Ferrari unveils 2010 challenger

Ferrari became the first Formula 1 outfit to unveil its new challenger for the 2010 season on Thursday, as the wraps came off the Italian squad's F10 machine.

The car, with which the team hopes to return to the top after a difficult 2009 season, is the result of several months of design work, after Ferrari decided to switch its focus to 2010 early during last year's campaign.

Ferrari won just one race in 2009, finishing a distant fourth in the constructors' championship.

The Maranello-based outfit, however, has high hopes for the new car, with two-time champion Fernando Alonso having joined Felipe Massa for this year's championship assault.

"This championship will be very important for us," said team boss Stefano Domenicali. "The last championship, for different reasons, was not very positive, that is why we are dealing with this one looking to be competitive - and this is what Ferrari deserves to have."

He added: "We have two new drivers, why two new drivers? Fernando Alonso, is a twice world champion and we will say after the second one he will have a third one. He already appears among the big champions in F1, it is the right moment for him, for us, he wants to be successful and we want to repeat what the team concept is in our group.

"Felipe, we are talking of a new version of Felipe, but after such a dramatic championship like last year with the accident in Hungary and such a fantastic season, Felipe has all the assets to prove that he is a very successful one, he can prove that he wants to restart his pathway that destiny interrupted it in Hungary. Good luck to both of them."

Massa will be the man in charge of completing the first run in the car this afternoon at the Fiorano circuit.