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 12:55

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 12:55

World Championship standings 2025

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 - 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 -
  • 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