the suit and jump into the single-seater. Charles Leclerc is there learning, already now, his eyes are shining and he too is talking about victories. The Monegasque has plenty of character.

But the real protagonist, which steals the show, is this SF90 with its original matte red livery and black finishes, complete with a new semi-tobacconist sponsor. A molossian. Granitic. Good looking, but not exactly sleek and tapered. Very thin in the rear end and in the bellies, much more squared and heavy to the eye in the front end. Very similar to the SF71H, except for the ailerons faithful to the new technical regulations.

Steals the show, maybe not steals the eye. It is not aggressive like the Alfa Romeo C38, it is not refined and aerodynamically refined like the McLaren, it is not aggressive like the Red Bull, nor elegant and soft like the Mercedes. No, this Ferrari gives the idea of ​​a war machine, of a beast that only needs to be turned on, overbearing and massive even in shape. The devil then (and after all the livery is somewhat reminiscent of Milan...) hides in the details. When working on the power unit, a little gem to save even more space. In the search for lightness, from the paintwork to the evidently extreme shapes of the rear. And in a whole series of new features “which are under the hood, I assure you” states the catcher…Mercedes Binotto, ideas far from the most intrusive and curious eyes.

Perhaps conventional, the natural evolution of an SF71H with immense potential, but this Ferrari SF90 is anything but a timid and frightened car. Like the team itself, which has rarely appeared so confident and decisive, never even so tied to tradition, with constant references to being Ferrari, in fact. Which, with sixteen Constructors' and fifteen Drivers' titles won, is a fundamentally winning essence. The beautiful Queen Mercedes is warned: the Red is ugly, dirty and very bad.

Antonino Rendina

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