Ferrari’s CEO Louis Camilleri has accepted that making substantial gains in the 2021 Formula 1 season will be tough, amid the marque’s present struggles.
Ferrari, which has finished runner-up in the standings for the past three years, has plunged to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship this season, amid difficulties with its SF1000.
It failed to score at Spa-Francorchamps, had both cars retire at Monza, though picked up five points at Mugello courtesy of eighth for Charles Leclerc and 10th for Sebastian Vettel.
Formula 1 is maintaining its current chassis for the 2021 campaign, in a bid to cut costs due to coronavirus, with limited updates permitted for each marque.
“Realistically it’s going to be tough,” Camilleri said on making strides next year.
“[In] Formula 1 we’re always fighting time, on track and in development. There’s no magic bullet. It will take time.
“I’m hoping with a bit more flexibility in the regulations next year we can at least step it up from where we are.
“Mercedes, hats off to them, they’ve done an incredible job, we’ll see in 2022 with the new regulations whether it creates a reset.”
Camilleri stressed that Ferrari was not interested in a blame game and emphasised it must focus on making improvements.
“We are in a hole now, we know we are in a hole,” he said.
“It’s a confluence of factors, but anything I say will come across as excuses. And we’re not into excuses.
“What matters is to focus on the issues we have, to work hard with determination to [get to] what we consider to be our rightful place.”
