Brawn: Ferrari losing their grip on 2019 season

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn believes Ferrari are slipping away from the title fight following the Monaco Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel achieved his highest finish of the season with P2, but that only came as a result of Max Verstappen’s time penalty – Vettel never really troubled the Dutchman or race winner Lewis Hamilton throughout the 78-lap grand prix.

Brawn has previously defended his former team, saying their current principal Mattia Binotto can turn things around, but with himself now turning, Vettel considering retirement, and Charles Leclerc reportedly at “breaking point” with the Scuderia, 2019 certainly appears to be slipping from Ferrari’s grasp.

“It was a difficult weekend for Ferrari, although it ended with their best result of the year,” said Brawn in his post-race debrief.

“However, Sebastian Vettel’s second place came at the end of a race in which he didn’t play a key role, sitting behind Verstappen throughout but unable to really worry the Dutchman.

“It reflected a weekend during which the Scuderia was the third strongest team.

“That was predictable given what we saw in Barcelona, where the car struggled, especially in the third sector of that track.

“The season seems to be getting away from the Maranello team, but it’s not the time to give up and it must learn from its mistakes if it wants to move forward.”

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