Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali has admitted that his team are going to have to dig deep to recover from their recent trials and tribulations, but he is optimistic that they can turn things around. The Maranello squad have scored just 19 points from the last three races and are currently third in the constructors’ standings, trailing championship leaders McLaren by 113 points.
Despite the F10’s improving pace, Ferrari left Silverstone on Sunday empty handed, after a problematic start and drive-through penalty for Fernando Alonso and tyre issues for Felipe Massa saw the duo finish in 14th and 15th respectively. Speaking during a debrief at the factory on Monday, however, Domenicali urged the team to stay positive and work even harder.
“We are angry that we did not get the results which we were capable of delivering, but this anger must be turned into a positive force,” he said. “We must remain rational. We must not let ourselves be discouraged nor frustrated. We just have to knuckle down and continue with the development of the car, working calmly, with great concentration and determination. Then, the results will come.”
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, who was also in attendance, is equally keen for the squad to put recent problems behind them and focus on forthcoming races.
“There is no point in crying about it and I want the team to tackle the second half of the season in a positive manner,” said Montezemolo. “We have gone through much worse moments than this and we have come through them, but clearly we can no longer afford to lose opportunities, which for various reasons, have escaped us in the last two races, even though we had a competitive car.
“As things stand today, qualifying and the start have become the decisive moments, so we must improve in these areas if we want to win. I expect everyone will give 100 percent to bring home points quickly to make up for those we have lost to date. All of us, myself, Domenicali, the engineers, mechanics and drivers, know what everyone, especially our fans expect.”
The team will be back in action at the German Grand Prix, which will get underway at the Hockenheim track from July 23-25.
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