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F1 Italian GP: Spa recovery giving Ferrari hope for Monza

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says the Scuderia can head on to its home Italian Grand Prix with high hopes despite a bruising Belgian Grand Prix that extended its podium-less streak to four races.

On a weekend that saw Red Bull and Ferrari enjoy a more competitive performance relative to Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen nonetheless saw their chances of challenging Nico Rosberg for victory scuppered at the first corner after getting tangled with Max Verstappen.

Though the drivers were at odds over whom was at fault, the subsequent damage would see each take to the pit lane for repairs. Aided by the red flag stoppage on lap nine, Vettel and Raikkonen would eventually recover back to sixth and ninth respectively.

Though it means neither driver has stood on the podium since the Austrian Grand Prix, Arrivabene was satisfied with their charge up the order despite each having driven with a compromised car.

"For me it's encouraging that after the accident that both cars, both Sebastian's car and Kimi's car they were really damaged on the floor and in other parts of the car.

"Even so, the performance they show out there is much stronger and the performance on the track, considering this problem, was quite good. So we turn a page and we look forward with Monza with positive information.

Heading to the team's much loved home round in Italy, Arrivabene feels Ferrari's ability to turn an initially difficult weekend around puts it in good stead for Monza, where it hasn't won since 2010.

"As you will know all the tracks have different characteristics but I think it was also a good sign. Considering the reaction of our guys on Friday, not only here but at home, because as I've said many, many times, even if we have somebody trying to depict a different situation.

"The team is very compact, we are all united here and at home and we are looking altogether and looking forward to having a good race in the Italian Grand Prix." 

Zdroj: crash.net