Sebastian Vettel does still think a Formula 1 title charge is possible if Ferrari can overcome their weaknesses.
The Italian team has had a tough first half of 2019, struggling to optimise the tyres and generally lacking performance versus Mercedes.
As a result, team boss Mattia Binotto had to implement a program to try and address the main shortfalls, but the four-time world champion does think progress is being made.
“I think we learned a lot after confusion or some bits that didn’t turn out to work exactly like we wanted to,” he explained on Thursday at Silverstone.
“During the French Grand Prix and Austrian Grand Prix it brought some clarity and I think we have a clear picture of what was wrong in terms of tuning and what needs to be changed.
“Sometimes parts overdeliver which is great and sometimes they underdeliver. I think overall we need to make sure the direction we need to go to and we will keep going that way.
"I think it is clear on paper that we are missing a bit of downforce compared to Mercedes in particular, hence the difference down the straight," Vettel added.
“So, if you take a simple reference like Monaco where we were faster on the straights by quite a big chunk and Monaco is the place where you put all the downforce on the car that you have.
“I believe that we have quite an efficient car as well which means that it is not so draggy but overall we are missing a bit of grip which speaks for the deficit we have in certain corner types. That is what we are working on.”
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The problem facing Vettel is Ferrari's disappointing results have allowed Lewis Hamilton opening a 74-point lead over him, thanks to his six wins in nine races.
However: “I don’t think I have a reason not to believe, but it’s not my number one thought when I go to bed," he admitted via RaceFans on if he thought that gap could be closed.
“Obviously the next races until the summer break, in general, are very crucial, but in order to turn things around, we need to have a stronger package overall otherwise it’s not enough to just challenge for victory.
"I think we need to have a package strong enough to demand the victory.”
