Ferrari determined to hit back

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has promised “grit and determination” from his team as they look to eradicate the issues blighting their season.

A month ago Ferrari endured a wretched weekend at a wet Silverstone as Felipe Massa spun five times, whilst Kimi Raikkonen suffered at the hands of a woeful tyre choice by the team.

In Germany a fortnight later, it was a lack of pace that appeared to undermine the performance of the Prancing Horse, who were blown away by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Although practice and qualifying in Hungary failed to suggest they had cured their ills, Massa turned the form guide on its head with a stunning start before comfortably controlling the race.

But then three laps from home Massa was robbed of victory with an engine blow-out, the team’s first since the Japanese Grand Prix of 2006.

Although Hamilton suffered a puncture, he still finished fifth to increase his title-race lead to five points over Raikkonen – who came home third – and eight to Massa.

Ferrari also have McLaren hot on their heels in the constructors’ championship as the gap has been cut to 11 points.

“We showed the worth of our team and drivers, but we lacked the total reliability which is absolutely vital,” assessed Domenicali.

“Felipe drove possibly the best race of his career and we are very disappointed at what happened to him just a handful of kilometres from the end.

“He made an amazing start, attacking at the right moment and then he was comfortably managing his race in the final stages, heading for a well-deserved victory.

“We now have to react to this negative moment in our usual way – with grit, determination and with everyone playing their part.

“We have three weeks of hard work ahead of us to be as prepared as possible for the European Grand Prix.”

Massa, as you would expect, was naturally dejected as he said: “It was a near-perfect race, one of my best – but it’s one of the most frustrating races in my career.

“As you saw, everything was perfect – then you know what happened, and it did so without warning, without the slightest indication.

“Unfortunately, racing can be a cruel sport, but these things can happen.

“Now we must not give up, but instead react quickly because there are seven races to go and 70 points up for grabs, which means there is plenty of time to make up ground.

“Our rivals are strong, but we have shown we are at their level.”

For Hamilton, the 23-year-old suffered mixed emotions at the end, suffering his own frustration with his latest tyre problem, but aware Massa’s misfortune had played into his hands.

“It was not as bad as it could have been, and not as good either,” said Hamilton.

“I think I drove well. I didn’t make any mistakes, it’s just that I had a puncture.

“When I was then told about what happened to Massa, I didn’t think much of it other than it was an extra place for me, which is good.

“My lead is bigger now, and you would never have thought that with all that has gone on this year.”