Leclerc, Vettel can add to Ferrari success in 2019 - Binotto

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc should not be ruled out of competing for race wins over the course of the season, having seen the races in which they had been predicted to be strongest at come and go.

Leclerc converted Ferrari's straight-line dominance into victories in Belgium and Italy, adding a silver lining to an otherwise grey season thus far for the Scuderia.

Ferrari's season has also featured several near-misses. Leclerc was pipped to the flag in Bahrain and Austria, while Vettel had victory in Canada taken from him by the stewards, giving Binotto cause for optimism over the season's final weeks.

"It's important for us not to miss any other opportunities as we missed in the first part of the season, and the fact that we capitalised on the strengths of our car in these two races makes us very happy," Binotto said.

"What will be for the next races? I think it can be as good as the first part of the season.

"There will be races as it has been in Germany, as it has been in Canada, Bahrain, where maybe we can still be competitive, and races where the weaknesses of our car will not give us the possibilities to go for the win, but it's difficult to guess which one.

"It's important for us to continue to develop the car, continue to understand it, try to have the best balance, and give our drivers the best opportunities whenever they come.

"There are tracks like the next one [Singapore] where maybe the engine is not so important."

Singapore's tight and twisting street circuit layout has always favoured high downforce, with engine power often taken out of the equation and Binotto says Ferrari will head to Marina Bay with a plan in place.

He said: "We are working back in Maranello to add some downforce. Maybe a few bits will be there."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 'weighing up options' over QUADRUPLE header

• 46 minutes ago

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton Ferrari fury as retirement announcement expected

• 1 hour ago

Mercedes chief boasts how Lewis Hamilton still helped them AFTER joining Ferrari

• 2 hours ago

Max Verstappen sends fans into a frenzy as Nurburgring showpiece heads for a sellout

• 3 hours ago

F1 journalist expects bombshell announcement from Lewis Hamilton

• Today 12:57

F1 insider reveals how umbrella gaffe forced major team exit to rivals McLaren

• Today 12:15