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Ferrari has unveiled its 2010 Formula 1 contender, named the F10, in a ceremony at its Maranello headquarters – with the team confident the car will prove a big step forward over last year’s model.

The Italian squad is the first to reveal its definitive 2010 design,

launching a day ahead

of arch-rival McLaren's event in the UK tomorrow.

 

Team boss Stefano Domenicali introduced the car to the massed media, along with drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, reserve Giancarlo Fisichella and test drivers Marc Gene and Luca Badoer.

Ferrari got a head start on the design of the F10 when it decided to halt development on its troubled 2009 car early last summer, the Maranello team ultimately finishing a distant fourth in last season’s constructors’ standings after claiming just one victory all year.

It hopes its new machine, which features aggressive sidepod sculpting, a fin atop the airbox and intricate front wing endplate detail, will immediately launch it back into championship contention following last year's frustrations.

Ferrari technical director Aldo Costa described the 2010 design as “a great step ahead in terms of our competitiveness”.

F1’s most successful team has hired double world champion Alonso to aid its quest to return to the front of the field and the Spaniard is excited about the challenges ahead.

“This is the first presentation with a Ferrari for me and it’s very exciting,” he said at the unveiling.

“I want to thank the team for the great work, but also the sponsors and everybody else.”

Massa, who starts his fifth consecutive season at the Scuderia, added that he was delighted to be back with the team and was raring to go after returning to fitness following his terrifying accident at the Hungaroring last July.

“I’m proud to be here and I hope that the car will be really competitive; I’m full of energy and I’m really happy to be here,” the Brazilian said.

The team's designers and the drivers will speak about the car at a media conference later today, with Massa then giving the F10 its track debut with a few laps of the Fiorano test track for filming purposes.

Ferrari F10 - 2010 Launch Photos

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