2009 season

The Formula 1 World Championship season 2009 was characterised by drastic changes to the regulations: slick tyres returned for the first time since 1997. The aerodynamics were simplified, with the banning of add-ons and chimneys on the sides. The front wing became bigger whilst the rear wing got higher, with the aim of reducing the aerodynamic downforce and slowing the cars down.

But such a drastic change in philosophy inevitably created grey areas in the regulations that some teams exploited to their advantage, helping them dominate the first part of the season.

Our car in 2009 – created in collaboration with Red Bull Technology – was the STR4, a car similar to the Red Bull Racing RB5 in terms of the construction of the front end, but was completely different at the rear, which was created specifically to better fit the Ferrari engine. The driver line-up comprised the Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais and the Swiss Sebastien Buemi.

We got off to a good start to the season in the opening race, with a double points finish. But as the season went on, things got more complicated: the infamous ‘double diffuser’ only appearing on our car at the midway point of the season, the Hungarian GP. Additionally, at that race, Bourdais was replaced by the Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari. We finished tenth in the Constructor’s Championship on 8 points.

Discover the 2009 car: STR4