Ferrari chief wants immediate results, despite doubts over 2016 car; Says there were "results that didn't match up to our expectations"
Wednesday 29 June 2016 19:34, UK
A typically demanding Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari need results now, despite admitting the SF16-H is a "difficult car".
Tipped to challenge Mercedes at the start of the season, the Italian outfit have yet to secure a race victory in 2016 and are 81 points behind their rivals in the Constructors' Championship.
While Ferrari chief Marchionne still believes his team can win the title, reliability concerns as well as a peculiar lack of pace, particularly in qualifying, have seen them struggle to end the Silver Arrows' domination.
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"Their secret is the stability of the car," Marchionne told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The Ferrari SF16-H is new compared to the 2015 edition. Although the design looked great, once it took to the track there were some results that didn't match up to our expectations.
"We are trying to move past that in order to understand what is needed in order to improve our performance. It's a difficult car."
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen have also been the victims of rather strange strategy calls this season, with Maurizio Arrivabene under immense scrutiny.
The Scuderia have yet to deliver on their promise to return to the top after eight races, and Marchionne's presence at certain grands prix has only ramped up the pressure.
Asked if Ferrari needed to bring in experienced people from the outside to help, he explained: "We are doing that. We just signed Jock Clear. There are people that are helping out those areas that are struggling.
"We want to round out the team. Results don't happen overnight, and we need time to bring about tangible results that will likely come in 2017. All this is about the future, but results are needed now."
Without a constructors' title since 2008, Marchionne also sought to play down fears that Ferrari were working with 'methods from the past'.
"I don't know if we are working with old methods," he added. "But the current structure is dated and don't reflect the people we currently have. We have a great company that produces results. We can and must improve."
