Ferrari has no answers for “very bad and difficult" French failure

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is confident the team’s “very bad and difficult race” in France is not a reflection of its true pace after it slumped from two-time pole sitters in Monaco and Baku to pointless finishers.

The F1 team became accustomed to not scoring last year as it racked up five outings without a point in 17 races but has stepped up a gear this term to become a regular in the top 10.

At the Paul Ricard Circuit, however, it was only the second time a Ferrari that has started a race this year has failed to finish in the points.

Binotto said: “I have not got much to say, a very bad and difficult race for us.

“Difficult, bad, out of the points, a long time for us happening. I don't think it is reflecting the true pace of the car or the performance of the car itself but no doubt there is something we need to learn and address.”

Ferrari cannot get tyres to work

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc qualified well in fifth and seventh respectively, but high levels of tyre degradation meant they were unable to select the optimum strategy, with the team baffled as to why.

Binotto added: “We have not been able to make the tyres work as we should have done and our performance was really strictly linked to the tyres and how we made them work.

“I do not have an answer right now. I think what we need is when we get back, analyse all the data and have a brainstorming, do some simulations. I think that will be part of the homework that we need to do."

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