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Marchionne embarrassed by Ferrari performance at Italian GP

Published on 04 Sep 2017 12:26
5
By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne admits that he was embarrassed by the performance of Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, witnessing up front the gap between the team and Mercedes. Mercedes dominated the race to take home another 1-2 finish, and have pulled further away in the constructors fight.

Sebastian Vettel crossed the line in third, over 36 seconds behind race-winner Lewis Hamilton. The Brit now takes the lead in the driver's standings, and Marchionne, who watched the weekend unfold from the Ferrari garage, has called the gap between the two teams "embarrassing".

"It was almost embarrassing to see the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari. Mercedes were superior to Ferrari, we could not do anything. It was impossible. This is not Ferrari, we need to double our commitment. It's okay that the next circuits are more favourable, but it does not mean anything. We have to remove the smile from the face of these guys here, I'm flat out."

Next up on the F1 calendar is the Singapore Grand Prix, a track that Mercedes is expected to struggle at. Niki Lauda, who is the non-executive chairman of the Silver Arrows, said last weekend that Ferrari should easily win around the tight street track.

"Yes, I think so," Marchionne replied. "But that does not change that a week ago we were very close to victory and perhaps had even the best car. Then something happened. For the first time this season we were below expectations in the race, so obviously we have work to do. But while Monza is Monza, the world championship is still long. But the others were almost one second ahead of us, and that's impossible. That is not Ferrari."

Fergal Walsh

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

How I love to see Ferrari destroyed and demoralized, especially at Monza. The absolute arrogance they displayed all weekend, starting by denying Luca di Montezemolo access to the Ferrari 70th anniversary. I've been wrong a lot this year expecting Ferrari to run out of steam, but maybe it's starti... [Read more]

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Sep 5 2017 - 10:06

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Sebastian Vettel Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (5)

mbmwe36

Posts: 533
You have to wonder if mercedes were running with the volume on their PU turned up to 11 (and probably shorten their lifespan), just to break Ferrari's spirit, because otherwise it just seems amazing. It was almost a vulgar display of power by the silver arrows.
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- Sep 4 2017 - 14:11
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  It was, but I also think it was down to their latest upgrade. Look at the way they blasted past even other Mercedes powered teams. It was just utterly ridiculous. If it was down to the upgrade, I fear what we might see for the rest of the season.
  + 0
  
  Sep 4 2017 - 20:24
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Yep, that was what was most impressive, how they left the other mercedes powered cars in their dust. IF it just is down to the upgrade, that is one hell of an upgrade. I guess we'll get a clearer picture in Singapore, but as a Vettel fan, I'm a bit worried it wasn't a one off.
  + 0
  
  Sep 4 2017 - 20:57
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
How I love to see Ferrari destroyed and demoralized, especially at Monza. The absolute arrogance they displayed all weekend, starting by denying Luca di Montezemolo access to the Ferrari 70th anniversary. I've been wrong a lot this year expecting Ferrari to run out of steam, but maybe it's starting to happen.
- + 1
- Sep 5 2017 - 10:06
f1ski

Posts: 726
I think the Ferrari engineers took off too much downforce. This most evident in the rain
I think Mercedes sent everyone else a PU upgrade to try to pin the Ferraris back further
thats why Williams was so surprised by their performance. Mercedes may have had their car in absolute max power mode knowing they had to capitalize where they would be strongest.
- + 0
- Sep 5 2017 - 16:36