Ferrari Sporting Director highlights qualifying issues and race prospects at Imola. Laurent Mekies about qualifying .

Scuderia Ferrari Sporting Director Laurent Mekies comments and impressions at the end of the qualifying session for the Emilia Romagna Grand prix:

“Qualifying went pretty much the same way as last weekend, even if we had hoped for something a bit better. However, it does confirm that we are making progress compared to where we were in mid-season and on a track with different characteristics to Portimão. Fourth place, which is pretty much our target at the moment, escaped Charles by just over a tenth, but all the same, for the ninth time this season, he was in the top ten on Saturday afternoon. Sebastian seemed more comfortable than previously in the car, but was unable to make the cut out of Q2 and will again start from the lower half of the grid, although he at least has a free choice of tyre compound for the first stint.

We again tried to get into Q3 on the Mediums to have the strategic benefit tomorrow, doing the first Q2 run on this compound. After the first runs, in Seb’s case it was clear that he should try and improve with the Softs and with Charles it was too risky to try again on the harder tyre, so we played it safe.

The two day weekend obviously means less time to prepare in the usual way for the race, so today’s long runs were a bit less representative, so that will be another unknown factor to consider. However, our aim remains the same: to bring home as many points as possible with both drivers, to make up ground in the Constructors’ classification.”