Since 2014, Formula 1 has navigated one of its most transformative periods with the introduction of the 1.6-liter V6 Turbo Hybrid power units. This marked a significant shift in engine technology and team dynamics, and for Ferrari, the 2014 Ferrari hybrid season was the beginning of this complex journey. The Ferrari Hybrid 2014 car represented the dawn of a new era, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the Scuderia.
2014: The Hybrid Dawn for Ferrari
The pre-season testing for 2014 quickly revealed a stark reality: Mercedes had mastered the new engine formula, showcasing superior performance and reliability. In contrast, Ferrari, along with engine partner Renault, lagged behind, facing a season focused on development and adaptation to this groundbreaking technology. The 2014 Ferrari hybrid power unit was a learning curve.
The Ferrari F14-T: Ferrari’s challenger for the inaugural 2014 hybrid Formula 1 season.
While Mercedes dominated the 2014 season, securing Lewis Hamilton’s second world championship, Ferrari demonstrated resilience. Fernando Alonso achieved two podium finishes in China and Hungary, even contending for victory in Budapest against Daniel Ricciardo. However, 2014 was also marred by reliability issues across the grid. Ferrari’s F14-T suffered frustrating retirements at Monza and Suzuka, and Kimi Räikkönen endured a significant crash at the British Grand Prix’s start. The Ferrari hybrid 2014 car, while showing flashes of pace, was ultimately inconsistent.
Despite these setbacks, the Ferrari hybrid 2014 season saw the team compete with a resurgent Williams for third place in the Constructors’ Championship until the Abu Dhabi finale. Williams ultimately secured the position with a double podium, featuring former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa challenging Hamilton for the win. Although the initial season was challenging, Ferrari was determined to extract valuable lessons from their 2014 Ferrari hybrid experience and improve in the seasons ahead.
2015 – 2018: Vettel Spearheads the Hybrid Charge
The Ferrari SF15-T: A significant step forward in Ferrari’s hybrid era, marking improvements in performance and reliability for the 2015 season.
Following Alonso’s move to McLaren and Maurizio Arrivabene’s leadership of Scuderia Ferrari, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel joined the team. Vettel, renowned for his dominance in the V8 engine era with Red Bull, brought immediate impact. In 2015, driving the improved SF15-T, Vettel secured three victories in Malaysia, Hungary, and Singapore, propelling Ferrari to second place in the Constructors’ Championship. This demonstrated that the advancements made since the 2014 Ferrari hybrid season were yielding promising results.
The Ferrari SF16-H: Ferrari’s contender for the 2016 Formula 1 season, aiming to build upon the progress made in the previous hybrid year.
2016 proved to be a slower year for Ferrari, with no race wins despite close calls for Vettel in Melbourne and Canada. However, with new aerodynamic regulations introduced in 2017, Ferrari emerged as a stronger contender. Vettel fiercely challenged Lewis Hamilton for the championship, achieving five wins and 11 podiums. Unfortunately, a race-ending crash at the Singapore Grand Prix and a spark plug failure in Japan curtailed Vettel’s title aspirations, despite a late-season victory in Brazil. The lessons learned from the initial Ferrari hybrid 2014 car development were becoming increasingly valuable.
The Ferrari SF70H: Ferrari’s entry for the 2017 Formula 1 season, showcasing a competitive package that challenged for the championship.
Entering 2018, Ferrari anticipated a Mercedes advantage, but Vettel quickly reversed expectations, winning the first two races in Melbourne and Bahrain. He accumulated six wins and 12 podiums throughout the season. However, a critical crash at the German Grand Prix hampered Vettel’s pursuit of his first title with Ferrari, as he once again succumbed to Hamilton and Mercedes. Despite this, Ferrari continued to refine their hybrid technology, evolving from the foundations laid by the 2014 Ferrari hybrid project.
The Ferrari SF71H: Ferrari’s car for the 2018 season, maintaining strong performance and securing victories, marking further progress in the hybrid era.
The season concluded positively for Ferrari, with fan-favorite Kimi Räikkönen securing his first victory in over five years at the United States Grand Prix, driving for the team.
2019 – 2020: Navigating New Challenges
The 2019 Ferrari SF90 faced downforce deficiencies, yet the team remained competitive at the front of the grid. Vettel narrowly missed a dominant win in Montreal due to a controversial five-second penalty. However, he achieved redemption in Singapore, claiming his sole victory of the season on the Marina Bay street circuit. The development trajectory since the 2014 Ferrari hybrid introduction had seen periods of both progress and setbacks.
The Ferrari SF90: Ferrari’s Formula 1 car for 2019, demonstrating periods of high performance but also facing challenges in consistency.
In 2019, Charles Leclerc, a highly regarded young talent, joined Ferrari and immediately justified the team’s faith in him. Leclerc impressively secured seven of Ferrari’s nine pole positions that season. His maiden victory came at the Belgian Grand Prix, emotionally charged by the recent loss of Anthoine Hubert. Leclerc solidified his future with Ferrari by winning their home race at Monza.
The Ferrari SF1000: Ferrari’s entry for the 2020 Formula 1 season, a challenging year that saw the team struggle for performance.
Unfortunately, 2020 became a year Ferrari would prefer to forget. The SF1000 lacked both top speed and downforce, resulting in Ferrari’s first winless season since 2016. The combined efforts of Vettel and Leclerc only yielded three podiums, leading to a disappointing 6th place in the Constructors’ standings. This highlighted the ongoing complexities of maximizing performance in the hybrid era, a journey that began with the Ferrari hybrid 2014 car.
Overall Hybrid Era Performance (2014-2020)
| Races | Wins | Podiums | Pole positions | Fastest laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138 | 17 | 85 | 20 | 25 |
2021: Eyeing the Future
As Vettel departed for Aston Martin in 2021, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz joined Ferrari to partner Leclerc. Sainz, known for his talent since his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, brought fresh energy to the team. Ferrari anticipated significant improvements for 2021 with an upgraded engine and a revamped chassis, while adhering to homologation rules by carrying over the 2020 chassis. The continuous development from the initial Ferrari hybrid 2014 engine was crucial for future success.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz: Ferrari’s driver lineup for the 2021 Formula 1 season, tasked with leading the team’s resurgence.
While focused on improving with the new SF21 for 2021, unveiled on March 10th, Ferrari also looked ahead to the radical new engine regulations in 2022. Wolf Zimmermann was tasked with spearheading the concept for this future engine design.
Ferrari aimed for resurgence from 2021 onwards. The hybrid era, initiated in 2014, had demonstrated that despite challenges, Scuderia Ferrari possesses the enduring spirit to consistently fight back.
Written by Cóilín Higgins.
