The announcement of Ferrari's car model name for 2023, the SF-23, followed a rather standard format: Scuderia Ferrari, and 2023.
However, Ferrari have had a rather scattered history with the naming of their Formula 1 cars, unlike many of the teams on the grid.
Red Bull named their first car from the 2005 season the RB1, and their 19th season in F1 will be contested by, unsurprisingly, the RB19. The only car to break away from that mould was their 2021 car, the RB16B, which was a carryover from the 2020 car, as permitted by the pandemic-affected regulations.
Another example is Haas. Their short history has featured a very neat naming structure for their cars. Their first car in 2016 was named the VF-16, and this season's car is named the VF-23. 'VF' is a nod to their first CNC machine range.
Some of Ferrari's recent names follow a historical tradition of being designated by the specification of the engine, such as the legendary 312, which was chosen because of its 3.0-litre V12.
Others are named according to landmark dates, such as Ferrari's 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix, or 150 years since the unification of Italy.
Incidentally Ferrari tried to shorten their 2011 car name, the F150 Italia, to simply the F150, but Ford had threatened legal action owing to it being the same name as their F-150 truck.
Here's a list of Ferrari's most recent car names, and the meaning behind each one:
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Recent history of Ferrari F1 car names
Season | Car Name | Reason |
---|---|---|
2023 | SF-23 | Scuderia Ferrari, 2023 |
2022 | F1-75 | Formula 1, 75 years since first Ferrari |
2021 | SF21 | Scuderia Ferrari, 2021 |
2020 | F1000 | Scuderia Ferrari, 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix |
2019 | SF90 | Scuderia Ferrari, 90th anniversary of team |
2018 | SF71-H | Scuderia Ferrari, 71 years since first Ferrari, Hybrid |
2017 | SF70-H | Scuderia Ferrari, 70 years since first Ferrari, Hybrid |
2016 | SF16-H | Scuderia Ferrari, 2016, Hybrid |
2015 | SF15-T | Scuderia Ferrari, 2015, Turbo |
2014 | F14-T | Ferrari, 2014, Turbo |
2013 | F138 | Ferrari, 2013, final V8 season |
2012 | F-2012 | Ferrari, 2012 |
2011 | 150 Italia | 150th anniversary of unification of Italy |
2010 | F10 | Ferrari, 2010 |
2009 | F60 | Ferrari, 60th year in Formula 1 |
2008 | F2008 | Ferrari, 2008 |
2007 | F2007 | Ferrari, 2007 |
2006 | 248 F1 | 2.4-litre, V8 engine, Formula 1 |
2005 | F2005 | Ferrari, 2005 |
2004 | F2004 | Ferrari, 2004 |
2003 | F2003-GA | Ferrari, 2003, Gianni Agnelli, head of Fiat who passed away |
2002 | F2002 | Ferrari, 2002 |
2001 | F2001 | Ferrari, 2001 |
2000 | F1-2000 | Formula 1, 2000 |
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