Ferrari has presented its new Formula One car, designed to challenge Mercedes this season. Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, chief technical officer Mattia Binotto and drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were on stage for the presentation. The SF70H is redder — the traditional color of Ferrari — than last year's car. Only the front wings sport a touch of white and part of the rear, which also has stripes the colors of the Italian flag: white, red and green. The car has a lengthened nose and an arrow-shaped wing as a consequence of the radical overhaul of the sport's technical rulebook over the offseason. Ferrari finished second in the constructors' championship in 2015, but dropped to third last year, 367 points adrift of Mercedes and 70 behind Red Bull. Hamilton ready to get back on track with new car With a new car beneath him and his biggest rival in retirement, Lewis Hamilton is ready to get back on the track. Hamilton, speaking at the launch of the new Mercedes car Thursday, said the experience of losing to teammate Nico Rosberg last season has made him better. "I feel I am stronger. I feel more complete as a driver," the 32-year-old Hamilton said. "I feel like I am the best prepared I have ever been. I didn't win the world championship last year and I want to change that." Hamilton, a three-time F1 champion, will be teaming with Valtteri Bottas this season. And that's fine with Hamilton, who had uneasy relationship with Rosberg. "I don't think I have ever missed a teammate in my life because there is always one that takes his place," Hamilton said. "It definitely will feel strange, and it already is, but you soon get past it. "One day I will leave and another driver will come along. You don't forget, but get used to what you have. Right now my feelings from last year are not lingering. I have started a new slate and moved on." Hamilton won more races than Rosberg last season and rounded out the year with four consecutive victories, but his championship defense was blighted by a number of mechanical issues. Hamilton said he could understand why Rosberg decided to walk away after clinching his maiden title. "It has been a long, hard slog for him," Hamilton said. "He finally got it and maybe he wanted to keep it just as it is and not risk retiring at the end of this year not being in the same position. I don't think like that. I win the championship and I want to fight for it again." On Thursday, Hamilton tested out his new Mercedes car. His verdict: "It felt incredible." "Yesterday was the first time seeing the car come together," Hamilton said, "it's the most detailed piece of machinery I've seen so far in Formula One." The color scheme of the new Mercedes is similar to that of previous versions, but the car is noticeably lower, wider and heavier to reflect the radical overhaul of the sport's technical rulebook over the offseason. Mercedes has dominated the sport in recent seasons, winning 51 of the last 59 races en route to three consecutive driver and team titles. — Agencies
