After qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix in a distant third place behind the Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel said that there are no easy solutions to resolve Ferrari's pace deficit.
"As you can imagine, it’s not that easy – unless you know how, then sign the contact and join us!" he said.
"Obviously…we’re just not quick enough yet. It’s nothing to… y’know, try to make it super-complicated, we know that the combination of car and engine, we’re a little bit behind on both sides, so it’s up to us to catch up."
He suggested also however that Ferrari had not made the best of things in Monza's qualifying: "I think there’s a lot of stuff leading into the actual lap time that you are able to do" he said, "I think we were happy all weekend but in quali, here and there, it didn’t… yeah, I think it could have been a bit better. So there’s a little bit in that."
When asked what Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, in attendance this weekend, would make of the situation, Vettel was resolute. "I think above all, knowing what’s going on, he’s realistic" Vettel insisted. "I think he knew, going into qualifying, that we’re not the favourites but it’s something everyone in the team is up for and willing to change.
"Now, the way you need to look at it is not that we get smashed by Mercedes. I think the way we need to look at it first of all, and it is a question of respect, is to say that they do a very very good job, they’ve strung a very strong team together."
Vettel added that his aim and that of his team mate Kimi Raikkonen – who starts fourth – for tomorrow's race is to have a good start. "Our target is to have a good start and then it’s a long way down to Turn One. We are on a different tyre which should give us a bit of an advantage given our start is good. Then we’ll see."
