Lewis Hamilton: Flavio Briatore SLAMS Ferrari in brutal rant Mercedes F1 star will LOVE
FERRARI have been too slow “for eight years”, according to former Renault boss Flavio Briatore.
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Lewis Hamilton currently enjoys a six-point gap atop the 2019 F1 driver’s standings but the Italian outfit’s star racer, Sebastian Vettel, sits over 30 points off the pace.
The underwhelming performance of the German contrasts with their promising testing results, which led onto disappointing outings in Melbourne and Shanghai, in particular.
Meanwhile, Mercedes have claimed victory in all three races, Valtteri Bottas putting in a commanding performance on the opening weekend to make the Finn Lewis Hamilton’s main title competitor.
Such a difficult start to the year was foreseen by Briatore, however.
The car has been slow for eight years.
He feels Ferrari have been playing catch-up for a number of years with their problems deep rooted within the company.
"What's wrong with Ferrari? It's nothing new," Briatore told Italian broadcaster La 7.
"The car has been slow for eight years.”
After the exit of Maurizio Arrivabene in the summer, the Scuderia have solely entrusted Mattia Binotto with running the team - a bad choice in Briatore’s eyes.
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"With Binotto, they run the risk of not having a fully dedicated boss and also becoming lost in the technical area," the 69-year-old added.
Briatore claimed the World Constructors’ Championship in 1995 with a Michael Schumacher-led Benetton as well as the 2005 and 2006 titles when at Renault alongside Fernando Alonso.
Despite another young star, Charles Leclerc, coming to Ferrari over the summer, he doesn’t expect a serious challenge to Mercedes.
Leclerc should have won the second Grand Prix of the F1 season, in Bahrain, but experienced engine issues late on.
Such a moment was the exception rather than the rule, according to Briatore, who criticised the Italian team’s penchant for making excuses amid their tough start.
"Nothing has changed compared to last year,” Briatore said, when asked about Ferrari’s lack of speed.
“They have not reduced the gap to Mercedes.
"The usual repertoire of excuses already started in the first race.
“Mercedes will continue to dominate.”