Ferrari drivers haven't done a lot wrong despite poor start

Jolyon Palmer believes Ferrari are making the same operational mistakes they made last year with the team falling short of Mercedes so far, but admits the drivers haven’t done much wrong.

The Ferrari pair of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc have been well off the standard set by Mercedes, with only two podiums between them. Mercedes, on the other hand, have been dominant securing three one-two finishes in a row, the first time since the dominant Williams season of 1992.

In his column for BBC, Sport Palmer admitted he doesn’t feel as if the drivers have done too much wrong despite their lack of showing so far

“Vettel is now 29 points behind Hamilton, with Leclerc one further behind, but aside from Vettel's spin in Bahrain, the Ferrari drivers haven't done a lot wrong this season so far; they just haven't had the best car in two of the three races,” Palmer wrote.

“In the one they did, Vettel spun and Leclerc's engine denied him a maiden win.

Palmer also questioned Ferrari’s reliability and felt the mistakes they made last year are still there.

“Ferrari deny they have cooling problems, but reliability has already cost them a victory and poses question marks that Mercedes don't have, having had perfect reliability thus far.

“Operationally, Ferrari are making mistakes, just as they were last year.”