Maurizio Arrivabene: 'Ferrari must increase downforce'

Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene speaks with members of his team in the paddock after final practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on April 18, 2015
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Maurizio Arrivabene admits that Ferrari need to rev up their progress when it comes to aerodynamics.

Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted that Ferrari need to rev up their progress when it comes to aerodynamics.

With James Allison gone, Sebastian Vettel now openly questioning the team's race strategies and Red Bull having clearly raced ahead, the Italian press thinks that Ferrari's 'crisis' is only deepening.

Boss Arrivabene admitted after the German Grand Prix that there is "no question" Red Bull have made better progress in the first half of the season, but when asked about Allison's departure he insisted: "[It was] for personal reasons, I don't want to talk about James.

"We are doing our reorganisation without panic as we know exactly what we need to do. And we know exactly the areas of the car that we have to improve.

"Since Barcelona we have made little progress in terms of downforce - the engine is not my main concern. Now the work will stop for the summer break, but then we have to go full throttle."

Former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda, however, thinks that Allison's exit is more alarming than that for the Maranello team.

"In the middle of the season, such a prominent position changing is not good news and only brings confusion and discussion, particularly with Ferrari," the Mercedes team chairman told Welt newspaper at Hockenheim.

Yet Vettel, despite openly questioning his race strategy on the radio on Sunday, said that Ferrari's situation cannot be compared to the reasons that Fernando Alonso decided to leave the team in 2014.

"I don't know because I don't know how he felt," AS quotes the German as saying, "but I think the team spirit now is very high.

"Obviously last year was a good year, this one is going a little worse than we expected but we are here to fight - there is no reason to start getting frustrated now."

The 2016 championship resumes after a month off with the Belgian Grand Prix on August 28.

Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso ahead of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 31, 2016 i
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