Ferrari Will Launch 2011 F1 Car Between January 25-31

In a meeting with the media in which Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was expected to announce his switch to Italian politics for the future, the man confirmed once again his strong commitment to the job of being president of Ferrari. In addition, he made a few important notes on the recently ended F1 campaign, while also hinting on the launch date of the team's new challenger for 2011.

That last part is of most interest to us, so we'll start by saying the F10's successor – no name for it has been disclosed – will be introduced to the overall media and public between January 25 and 31, namely the week before the official testing season kicks off in Valencia.

After giving his team and drivers grades for how they've performed in 2010 – 9 and a half for Fernando Alonso, 7 for Felipe Massa and 8 for Ferrari as a team – together with the adjacent explanations, di Montezemolo also referred to what he expects from Formula One in the future.

And the Ferrari-an's wishlist for 2011 and beyond looks like this : “fight for common sense, for races on circuits (not streets) and to have not more than 19 races, preferably 18.” Yes, we know, most of them will not come true, especially the 19-race maximum part. And here's one more wish that won't come true any time soon.

“And to have three cars. Better to have a third car with a competitive team than a team that cannot even do GP2. I think it's common sense and Bernie Ecclestone agrees. Who (would run the third Ferrari)? A small but competitive team,” added the 63-year old.

In recent weeks, Luca di Montezemolo has been linked with a future move to politics, given that his press conference coincided with the vote of confidence needed by Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi (a not very likable character in Di Montezemolo's book) in the Parliament.

“The confidence vote (of the Italian parliament)? No comment,” insisted the Ferrari boss. “Let me do my job. I'm so glad we have many, many things to do here at Ferrari,” he added, while also fending off rumors that he will proceed to a reshuffle of the Scuderia management following the failed 2010 campaign.

“We were disappointed, there's no point denying it. But, realistically, it was more bitter in 2008, when Felipe Massa crossed the finish line as world champion. From 1997 onwards, except 2005 and 2009, we have either won or lost at the last race. The opponents - Williams, McLaren, Renault, Red Bull - always change, only Ferrari is there,” added Di Montezemolo, who hinted that only minor changes will be made to the team's management in 2011.