SF16-H

The SF16-H is the sixty second car built by Ferrari to take part in the Formula 1 World Championship. It is the third, since 2014 when the new rules were introduced, to be powered by a hybrid power unit, featuring a turbocharged engine fitted with two electric motors, one fitted directly to the transmission and the other mounted on the turbo shaft.

There have been few changes to the technical regulations from last year to 2016, but the design of this year’s car has evolved significantly. Some of the differences between the latest Maranello car and its predecessor, the SF15-T, are clearly visible in several areas. At the front, one finds a significantly shorter nose, based on a different aerodynamic concept when it comes to the direction of the airflow towards the rear of the car. The rear end is very compact, which helps generate downforce at the back of the car.

At the front end, another change sees the pullrod design, used for the past four seasons, replaced by a pushrod system. This solution brings structural benefits in terms of rigidity, while saving weight and fitting in with the overall concept behind the car. Moving further back, one can see that the side protection around the cockpit area has been raised, in line with a change to the regulations.

The sidepods house a revised cooling system, specifically for the new Power Unit, which has been redesigned in several areas to further increase performance. The transmission has also been revised, as have the brake cooling ducts, the system being still fitted with brake-by-wire technology which balances the braking power between discs and energy recovery. Another change this year, to comply with a new regulation sees the exhaust system fitted with a wastegate exit, separate from the actual main exhaust exit. This has been introduced as a result of a project undertaken by the teams and the FIA, so that under some circumstances, the exhaust note produced will be louder.

The size and weight of the tyres are the same as last season, which means the overall weight of the car remains unchanged. New for this year on the tyre front is the introduction of a fifth dry weather compound, called the Ultrasoft, to provide even more extreme performance. It can be recognised by the purple band on its sides. Use of tyres over a race weekend has also been changed in the sporting regulations, giving the teams greater operational flexibility.