Ferrari targeting first win of 2019 at Spa

  • Published on 06 Aug 2019 10:14
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the team will prepare as best as it can for the Belgian Grand Prix, where it looks to win its first race of the season.

The Italian squad has come close to victory on several occasions this year, but has always fallen short due to reliability, penalties or late-race overtakes. 

MOREVettel: Ferrari's Hungary pace not eye-opening | Masi: Onboard pictures give 'distorted' shots of Leclerc/Bottas contact

The team struggled at Budapest last weekend due to its lack of downforce, however with the straight-line speed advantage it holds set to serve it well at the next two rounds at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, Ferrari is hoping to secure its first win of the year. 

"We should certainly be more competitive there," Binotto said. "There is nothing which is given and all of our competitors will be strong and try to challenge us. 

"The situation will be different to Budapest, certainly and we need to try prepare ourselves best to at least try and seek our first victory."

The Belgian Grand Prix will mark one year since Sebastian Vettel last won a Formula 1 race.

Ferrari must work to understand rapid form changes

Ferrari was almost half a second down on pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, while it crossed the finish line on Sunday over a minute down on race winner Lewis Hamilton.

Binotto insists Ferrari must work to understand why it went from having arguably the fastest car at Hockenheim, to being third fastest in the space of a week. 

"What we need to explain is not how it's just possible today, but how a week ago, we had the fastest car and today we are not the fastest," he said "Here it's very track dependent.

"We know that our car is lacking maximum downforce, and when you're on a track like Budapest where maximum downforce is required, we are certainly suffering.

"You are suffering in the race compared to qualifying, because on the single lap, the grip of the tyres is coping with the lack of downforce. But over a long distance, you are sliding, overheating the tyres and things are more complicated."

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Sadtomato

    Posts: 48

    Ferrari were probably targeting first win of 2019 in Australia and then ever since, so I dont really see this as news!

    • + 0
    • Aug 6 2019 - 16:36
  • The track at Monza might suit their car a little better. It would be a shocker if they are 8/10s of a lap slower again there at their home race.

    • + 0
    • Aug 7 2019 - 01:48

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:54

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:54

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country IT
  • Date of b. Nov 3 1969 (55)
  • Place of b. , IT
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar