Despite the fact the 2023 Formula 1 season only concluded three weeks ago, all eyes are already looking ahead to 2024, particularly Ferrari.
The Italians have become the first team on the grid to reveal their 2024 launch date, although they’ve not opted for their traditional slot.
Over the years, Ferrari have tended to take the covers off their newest challenger on Valentine’s Day; however, this won’t be the case in 2024.
Ferrari’s new car will be shown to the world on February 13, 2024, with team principal Frederic Vasseur having admitted that the slightly earlier launch has been scheduled due to when pre-season testing is and because other teams have opted for a Valentine’s Day unveiling.
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“The launch will take place on the 13th of February, the day before the Valentine’s Day,” Vasseur revealed, as per Motorsport.com. “You will see the rest [of the details, including the car’s name] on that day.
“Why? Because we will have one day more before the [Bahrain pre-season] test,” he joked. “No, it’s quite tight, more seriously. We have the test a bit before [its 2023 slot] and it’s quite a challenge to put everything together.
“It means that we had no other option. I think also that some other teams are doing it on the 14th, but it’s quite challenging to be all ready for Bahrain.”
Red Bull will likely be tuning in to Ferrari’s launch given that the Maranello-based side are going to introduce a new concept, in an attempt to return to their 2022 heights.
Ferrari more often than not took the fight to Red Bull last year, something they only managed to do on a handful of occasions in 2023.
Performing strongly on a consistent basis was Ferrari’s key issue in the recently completed campaign, with Vasseur having since admitted that the Italians were wrong to enter 2023 with such high expectations.
As a result, the Frenchman has opted not to set expectations too early to ensure that any “promises” aren’t broken.
By doing this, Vasseur is confident that the team can focus on doing a “good job” with their 2024 design.
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“I don’t have to promise something,” Vasseur insisted. “The best way is to be focused on what we are doing to deliver.
“The Christmas gift for them will be if we’re able to do a good job in March, not for Christmas. On Christmas the gift is just based on promises and I don’t want to make promises.
“We’ll see in March if it will be the Easter gift.”