Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari has “failed targets” that were set out ahead of the 2016 Formula One season.
The Scuderia’s president claimed on the eve of the current campaign that a decade without winning a world title would be “a tragedy” and wanted to see his team hit the ground running to challenge Mercedes.
Ferrari could have won a couple of races in the first half of the season but for questionable strategy calls.
However, it then slipped behind a resurgent Red Bull outfit in the Constructors’ championship, while the gap to the front has never shrunk.
“We failed the targets, I don't think there's a doubt in my mind," Marchionne told reporters at the Italian Grand prix where Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen locked out the second row of the grid, albeit some way behind Mercedes.
“It's no use putting sweeteners on the stuff. The car isn't there and I don't think we developed it.”
Marchionne has been ramping up the pressure to deliver and recently taken a more hands on approach, with Ferrari undergoing a major restructuring as technical director James Allison departed Maranello.
Despite the team falling falling short of his expectations, the 64-year-old believes it has potential to recover in the near future.
"I feel quite comfortable that this team are capable of turning the fate of the Scuderia around. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of season left,” Marchionne added.
“Let them finish the season, I think we'll do the best we can for the rest of 2016 and the fight starts in 2017 with the first race.”
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