Ferrari upgrade 'insufficient' but a small step "in the right direction"

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has declared the minor upgrade package witnessed on the SF1000 during the Russian Grand Prix as "not sufficient" but at least providing a platform on which to build.

Aside from the obvious lack of power that has been significantly pronounced this year, the car has also struggled aerodynamically, leaving the team wallowing in sixth place in the constructors' championship.

It resulted in the team adding updates to the car for the race at the Sochi Autodrom where Charles Leclerc at least managed to score a creditable sixth place, albeit with team-mate Sebastian Vettel finishing a lap down in a lowly 13th.

Assessing the package overall, Binotto said: "I think there are some positives. First is the result, the second-best thing the relative pace in the race, certainly with Charles.

"It was a bit more difficult for Seb being more in the traffic, starting behind on the grid et cetera, but I think compared to the last races [we were] at least a bit more competitive in the race.

"We brought some new bits, not a big step forward, it’s not sufficient, we’re fully aware. But [it is] important to go in the right direction for at least the remainder of the season."

From the perspective of the drivers, both Vettel and Leclerc agreed a degree of progress had been made.

"Obviously, my race was a bit compromised," said Vettel. "I was not happy with the performance, so maybe not the best of chances in the race.

"On Friday, I think the parts were doing what we expected. It’s a very small step, not a huge one in performance, but we knew that going in.

"For sure, it doesn’t hurt and hopefully we can confirm in the next races that the pace is a bit better due to that."

As for Leclerc, he said: "I agree. I think driving-wise it’s not like we feel a big difference but the data says that it’s a small gain which is what we expected which is already positive.

"Now I’m looking forward to the next race where hopefully we will have something a bit bigger."

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