Ferrari names 2011 car F150

Ferrari has revealed that its new car will be called the F150, with it set to be revealed in Maranello live on Italian television this Friday. For 2011, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa remain as race drivers although, with Luca Badoer now in retirement, Jules Bianchi joins Marc Gené and Giancarlo Fisichella on the reserves bench.

‘The choice of name stems from Ferrari’s desire to pay tribute to this year’s 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy,’ reads an explanation on the Ferrari website. ‘The placement of the “Tricolore” Italian flag as part of the car livery will therefore have even more significance in 2011.’

The initiative has also received the appreciation of Italian Republic President Giorgio Napolitano, to which Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo replied: “Ferrari is an expression of Italian excellence, talent and creativity.

“All the men and women who put so much effort and passion into their work at Maranello share the pride and responsibility of representing our country around the world and it is in this spirit that we chose to dedicate this car to an event that is so important for the whole of Italy.”