Brundle expecting 'purgatory' for Ferrari at Monza and Mugello

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Martin Brundle believes Ferrari's plight could get worse before it gets better, the Sky F1 pundit likening the Scuderia's dismal performance this season to a bad pupil that "has been sent to the back of the class for bad behavior".

The Scuderia just can't get out of its own way this year, its performance going from poor to outright depressing as its 2020 campaign unfolds.

Ferrari's engine issues - including the infliction it suffered from its confidential agreement with the FIA - are well chronicled. But the SF1000's performance relative to other Ferrari-powered cars, such as Alfa Romeo's C39, is equally disappointing, implying that its problems aren't just power centric.

"Seventy-three seconds behind the winner was the first works Ferrari in 13th place of the 17 finishers," commented Brundle in his post-race column for Sky.

"That would likely have been 14th had Carlos Sainz’s McLaren not failed going to the grid. And that is the kind of pace Ferrari truly had all weekend, having won the race from pole position last year.

"Whatever they were doing with the power unit last year which had to be stopped, and we are not allowed to know about, has decimated their performance.

"But that does not explain how Kimi Raikkonen, similarly powered in an Alfa Romeo run on a much smaller budget, passed and stayed ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

"It is as if Ferrari have been sent to the back of the class for bad behaviour, but their car should still be faster than Alfa.

"Charles Leclerc has been outperforming his Ferrari of late but not on this particular Sunday. It was painful to watch and not at all what F1 needs."

Ferrari pleads for 'patience' - warns turnaround could take years!

For Ferrari, 2022 and F1's regulation overhaul can't come soon enough. But in the interim, Brundle believes the pain and agony is set to continue.

"There’s enough money in F1, and hopefully structure with the new running budget cost caps in 2021 and new cars in 2022, to have a grid of 20 cars covered by less than a second. We have to close the pack for our healthy future in F1.

"The next two races in Monza and Mugello could well be purgatory for Ferrari."

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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.