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• Sebastian Vettel has seemingly given up on Ferrari in 2020.
• The driver labelled the Italian GP as one of the worst for the team.
• Ferrari celebrates its 1000th F1 GP this weekend.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Things can "only get better" for Ferrari, according to the famous and crisis-struck Italian team's boss Mattia Binotto.
Mugello this weekend is an important weekend for the Maranello marque, as it is taking place at a Ferrari-owned circuit to mark the team's 1000th race.
Also to mark the occasion, Ferrari will race a special livery with a deeper shade of red, while even the sport's official safety car has turned red for the weekend.
The whole team suffers
However, it is happening just a week after Monza, where the team's embarrassing 2020 slump hit a new low with shockingly poor pace, a brake failure for Sebastian Vettel, and a big crash for Charles Leclerc. Vettel told Speed Week that simply finishing the race at Mugello would be an improvement.
The quadruple world champion, who is leaving Ferrari at the end of the year and expected to sign for Aston Martin, said: "That would be a good start, at least for me. But there are no shortcuts in life. We are in this situation because we probably deserve it. It's hard, but I'm not the only one who suffers. The whole team does. And I always see myself as part of the team.
READ: Vettel reflects on difficult 2020 season, saying this year and next 'does not concern' him
"In the last races we had problems getting the car to work 100%. Maybe things are looking a little better for Mugello. But that doesn't mean that we will be on the podium. Expectations are very low."
Team boss Binotto denies that Ferrari is in crisis, but at the same time he doesn't take issue with Vettel's assessment.
Binotto told Rai 3 television: "After Monza, Sebastian said that it couldn't get any worse, and he was right. But we are working to improve the situation and it can only get better from here."
Do you think there's a chance that Ferrari could win a race in 2020? Email us.
Engine power took a hit
Explaining the core problem, Binotto admits Ferrari's engine power took a hit for 2020, admitting: "We developed a car based on an advantage that we no longer have today."
The Italian says he takes some of the blame for that.
"As head of the team, if I had to make a mea culpa I would say that I didn't understand the difficulties of this car soon enough."
READ: I keep thinking 'It can't get any worse' - Vettel
He admits that Mugello will be another difficult weekend, which could be disappointing for the 3000 Italian spectators in attendance.
"I hope they understand what kind of situation we are in," he said of the spectators.
As for Charles Leclerc, Binotto says the team's top driver has time to develop with Ferrari.
"I believe that Charles must not only face the situation, but he must help the team to get out of it. He is still only 22, so he must still grow as a person and as a leader."
