Arrivabene hits back at Ferrari critics

Maurizio Arrivabene has hit back at Ferrari's critics, saying people have looked to "create controversy from nothing" as the Scuderia and Sebastian Vettel's title bids have faltered. Lewis Hamilton will look to wrap up the drivers' title at the United States Grand Prix after surging clear of Vettel in recent weeks.

Hamilton has won six of the last seven races – many of which have seen Ferrari enter as favourite – to put one hand on a fifth world title.

Ferrari's favourite status has been undermined by errors on the track and pit wall, a strategic blunder in qualifying compounded by Vettel crashing into Max Verstappen in Japan last time out serving as the team's failure in microcosm – but Arrivabene is unhappy with the overwhelmingly negative reaction to Suzuka.

"I had the impression that some people were waiting for this situation to criticise us," he told Motorsport.com.

"Since I've been at Ferrari, in the role of team principal, I always put my face first, and I will continue to do so.

"After three and a half years it was always going to happen one day that the horse would bolt from the barn – as probably happened at Suzuka. This gave rise to those who had been waiting to create controversy from nothing."

Arrivabene said that Ferrari had to look inwards when assessing what has gone wrong this year and suggested that the team must hide their emotions to avoid future controversies.

"I do not mind discussions – it is the silences that bother me," Arrivabene added. "That said, it is clear that there is interest from some people to create confusion and a casino within our team.

"When you are leading the world championship, just half a smile can convey the feeling of a team with great harmony. But if you slip into second place, it is normal to smile less. Maybe we should learn to smile more – if this helps to stop unfounded rumours.

"We are a team that is battling against a great rival like Mercedes – and it is not something you can do with a team that is in disarray.

"In the last three races, we had a loss of form, we know that, but we have analysed the situation and hope to have solved the problems. We will have the proof here in Austin.

"But we must not forget that we were not the only ones with a loss of form. Mercedes has also grown [stronger] and the two things together have determined what we have seen in recent races."

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