Ferrari is not only working on its 2017 car but has already started looking ahead to its 2018 Formula One project, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has revealed.
The team looks set for another season finishing second to Mercedes this year, but new technical regulations in 2017 present an opportunity to overturn that advantage. Arrivabene has vowed not to give up on this season, but has also revealed that the team is already looking two years down the road with a small team working on developments for 2018.
"I always said that the team that is working here is very, very focussed on this year because even if the gap is quite big, I think we can fight, and I am sure that we can fight," he said. "In the meantime we have a different methodology to work, so we have a team that is focused on this year's car and a little team that is focused on next year's car and one other that is looking to 2018, especially with the engine."
Victory opportunities at the Australian and Canadian Grands Prix went begging earlier this year, and in Spain Kimi Raikkonen was just 0.6s off Max Verstappen at the front of the field. Asked if he was personally disappointed by Ferrari's lack of a victory this year, Arrivabene said he felt the team had been unlucky.
"When we are going to win, I'm always going up to the sky because I am very emotional and very passionate, but in this role you have to forget about this and you have to keep calm.
"You have to look at the season, the next races, and keep the team motivated without too many ups and downs. We need to follow our way. I always said that I don't trust the bad luck or the luck, but in this case I think luck has a big debt with us."