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Marchionne: Blaming one person for Ferrari failure "idiotic"

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne says singling out team principal Maurizio Arrivabene or technical chief Mattia Binotto for the Italian Formula 1 team's recent poor performance would be "idiotic".

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal signs autographs for the fans

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal signs autographs for the fans

Sutton Images

Jock Clear, Ferrari Chief Engineer and Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal
Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari Chief Technical Officer
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H

A first-lap crash that ended both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen's race in Singapore, followed by engine trouble at Malaysia and Japan, derailed Ferrari's hopes in both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

Mercedes clinched the constructors' title in Austin while Vettel now trails Lewis Hamilton by 66 points with 75 remaining after finishing runner-up to the Mercedes driver at the Circuit of the Americas.

When asked if there was a chance Arrivabene would be replaced by Binotto following the team's failure this year, Marchionne said: "No. Both Mattia and Maurizio have been involved in this process. Picking one or the other is a bit idiotic.

"They were both at the table when the operation was going on and technically I'm involved too, I was the chairman.

"But that's not going to solve the issue. We need to win, that's the more important thing. I don't think it's attributable to a single guy. Processes may have not helped and those things are being addressed."

Marchionne previously said Ferrari had paid the price for "ignoring" quality control, with the team subsequently drafting in Maria Mendoza from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to reorganise its quality control department.

But speaking to reporters, Marchionne insisted the move would not spark a series of personnel changes and insisted "I don't think we need to overhaul the team".

He added: "The things that have happened in the last three Asia races have really been a collection of the most unfortunate events.

"With the exception of the technical failures we've had, which are quality driven, everything else was just a fluke and it happened.

"The likelihood of us repeating those errors is hopefully very small. We've made one change to the organisation by bringing in someone who's got experience on the quality side to try and strengthen our skills.

"The rest of it I think is within the way in which we manage. I think we'll be alright, I don't think we need to overhaul the team, I don't think we need to make changes.

"This team knows how to win and knows how to get it done, just give them the space."

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