Ferrari set target for end-of-season constructors’ showdown. Ferrari set target for end of the season.

Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto admitted that recent results have fired up the Italian side to take the fight to Racing Point, McLaren and Renault over the closing three grands prix of the season.

While circumstances and conditions played into the Scuderia’s hands in the last race in Turkey, the raft of recently introduced updates have also propelled Ferrari firmly into the mix in the fight for third in the constructors’ championship.

Over the last three races, Binotto’s team have scored 50 points compared to the 34 for third-placed Racing Point, 33 for McLaren and 22 for Renault, allowing it to cut the gap to the former to 24 with the Middle Eastern triple-header to come.

That has allowed Mattia Binotto to state: “In terms of constructors’ positions it is not the end of the championship”, which he has hailed to be “encouraging”.

Addressing the team’s upsurge in form, the Ferrari boss added: “It is very important for Ferrari, doing well at the moment. We know we have improved the car, and if you look at the last few races, we have improved our position in the race.

“I think the car has become more consistent and a bit faster, so it is great at least to have those results because for next year and for looking ahead to the next races.

“The people are working hard back at home trying to understand the weaknesses of the car and address them and especially preparing them for next season, so I think these results are encouraging in every sense.”

Sebastian Vettel, who scored his first podium for a year at Istanbul Park in finishing third, is now buoyed to go out on a high with Ferrari ahead of his move to Aston Martin next year.

“It has been a difficult year,” said Vettel. “I think qualifying has been the Achilles heel this year and the races have obviously been largely defined by being stuck in the pack.

“But I think we can look forward to the last couple of races and hope for improvements. I’m looking forward to trying to squeeze out anything that there is to squeeze in the last races to finish as high up as possible for myself and also for the team.”