ANSA) - Maranello, January 28 - Ferrari on Thursday unveiled its new Formula One race car with which it hopes to make up for a disappointing season last year, its worst since 1994.

The car was presented here at Ferrari headquarters as well as live on the Web in a ceremony which included the participation of drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, Team Principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari and Fiat Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. It was again this year the first car of the Formula 1 circus to be officially presented and will be followed on Friday by McLaren. In a return to tradition the car was named the F10, with F for Ferrari and 10 for the year 2010, after being called the F60 in 2009 to mark the the number of championships the legendary Italian team had competed in, collecting 15 drivers’ and 16 constructors’ titles.

The F10 was designed to meet Formula 1 regulation changes and to best exploit aerodynamically its double diffuser, a kind of rear wind spoiler which BrawnGP successfully introduced last season and helped it won the constructors’ championship.

The new car has already set a record with over three million people logging on to Ferrari’s website for the unveiling presentation which was also broadcast on Ferrari’s YouTube channel and Facebook, with written updates on Twitter.

Looking at the car with which he will try to win his first title, Felipe Massa said “I hope the F10 will be really competitive so I can get back to winning and keep our car ahead of everyone else”.

The Brazilian driver, who returns to racing after his life-threatening accident last July, added that “after such a difficult year I’m really happy and proud to be racing again”.

Massa’s new teammate, Renault’s former two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, said that “with Felipe we will be a very strong team, one which will make our fans throughout the world proud. We will make sure Ferrari wins again”.

“This is my first Ferrari presentation and I have to say it’s quite moving. I’d like to thank the whole team for helping to build this dream,” the Spaniard added.

Montezemolo observed that “we are a Latin team which speaks Italian. We are well aware that we represent the excellence this extraordinary country can produce and that anything can be done with the right team spirit”.

“And on our team not only do we have this spirit but it has been invigorated because a cycle has ended and, fortunately, also has 2009,” he added.

Ferrari ended fourth in the constructors championship in 2009 after winning eight of the last ten titles.

The F10, Montezemolo said, “is a car which incorporates all the abilities of the men and women at Ferrari who have contributed to making this a winning car”.

Turning to his two drivers, the Ferrari chairman said “Felipe, you’re now stronger than you were before. Ferdinando (using his name in Italian) you beat us in 2005 and 2006 through your ability and strength and we’re happy to have you aboard, you’re a good kid”.

Massa was to have taken the F10 for its inaugural spin around the Fiorano track but after snow the night before and sub-zero temperatures it was decided to postpone this until Friday or, at latest, Monday.