Ferrari hope to join in the party

LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENT IN 1 000TH F1 RACE

Ferrari go into this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix, an event created to celebrate the team’s 1 000th Formula One race, denying they are in crisis and hoping an expected switch to a dark red retro livery will lift the spirits, deliver some points and ensure a party to remember.

After two disappointing and pointless races at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, the sport’s first visit to the beautiful Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit in the rolling Tuscan hills marks the team’s achievement in being the first to enter 1 000 World Championship Grands Prix.

To highlight the landmark, Charles Leclerc and departing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will drive SF1000 cars painted a darker red – to stir memories of the team’s F1 debut at the 1950 Monaco Grand

Prix, the second race of that, the first, championship season. They missed the first due to a commercial dispute with the organisers at Silverstone.

In Monte Carlo, future twotime world champion Alberto Ascari finished second behind Juan Manuel Fangio’s Alfa Romeo – a result that the current team would willingly accept this weekend to bring an end to their current travails.

“It is an important race for us, the 1 000th Grand Prix,” admitted team boss Mattia Binotto. “It is a different type of circuit to Spa and Monza so I think it will be important to understand our level of competitiveness at such a circuit.

“It’s a very hard season, but it’s by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger. We must look ahead and build for the future. Having said that, we will give our all at Mugello.”

Ferrari slumped to sixth in the constructors’ championship last

Sunday when Vettel – who will move to Aston Martin next season – suffered brake failure after six laps and Leclerc crashed out at high speed.

But team boss Binotto, who has kept his cool despite a maelstrom of emotions around him, said: “I think we were not in a crisis last time (after Belgium) and I can confirm that is not the case now (after Italy).

After recovering from a pit lane penalty at Monza to finish seventh, series leader and sixtime champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will be hunting more records.

Another win for him would be his 90th and lift him to within one of Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher’s record of 91.

He is unlikely to be challenged by Ferrari, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen should be back to his best, after failing to finish at Monza, a circuit very much suited to his style of driving. – AFP