Ferrari CEO still supporting the troops

Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne has vowed to continue to support the Scuderia in its current form although he admitted that results must improve in the second part of the year.

Speaking to the Italian media, Marchionne dispelled rumors of a burgeoning crisis at Maranello, and was adamant that Ferrari's in-house resources  and current team were up to the task of elevating its performance level.

"We took the decision to develop the cars in 2016 and 2017 with our internal expertise," he said, "because we have phenomenal talent.

"For us it is important to utilize our know-how, and that is what we are doing."

In the period leading up to technical director James Allison's recent departure and his replacement by Mattia Binotto, Marchionne consulted frequently with key engineering personnel and with Scuderia boss Maurizio Arrivabene in order to get a firm grasp on the red squad's problems.

"For us it is important to utilize our know-how, and that is what we are doing. To say that we need a transfusion of technical intelligence is excessive."

Marchionne admitted however that he was discontent with Ferrari's year to date, yet expressed his satisfaction with the work conducted by Arrivabene and the team's pair of drivers.

"I'd be lying if I said that I was satisfied, so we hope that the second half will be better.  We took on Arrivabene because he knows Formula 1, and we need a team boss like him who is able to work with the people and lead the team.

"Sebastian is a champion, and we have rightly recognized the work Kimi has done with a new contract for next season.

"I want us to end this season with honor, decency, having given our all at every Grand Prix. But we cannot waste anymore time."

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