Formula 1's managing director of motorsports and former Ferrari team boss, Ross Brawn, believes it's vital the Italian outfit takes the summer break to reset and come back stronger and although he admits their title hopes are all but over, says a race victory is "badly needed" to boost the team's morale.
With more than half the 2019 season run, only Mercedes and Red Bull have scored victories (ten and two respectively), and although Ferrari has come close – it lost out on a win in Bahrain through reliability – Brawn reckons the team have taken steps back in recent races after they finished well adrift of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Hungary.
"It was a difficult weekend for Ferrari, even if Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc finished third and fourth respectively. Finishing more than a minute behind the winner is too big a gap for the team," he said of their performance.
"One knew from the track characteristics that this race would not suit the Ferrari car, but not to the extent we saw, especially in the race. The times from the third sector, where you need maximum downforce, speak volumes, as the car was so far off the pace of the Mercedes and Red Bulls."
Brawn is hopeful that upcoming circuits after the summer break will suit Ferrari better and get them in the hunt for wins, even if the title fight is out of reach.
"The summer break has probably come at just the right time because I’m well aware of how the pressure can build on Ferrari when things aren’t going well.
"It won’t do any harm to take a breather and recharge the batteries. Then, once the racing starts again, the aero requirements of Spa and Monza could put Vettel and Leclerc right in the fight again considering the aero efficiency of their cars.
"Ferrari badly needs a win, not so much for their championship aspirations, but as a morale booster, to prove that it has the potential to be a championship contender, an obligation it has always been under."
