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Ferrari needs another step - Domenicali

Stefano Domenicali: "I am very pleased to see that we are back on track but it is not enough" © Getty Images

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• Belgian Grand Prix

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says the team needs to find another step forward to maintain a championship challenge despite progress at Spa.

Fernando Alonso was an impressive second in Belgium having qualified in ninth place, and while he limited the championship gains made by race winner Sebastian Vettel, Alonso admitted he would still have finished second to the Red Bull even if he had started on pole position. Domenicali said the response following disappointing results in Germany and Hungary was encouraging but that Ferrari needed to find more performance from its car.

"I think it's important, not only for Fernando - who deserves a very quick car - but also for the team because they are working very hard to make sure that we are able to fight up until the end for the championship," Domenicali said. "We had a very bad July for many reasons and I am very pleased to see that we are back on track but it is not enough.

"If you want to make sure that we are able to arrive at the end we need to have another step with regards to the performance of the car and this is what I am seeking from my people. This Is what at home everyone is trying to do as best they can and this is really the target that we have. For us it's important to get back on the trace of improving the car but for sure we have seen Red Bull has improved and we need to stay there because we can beat them by improving the car better than them and/or being there if there's an opportunity that comes because they may have a problem. Don't forget last year…"

Asked if the new parts brought to Spa were likely to benefit Ferrari for the rest of the year, Domenicali said that some would carry over to Monza but the majority were circuit specific.

"Some of them will carry through for the next races but some others of course were obviously the focus of the package with this race. At least I'm pleased to see that the car was back to a normal improvement in terms of performance; that was the most important thing for us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.