1/43 Model Review: 2019 Ferrari SF90 (BBR)

Ferrari came into 2019 as hot favourites after testing in Barcelona suggested that they had an advantage. However, Mercedes dominantly took the first 8 victories of the season. New recruit, Leclerc looked set to win in Bahrain, but a late problem with the car caused him to fall back. In Azerbaijan, Leclerc looked on form to get pole position but clumsily crashed in qualifying. In Canada, Vettel was leading the race albeit with Hamilton's Mercedes right behind, but a mistake sent Vettel wide, and on rejoining squeezed Hamilton towards the barrier. Vettel received a 5 second penalty dropping him back to second. Leclerc was leading the Austrian Grand Prix, but was overtaken by Verstappen in a forceful move near the end of the race. But it wasn't until the Belgian Grand Prix, that Ferrari took their first victory of the season, with Leclerc earning his first Grand Prix win. He took another impressive victory in Monza, fighting with all he had to keep the lead. But in Singapore, Vettel on a favourable strategy leapfrogged Leclerc and Hamilton to win his first race this season, his first victory in over a year, and Ferrari look to be competiting for victories for the remainder of the year.

Vettel has had a disappointing year so far, he's made many mistakes, spinning when being overtaken by Hamilton in Bahrain, running wide at Canada, crashing into the back of Verstappen in Britain, spinning out in Italy and then tagging Stroll when rejoining the track. Some pretty fundamental mistakes from a four-time World Champion. But the more alarming problem will be the speed of his new team-mate, as Leclerc has got up to speed, he's been out-qualifying his experienced team-mate consistently, and it's been Leclerc and not Vettel who has been in contention for victories more often. The low-downforce car philsophy hasn't really suited Vettel to be fair, and his management of tyres has generally been better than Leclerc's too, so it's not right to write Vettel off on the basis of one-year.

Leclerc has also had his fair share of mistakes, including crashing out in Germany having gone wide at the drag strip a few times previously, and crashing in qualifying in Hungary, yet luckily having the car repaired and out-qualifying Vettel. But the potential and the show of speed is clear to be seen, with the media very keen on the young Monegasque being seen as the de facto number 1 driver at the Scuderia.

For a few years now, we have seen budget Ferrari models from Bburago, and higher budget models from Looksmart and BBR. The first we have seen released have been from BBR with Vettel and Leclerc models based on the Australian Grand Prix (not including the empty box from the Canadian GP)

BBR BBRC225B

BBR BBRC225A

For me, BBR cars are often made with high quality, sometimes the models are top quality, other times the proportions can be quite off. For me, this 2019 Ferrari looks fantastic, nothing immediately jumps out at me as particularly wrong, quite the opposite, lots of lovely details on the car to look at and admire how well the model replicates the real car. The team switched between the Mission Winnow logos (controversial for their links and similar imagery to the tobacco side of their title sponsor) and running a 90 years of Ferrari tribute, which is why the car is called the SF90.

The car has fantastic definition on the front wing, with the limit of 5 elements new to this year's rules, you can see how well modelled they are against the carbon coloured endplates. The suspension area is intricately done with the turning vanes on the underside of the monocoque nicely made. Moving onto the bargeboards, it's hard to tell from the photos the details that are there, but they've done a good job in getting the bargeboards, the turning vanes and the mirror all integrated together, with all the tiny slots. No driver figure with the BBR models as usual,  but the cockpit features good detail, though the halo does somewhat get in the way of seeing it. The engine cover it nicely done, I do like the new livery for 2019 with the subtle italian flag on the trailing edge. Again, Ferrari's sleek sidepods are nicely modelled too, there's no aggressive shaping like you see on the Mercedes or Williams cars.

There is good detail on the floor as well. With the sidepods no longer using the full width available in the rules, much more of the floor is seen these days and there are lots of gradients and slots on it. The rear of the car is also very nice, the diffuser is well done, the rear wing endplates has good slots and good detail on it, the exhaust and rear suspension are also nicely done too.

All in all, a top model from BBR. I'm not 100% convinced on the colour of the red they chose and how the matte effect works in different lights from the photos, so I'll reserve judgement on that.
Score: 9/10

Other Versions

BBR BBRC231A

This is the Belgian GP version. It includes the tribute to Anthione Hubert. The Belgian GP was Ferrari's first win of the year, in the hands of Leclerc.

BBR BBRC234A

BBR BBRC234B

The Italian GP version where Leclerc took his second victory, whilst Vettel spun and rejoined the track in a dubious way forcing Stroll off the track.