The not too long ago launched improve package deal has left Ferrari floundering, with Carlos Sainz fearing the group has taken an enormous step backwards.
From the outset the improve, launched in Spain, has confirmed problematic, specifically the brand new flooring, a lot in order that within the final couple of races the SF-24 has been seen bouncing in high-speed corners.
Over the Silverstone weekend the Maranello outfit tried a variety of issues, ultimately selecting a return to the Imola configuration.
Although this appeared to alleviate the bouncing it meant an general lack of tempo, because the Italian group misplaced floor to the ever-improving Mercedes and McLaren.
“It’s not adequate,” mentioned Sainz, who completed 35s down on fourth-placed Oscar Piastri. “We’ve got mainly the identical automotive as in Imola and since Imola everybody has upgraded, most likely added two tenths to the automotive and we have now needed to revert.
“We’ve got misplaced two or three months of efficiency acquire within the wind tunnel or efficiency we might have added in these three months,” he added, “so clearly we’ve not taken the suitable calls not too long ago.
“I really feel like Sunday was not less than back-to-basics, again to a automotive which was in Imola and we simply have to improve it from right here. However it’s clear that our rivals are an excellent step forward of us.
“I feel we did the utmost,” he mentioned of his British Grand Prix, which for the second successive race noticed him because the group’s solely level scorer. “Particularly in the course of the race when it was slicks-on-wet. I managed to catch the rostrum positions by six or seven seconds in these situations that I at all times get pleasure from.
“Actually, all of the calls have been just about spot on, all of the tyres, all of the radio calls,” he added. “It was only a disgrace we weren’t quicker as a result of I really feel like we might have been 100% within the battle for the rostrum or the win. However fifth and a bonus level on the finish with the quickest lap, so we have to be comfortable.”
Waiting for the 2 races earlier than the summer season break he fears the issues will proceed.
“We are going to bounce in Turns 4 and 11,” he mentioned of the Hungaroring, “however till one thing higher comes we could need to stay with bouncing for some time. In high-speed tracks we’d need to run the ground of this package deal as a result of if not, the opposite one is undriveable.
“I belief the group will make the suitable calls circuit-to-circuit till a extra strong package deal, which isn’t bouncing in high-speed and good in low-speed, arrives after which we are going to begin fascinated by battling the highest three groups once more.”
Nonetheless, group boss Fred Vasseur disagrees, feeling that the group truly took a step ahead at Silverstone.
“It is tough to say this after the outcome, however I feel we did a step ahead this weekend, not less than on the technical facet,” mentioned the Frenchman. “We’ve got a a lot better understanding of the state of affairs Sunday night than Friday morning, and this I feel is encouraging for the final a part of the season.
“For certain the outcome as we speak isn’t ideally suited,” he admitted, “however we compromised primarily the outcome yesterday, that greater than as we speak. Carlos did a strong race, that he was in a position to come again on Max on the primary int and to remain 10 laps within the gearbox of Max, with medium originally of the race.
“On Charles it’s kind of extra chaotic,” he added, “as a result of he was caught behind Stroll, he misplaced 10 seconds, and once we had the primary name for the pit cease, it was a bit on the sting.
“I feel we had precisely the identical state of affairs final 12 months, virtually on the similar stage of the season,” he continued. “Silverstone, Budapest, Spa… and we stopped it in Zandvoort to do a whole scan of the state of affairs, and we had an excellent restoration, as a result of the weeks after we have been there.
“What is hard on this state of affairs is that when you’ve got a difficulty, you do not have a correct check to repair it, or not less than to grasp it. And it is fairly tough as a group typically to compromise or sacrifice a Friday session, when you recognize that you’re shedding a little bit little bit of time throughout the weekend. And to say, ‘OK, let’s overlook about FP1, FP2, be targeted on mid-term’.
“Belief me, this choice as a group may be very tough, since you begin the weekend, and it was even worse in Silverstone with the climate. It signifies that we put ourselves in a troublesome state of affairs, however this we knew earlier than. And it was even worse with the truth that the Saturday morning was with moist tyres. That for certain it was not useful, however we assumed the choice earlier than the weekend, and I feel it was the suitable name to do it.”
It wasn’t that way back that Ferrari was seen as the principle risk to Purple Bull, requested if he nonetheless believes his group can problem for the title, Vasseur admitted: “Actually, I am not targeted. For those who ask me what the classification is, I do know that we’re P2. However I do not find out about what number of factors we’re behind Purple Bull and what number of factors we’re forward of, I do not know who’s P3, it is McLaren most likely.
“It is not the subject of as we speak,” he insisted. “The subject of as we speak is to seek out efficiency, to return again within the state of affairs of Monaco or Imola, and to have the ability to battle for pole place and the win. Then, the championship, we have now nonetheless 12 races to go or 13 races to go. It is virtually a championship. It signifies that we’ll have time to vary the whole lot ten instances.”
