Ferrari launched their new 2009 F1 car - the F60 - on Monday in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the F1 championship.

They are also celebrating the fact that they are the only team to have been involved since its inception.

Presenting a car which commemorates this historic milestone, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali underlined the significance of the car's name at the Mugello race track.

"We wanted to celebrate the fact that Ferrari is the only team to have always been in the World Championships," he said. "The history of Formula One is twinned with the history of Ferrari. This is why we need to support F1 in this difficult situation, and F1 needs to come out of this strengthened and not weakened."

F1 is entering a new era with cost-cutting measures and rule changes defining the landscape of motor sport and, because of Ferrari's historical involvement, they aim to play a leading role in moulding the sport's future.

"This is a very significant moment as we are giving a very strong input on how the future of F1 should be," continued Domenicali.

"What we are aiming for is the common good.

"The unity among teams that we have seen in recent months is unprecedented, but totally necessary. We live from and for F1, so compromises have got to be made.

"We know we are standing before a very challenging season and one which will be very stimulating in every sense, from the political to the technical."