Marchionne: Ferrari Never Expected Easy Task Catching Mercedes
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said the team always recognised the scale of Mercedes' Formula One advantage after hopes of a 2015 title fight faded post-Canada.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne made clear he never underestimated the difficulty of catching Mercedes in the 2015 Formula One season, following another dominant display by the reigning champions at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel’s win for Ferrari early in the year had raised hopes that Mercedes’ grip on the sport might be under threat. But after five more races without a Ferrari victory, including Montreal, where Mercedes secured another one-two, Marchionne said the outcome was expected given the scale of the challenge.
Ferrari’s 2015 progress and setbacks
Marchionne, who succeeded Luca di Montezemolo late in 2014, said he had discussed with the team that Mercedes would not stand still and that closing the gap would require more than incremental gains. Ferrari introduced an upgraded engine for Canada, but Vettel was forced to start from the back after a penalty and technical problems, while Kimi Raikkonen lost a podium chance with a spin.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged that Ferrari’s upgrades were visible in practice, suggesting that the Italian team’s true pace was masked by their issues on race day. Lewis Hamilton also said it was too early to rule Ferrari out of the championship fight, noting that Vettel’s absence from the front in Canada did not reflect the team’s potential.
No illusions about the title fight
Marchionne insisted Ferrari’s determination to improve in 2015 remained undiminished, but he was realistic about the work ahead. The team’s early-season win had not changed his view of the scale of Mercedes’ advantage or the need for ongoing development. As the season moved towards Austria, both Ferrari and Mercedes indicated that the true competitive order might not have been fully revealed in Montreal.
For more on Mercedes’ dominance and the responses from rivals, seeMercedes’ F1 advantage prompts concern after Sochi win
