Ferrari eyes ‘stronger’ Mercedes challenge by Monza

Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne is adamant his team will present a stiffer challenge to Mercedes by next September’s Italian Grand Prix.

The Maranello-based outfit has been the defending champions’ closest rival this year, with Sebastian Vettel even managing to defeat both Silver Arrows to win at Sepang.

But after claiming six podiums across the opening six races, Ferrari has not placed one of its drivers in the top-three since last month’s Monaco Grand Prix. Despite introducing a new engine upgrade at Montreal, the Italian squad has simultaneously seen the gap to Mercedes increase to 136 points in the Constructors’ race.

Marchionne, who replaced Luca di Montezemolo at the helm in last September, remains confident there is more to come from the SF15-T and promises improvements will become visilbe by Ferrari’s home race.

“I think that you will see the car develop as we go through the season,” he said.

“We are not finished, the car is going to get better and better. We started late, which is unfortunate, so we are making up for lost ground.

“But I feel relatively comfortable that by the time we reach Monza we are going to be in a much stronger position than we have been in all season.”

Click here for FIA President Jean Todt's thoughts on the current state of F1

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