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Niki Lauda thinks that 'Vettel is weaker' than Kimi

Monza, Italy - Sebastian Vettel is currently "struggling" in his role as Ferrari's lead driver.

That is the view of Ferrari legend and current Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda, as the fabled Maranello team writes off its chances of winning the 2016 title.

After the Italian grand prix Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said: "We wanted to win and have a say in the title. We did not make it.

"A few weeks ago we initiated countermeasures and we see the first effects now, but the full effect will be in 2017.

"The atmosphere in the team is good. We know where we want to go. We just need more time.

Comparing with the past

Lauda, meanwhile, compares Ferrari's current situation to when he arrived in the 70s, or before the Michael Schumacher era delivered its meteoric success more recently.

Lauda told Welt am Sonntag newspaper: "It seems to me that the old, well-known and fundamental Ferrari problems still exist.

READ: Vettel promises brighter Ferrari future after Monza podium

"The people at Ferrari are very emotional: if it goes well, they are relaxed and casual, which is bad for continuous success. And if it's not going well, there is a merciless pressure from the outside and the inside, creating a rush and quick fixes."

Lauda agrees that German Vettel was initially hailed as a Schumacher-like figure for Ferrari in the wake of the end of the failed Fernando Alonso era.

Vettel the saviour

Lauda said: "Sebastian came as a beacon of hope to Ferrari; a kind of saviour as Michael Schumacher was. At the beginning it worked quite well, but at the moment Sebastian is struggling in this role.

READ: Vettel committed to winning with Ferrari

"I cannot say exactly why, but we see that Kimi Raikkonen is often faster, which for me means that Sebastian is weaker. He is certainly not in the role that he expects from himself and Ferrari expect of him.

"That needs to change. Ferrari needs Vettel as the hope and the anchor for success."

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