Sebastian Vettel says he is sure Ferrari would not be booed on home soil by its spectators if fans were permitted access to the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.
Ferrari holds only fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship and has not finished that low in the standings since its disastrous 1980 campaign.
Ferrari endured a dismal Belgian Grand Prix weekend as a year on from a pole/win double it failed to score a single point, having also been unable to make it into Q3.
Vettel struggled to 13th position while team-mate Charles Leclerc finished close behind in 14th spot, having switched to a two-stop strategy.
The next round of the campaign will take place on Ferrari’s home soil at Monza this weekend, where last year it won, but will do so without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t think we would get booed,” said Vettel, when it was suggested that the absence of fans would mean Ferrari avoids the risk of being booed.
“The fans are suffering probably as much as the whole team. So if I had a choice I would still bring the fans back but obviously at the moment it is not a choice for us and not possible.
“Nevertheless it will be important races for us coming up. It is true it will be difficult in Monza as well.
“But still I have always some optimism and hope that some of the problems that seem to slow us this weekend can be understood and we can tackle them next week and be in a better place.
“’Better place’ doesn’t mean we can win the race but hopefully we can be stronger than this weekend.”
