Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled to search out something optimistic to say about their automobiles after a troublesome race in Saudi Arabia adopted a disappointing begin to the System One season in Bahrain.

Sainz completed sixth and Leclerc seventh in Jeddah, behind Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and Mercedes’ George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari, F1’s oldest and most profitable workforce, who had hoped to be difficult for a primary title since 2008, are fourth general and already 61 factors behind runaway leaders and defending champions Purple Bull.

“It is troublesome to take positives when you find yourself P6 and P7,” Sainz advised reporters. “A minimum of we received the reliability and the double factors however its not the place we need to be proper now.”

Leclerc, final yr’s championship runner-up who was second quickest in qualifying in Jeddah however began twelfth after a 10-place grid penalty, stated seventh was one of the best he might have hoped for.

“There wasn’t something to realize extra. The efficiency is just not ok,” he stated. “We have to work to enhance the tempo. We’re too distant. The result’s that we’re simply too sluggish for now so we have to work.”

Workforce boss Fred Vasseur stated there can be small updates for the journey to Australia subsequent week whereas the workforce labored in the direction of larger good points.

“I believe we’ve additionally to remain calm. It isn’t that every little thing goes mistaken,” he stated.

“I do not need to push on the optimistic aspect as a result of the end result of the weekend is just not good and we’ve to be centered on what goes mistaken … however I’ve to remember to do a correct evaluation what goes properly and I believe qualifying yesterday went fairly properly.

“A minimum of I had the sensation that in comparison with Mercedes and Aston Martin we did a step ahead [on Saturday].”

Vasseur stated reliability had additionally improved and the issue on Sunday was the lack of efficiency after switching to the onerous tyres for the ultimate stint.