Double DNF "really hurts" Ferrari - Mattia Binotto

Ferrari

Double DNF "really hurts" Ferrari - Binotto

Ferrari's shambolic season continued at Monza

Ewan Gale

Monday 7 September 2020 09:05

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto conceded to feeling "really hurt" after neither of his team's cars finished the Italian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel initially suffered from a brake failure on his SF1000 that led to him ploughing straight on through the polystyrene blocks at the first chicane before retiring after six laps, rounding off his dismal weekend after qualifying 17th,

Charles Leclerc, who celebrated a famous victory a year ago at Monza, seemed to profit from a safety car period that due to an early pit stop had promoted him into the top five.

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But on the restart, Leclerc lost control at the high-speed Parabolica and crashed heavily into the barriers, an incident which caused a 27-minute red-flag period.

Binotto conceded the team were prepared for a struggle at Monza but a double retirement was "the worst possible end to a very difficult weekend,"

"After Belgium, we knew that we would struggle a lot here, too, and so it turned out," said Binotto. "That was clear in qualifying but failing to get either car to the chequered flag really hurts.

"It’s even more disappointing that Sebastian’s retirement was down to a lack of reliability on the car. Problems like that, in this case with the brake system, should not happen."

With a second consecutive home race to come this weekend at Mugello where Ferrari will celebrate its 1,000th F1 race, Binotto was adamant his team was not resigned to its fate this year.

"It’s a very hard season but it’s by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger," insisted Binotto. "We must look ahead and there are useful lessons for all of us to take away from this to build for the future.

"Having said that, we must absolutely not give up and we will be giving our all next weekend at Mugello which is a special event for us, being our 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix."

Before we go...

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