F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ferrari will head to Canada with 'no magic solution' - Binotto

There will be no quick fix next week in Canada to Ferrari's issues, but Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto doesn't view Montreal as the team's last chance to turn around its season.

With each passing race, Ferrari's hopes of trouncing Mercedes - let alone winning the world title - appear to fading into oblivion.

While last Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix yielded a runner-up spot for Sebastian Vettel, the race weekend as a whole was but another story of strategy mismanagement and under-performance for the House of Maranello.

However, Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve bears few things in common with Monaco, leaving Binotto with hopes that a good result may be achieved, even if there are no shortcuts to improving the performance of the team's SF90.

"I don't think that Canada is the last race of the season," said the Swiss.

"I think we need to certainly improve ourselves race by race. We've got some programmes which have been launched back at Maranello to eventually address the issues we've seen in the last couple of races.

"I don't think that there will be any magic solution in Canada. The car is the one we've got here.

"But certainly it's a different track, different configuration, different compounds, different setup.

"The only thing we can do is to prepare ourselves to the best with the simulator work, with the setup preparation.

"As I said, it's not the last race."

Montreal's characteristics emphasize engine output, one department where Ferrari perhaps an advantage over its rivals.

But will it be enough to position Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc as genuine contenders?

"I think it's very difficult to judge," admitted Binotto.

"I think we will be in a better shape compared to Barcelona, but I think they've still got the best car and the strongest car at the moment.

"So I think they are still the ones that should be ahead. But maybe the gap will be closer.

"If there's any opportunity, we will be ready to take it."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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