Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto denies there is a reason to panic despite Mercedes’ continued domination in Azerbaijan.
On Sunday, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton a fourth successive 1-2 finish, the first time any team had managed that feat to start a season as Sebastian Vettel cantered home in third.
That led to an outcry in the Italian media who accused the Scuderia of “wasting opportunities” and suggested Vettel in particular “could have done more”.
“No, the goal is always to understand the weak points and improve,” Binotto responded to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We will have to push with some choices and be more aggressive in the development, but it is normal to do so.
Also Read:
- Vettel admits Ferrari need to ‘line everything up’ to match Mercedes
- Vettel: We have to work ‘harder and better’ to end ‘boring’ Merc dominance
- Mercedes set tone on Bottas/Hamilton title fight amid fears of 2016 repeat
“The spirit in the team is excellent, we want to do well, and we work in a united way,” he continued.
“We were hoping to be more competitive at the start of the season, but there are still 17 races left. Are we still in the running for the world championship? Of course.
“We do not make calculations but proceed race by race,” Binotto concluded.
Ferrari president John Elkann was in Baku this past weekend and echoed the team spirit within the team after making this suggestion about Mercedes.
“Mercedes is stronger and more fortunate, but we did the fastest lap today,” he reflected.
Some are already suggesting it is a two-horse race between Hamilton and Bottas for the Formula 1 title, but the world champion believes it is too soon to make such claims.
“Ferrari has had the pace in practice, in qualifying and if both drivers had delivered as we did, it would have been a lot closer,” Lewis claimed.
“We will go [to the next race in Spain] and Ferrari looked quick there in testing and I am sure they will bring extra upgrades.
“These first four [races] have been stellar for us and we just have to stay on our toes because you just never know when another team is going to take a step forward.
“We have to continue to perform as we have and not let that waver,” he concluded.
