Ferrari unveils 2018 SF71H F1 car

Ferrari has unveiled its latest Formula 1 car, the SF71H, as it targets mounting a renewed title bid against reigning world champions Mercedes in 2018. 

The Halo-shod new car was revealed at Ferrari's Marabello base on Thursday, four days before the start of pre-season testing at Barcelona. 

The revitalised Italian squad put in a significant challenge to Mercedes’ dominance in 2017, as Sebastian Vettel claimed five victories and led the drivers’ standings until round 13 at the Italian Grand Prix. But the German’s title bit collapsed after a terrible run of poor reliability following the summer break, ultimately allowing Hamilton and Mercedes to prevail. 

Despite claiming the most world championship titles in F1 history, Ferrari has not won a title of any description since 2008. The Scueria is determined to turn in a more sustained push in 2018 in an attempt to end to Mercedes’ stranglehold at the top of the sport, with the German manufacturer enjoying a clean sweep of world titles since the V6 hybrid era began in 2014.

A successful title charge from Ferrari would halt Mercedes’ hopes of matching the Maranello-based outfit’s all-time record of five straight F1 drivers’ and constructors’ world championships, which it secured with Michael Schumacher between 2000-2004. 

The SF71H features a predominantly red livery and includes a red-painted Halo cockpit protection device, with the white colour used on recent car designs mostly absent, barring a small section of the rear-end. Ferrari also revealed it has moved towards the longer wheelbase design favoured by rivals Mercedes in 2017.

Ferrari has named an unchanged driver line-up for the fourth successive season, with Vettel - heading into his fourth season with the team - joined by Kimi Raikkonen, who is under pressure to perform in the final year of his contract. 

Both were at the launch event, alongside the team's new development driver Daniil Kvyat and Ferrari junior Antonio Giovinazzi, who will act as Sauber's reserve driver in 2018.