Binotto sets Ferrari points target for end of 2019

Mattia Binotto has targeted topping Ferrari's 2018 points tally as the Scuderia gear up for the final five races of the 2019 campaign.

Ferrari remain 162 points adrift of last year's tally of 571 with 220 left up for grabs.

However, recent form has suggested the ambition is not entirely outlandish, with Charles Leclerc having secured four consecutive pole positions and only misfortune in Russia preventing them from converting each into a race win.

Leclerc won in Belgium and Italy, while Sebastian Vettel took the win in Singapore, with Ferrari now appearing to have finally cracked the code to unlock the SF90's pace on a variety of circuits. "We should be focused race by race and try to optimise the result of each single race," he said.

"Only at the end of the season we can try to draw the line and see where we are.

"It would be great to do at least better than last year, because that would show that as a team at least we are improving.

"I know we had a bad start to the season. It may be difficult, but not impossible, and I think that should be the first objective.

"Then let's start dreaming. Eventually if we can do more, we will not reject it."

Ferrari's recent form may come with a tinge of regret at the team's dreary start to the season, when Mercedes won the first eight races to secure a lead in both championships that will almost certainly not be given up.

However, Binotto said: "I think having regret does not make sense.

"We need to move forward and look ahead. If we were not performing as expected or we missed opportunities it's because we've got some responsibility on that.

"More important is to try as a team to move forward and to learn from mistakes and make sure they are not happening again in the future.

"It's not a matter of regret. It would be if we have not learned from that. And I think as a team we're growing and that's more important."

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