Arrivabene: Something was missing from Ferrari

  • Published on 01 Oct 2018 09:54
  • comments 6
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says that something was missing from Ferrari throughout the weekend in Sochi. The Italian squad was dominated by rivals Mercedes, and never looked close to challenging them during qualifying. 

Sebastian Vettel managed to get ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the race during the pit stop phase, but it wasn't long before Hamilton used his car with superior pace to re-pass the German. Vettel had to settle for third, while Mercedes went on to bring home a one-two finish.

Speaking about Ferrari's pace over the weekend, Arrivabene said:  “Right from Friday, the Sochi weekend was rather a difficult one for us,” said Arrivabene. “Despite all our efforts to find the ideal set-up, neither on Saturday nor in the race were we competitive enough to worry our closest rivals."

Ferrari has not won a race since the Belgian Grand Prix, the first race that followed the end of the summer break. Arrivabene is more confident that Suzuka, which hosts the next round of the championship, will allow Ferrari to take a stronger challenge to Mercedes.

“Compared to the way we performed at other circuits, something was missing here and so we were unable to reduce the points gap. On paper, the next race in Japan should have very similar characteristics to the one at Silverstone, so in Suzuka, we will get a more precise indication as to the potential of our car.

“If it goes well, we will know that, despite the difficult situation in terms of the classification, we still have the right weapons with which to fight all the way to the very end.”

Replies (6)

Login to reply
  • Horses

    • + 0
    • Oct 1 2018 - 15:28
  • Bring back Aldo costa

    • + 0
    • Oct 1 2018 - 15:30
  • Just the same as usual, Arrivabene: poor strategy and Mercedes outdeveloping you. Seriously, the Ferraris were dominated by Merc' raw pace.

    • + 0
    • Oct 1 2018 - 17:24
  • Quite frankly I think the main problems this and last year have been (1) driver errors and (2) bad strategy. This year has been particularly embarrassing with a car that was superior on most tracks. Mercedes has beaten them on a few tracks were they didn't have the fastest car. Vettel has thrown away so many points with bad maneuvers.

    • + 0
    • Oct 2 2018 - 09:46
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    Merc have upped their game, possibly found out (spied) what Ferrari have done with PU, or its been leaked by Mr Brawn, now have recovered their power dominance so its all over for 2018! And probably 2019 as well.
    Frankly I cannot bear watching that nauseatingly slimy prat Hamilton keep winning, so despite having Sky Sports I will watch Countryfile or a recording of MASH or even a recording of Eastenders instead!

    • + 0
    • Oct 3 2018 - 01:09
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    Team work?

    • + 0
    • Oct 3 2018 - 23:37

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 22:13

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 22:13

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,386
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 210
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar