Formula One Managing Director of Motorsports and technical director Ross Brawn admitted that Scuderia Ferrari “badly needs a win” to avoid pressure building, after “too big a gap” in the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Italian side has failed to score victory in any of the 12 races so far, although did cross the line first in Canada before Sebastian Vettel’s time penalty dropped him to second.
Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring, the last before F1’s summer break, finished with both Ferraris more than a minute behind race winner and runaway championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
Ross Brawn, one of the masterminds behind Scuderia Ferrari’s run of titles with Michael Schumacher from 2000-2004, said that was “too big a gap for the team”: “One knew from the track characteristics that this race would not suit the Ferrari car, but not to the extent we saw, especially in the race,” said Brawn in his post-race debrief – “The times from the third sector, where you need maximum downforce, speak volumes, as the car was so far off the pace of the Mercedes and Red Bulls. The summer break has probably come at just the right time because I’m well aware of how the pressure can build on Ferrari when things aren’t going well. It won’t do any harm to take a breather and recharge the batteries. Then, once the racing starts again, the aero requirements of Spa and Monza could put Vettel and Leclerc right in the fight again considering the aero efficiency of their cars. Ferrari badly needs a win, not so much for their championship aspirations, but as a morale booster, to prove that it has the potential to be a championship contender, an obligation it has always been under.”
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari’s best-placed driver in the championship, is fourth in the standings and 94 points behind Hamilton. Ferrari is 150 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ contest. Hamilton’s eighth win from the opening 12 races was earned after Mercedes switched him to a two-stop strategy in a bid to overhaul long-time race leader Max Verstappen.
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