Ferrari unveils 2014 F1 contender with 'vacuum cleaner' nose

After losing out to Red Bull racing and Mercedes-AMG last season, Ferrari is aiming for the top with its 2014 single seater. Christened the F14-T, the name comes from the combination of the current year and the introduction of the turbo compressor in the Power Unit. 

Internally codenamed 665, the project started more than two years ago as the 2014 season brings about a raft of rule changes.

Team principal, Stefano Domenicali, remarked the new additions to the technical team and the upgrades to the wind tunnel have been crucial for Ferrari to make a step forward.

Certain elements like the pull-rod front and rear suspension are retained for this season, but beyond that there is little to connect the 2014 car to its predecessors.

Changes to the regulations to lower the chassis and nose presented the designers with a real challenge to repackage the front suspension into a much lower monocoque.

The front wing is 75mm narrower per side in order to make it less vulnerable to collisions with other cars and with the barriers. Despite being less noticeable visually the change has a profound effect on the aerodynamics of the vehicle. The narrower front wing has required the team to completely reinvent the front wing aerodynamics for 2014.

The new car has completely different cooling requirements. Engine oil and water radiators shrink in size to match the relatively smaller V6 lump. However, space had to be found to accommodate an intercooler for the turbo charger and to manage heat rejection from heat based Energy Recovery System (ERS) components that are many times greater than their Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) antecedents.

More cooling allows more horsepower but hinders downforce. Thus, it was necessary to decide very carefully on the correct level of overall cooling for the car to render the best lap time. The braking system has been completely redesigned including a smaller hydraulic calliper at the rear.

In addition, the F14-T will have a brake-by-wire system for the first time to optimise pedal consistency and brake balance control. Equally important will be the car's integration with the new tyres that Pirelli will be introducing this year.