Binotto says dismal performance at Spa mainly rooted in tyres

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Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has laid the blame for the Scuderia's miserable performance in Spa on the SF1000's inability to "make its tyres work".

Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel endured a dismal opening day of running at the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday, clicking in 15th and 17th overall in Friday's afternoon session.

Ferrari's 2020 car is weighed down around Spa's fast sweeps by a lack of engine power, but grip is also in short supply for the Italian outfit.

"We struggle to make the tyres work," said Binotto. "We are lacking grip, both in braking and acceleration.

"There is no overall performance to the car. So certainly, the drivers are complaining about grip, overall grip.

"I think it's not the potential of our car, and that’s certainly not the normal position for our car, if you compare where we are on the grid and the relative competitiveness to the others."

"I think it’s the same situation on both cars, so it’s not driver related. It’s really the way we set up the car in order to find the right window on the tyres."

Leclerc 'surprised' by Ferrari's depressed Friday pace

Binotto said the team had trialed a variety of downforce settings on Friday to try and determine the best set-up compromise. But tyres remained the defining factor of under-performance.

"If you don’t find the right windows on the tyres, you are not making them work," said the Swiss engineer.

"Certainly if you don’t have grip, you are not fast in sector two, and then you are slow in all three sectors as a consequence.

"So yes, there is a lot to do, and try to address it for the rest of the weekend."

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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.