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Sebastian Vettel's 13-race losing streak reflects Ferrari's struggles

MONACO — Sebastian Vettel's barren spell with Ferrari stretches to a dismal 13 Formula One races without a win, dating back to the Belgian Grand Prix last August. The veteran driver still holds No. 1 status at Ferrari mainly because of his experience. At times this season he has been slower than Charles Leclerc, his young and highly-motivated colleague keen to make an impression in his first season with the team. When asked if Vettel's performances had fallen below expectations for a four-time world champion, team boss Mattia Binotto defended him and said the problems were not down to the 31-year-old German. "First we need a good car ... which is performing sufficiently well to win," Binotto said. "It may be frustrating for him, no doubt. But first it's our duty to give him (one) that he can perform well (in)." The car is apparently not an issue Ferrari had anticipated. After strong performances in pre-season testing, it was touted as the team to beat, and even five-time champion Lewis Hamilton — winner of the past two championships — said so. But Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas have won all five races this season while Ferrari has a measly three podium places. The team's last win was by Kimi Raikkonen at the United States GP last October, two months after Vettel's victory in Spa. While Mercedes is all about smooth running, Ferrari's car is blighted by a front suspension issue, a deficit in cornering speed and such basic trouble as getting enough heat into the tires quickly enough. Ferrari's passionate tifosi fans, who are waiting for a first drivers' title since Raikkonen in 2007, are not happy with the current standings. Vettel is fourth, nearly 50 points behind championship leader Hamilton, while Leclerc is fifth. "After winter testing our confidence in the performance was higher than today," Binotto said with an air of resignation. "There are a lot of points to recover." Binotto has been with Ferrari a long time and was promoted from chief technical officer to team principal in January. He took over the role from Maurizio Arrivabene after two frustrating years in which Ferrari blew the title race, due to a bizarre combination of panicky errors from Vettel and a string of baffling strategical and technical mistakes within the team. Now there are worrying echoes of 2016 — when Ferrari failed to win a single race and Mercedes crushed its rivals.

Ferrari patents new electronic steering assist

Automobiles keep getting more and more advanced, with computers playing an ever-increasingly vital role in their operation. But some things remain the same. Despite more advanced (if not necessarily better) technologies available, we still burn fossils to fuel our engines, we still check what's behind us in actual mirrors and (with few exceptions) we still turn a steering wheel mechanically connected to the front wheels to change directions. But that doesn't mean automakers aren't working at new solutions.
We've sampled electric steering systems developed by Japanese automakers like Honda and Infiniti that disconnect the front wheels from the steering column, but while those systems may be the way of the future, they leave the driver feeling physically disconnected from the road. Ferrari, however, has a different idea.
Instead of either relying completely on a traditional system or replacing it with an entirely digital one, Ferrari appears to have found a sweet spot in the middle. According to a patent filing obtained by Evo, Ferrari is developing a system that still uses a direct mechanical steering linkage, but enhances it through the use of software that corrects for certain inconsistencies.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso rights the FF's wrongs

Enamored as we may be with the idea, there's a good reason that more automakers aren't making shooting brakes these days. A three-door wagon (or elongated hatchback) is tricky to get right, stylistically speaking. The Ferrari FF might have come closer than most, but even the most dedicated of tifosi would have to admit it was a little awkward. The new GTC4 Lusso goes a long way towards setting that right. Sixteen feet long, to be exact. Unveiled here at the Geneva Motor Show, the GTC4 Lusso is not only better looking than its predecessor, but is more powerful and technologically advanced as well. Though Maranello is working on supplementing its V12s with hybrid assists and its V8s with turbos, the new Lusso still packs an old school atmospheric twelve. 6.3 liters now produce 680 horsepower and 514 pound-feet of torque (up from 651 hp and 504 lb-ft). The muscle is channeled to all four wheels, helping it reach 62 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds and top out at 208 mph with privileged disregard for the conditions. There may be some compelling competition vying for the kind of money Ferrari will charge for the new Lusso, considering that the previous FF commanded a princely $300k. But nothing else (since the Jenson Interceptor) can offer the same combination of space and pace – and dare we say, grace. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all, choosing to take home a new GTC4 Lusso will still be a matter of personal taste – but that's a choice we wouldn't mind having to make. View 14 Photos This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The Ferrari GTC4Lusso debuts at the Geneva Show: class-leading performance, versatility in all driving conditions, sublime elegance. Geneva, 1 March 2016 – The new Ferrari GTC4Lusso is Maranello's latest interpretation of the four-seater concept, which combines extraordinary performance in all driving conditions with sporty elegance and luxurious comfort for both driver and passengers alike. The GTC4Lusso's name references several illustrious predecessors, not least the 330 GTC or its 2+2 sister model, the 330 GT, as well as the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, which married extreme performance with stylish design and sophisticated materials and craftsmanship.