Fred Vasseur delivers McLaren claim after Ferrari shows 'better shape'

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari has "closed the gap" to McLaren following the Italian Grand Prix. The 57-year-old feels the Scuderia was in "better shape" at Monza, despite Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton only finishing fourth and sixth, respectively. The pair qualified fourth and fifth - before the latter's five-place grid penalty from Zandvoort was applied - and there have been positives to take from both rounds post-summer break. However, Ferrari is the only one of the leading four F1 teams yet to have won a grand prix this season. Despite that, it finds itself second in the constructors' standings - but the margins are shrinking. With eight rounds remaining, the Prancing Horse is 20 points clear of Mercedes and 41 points ahead of Red Bull in fourth. If Max Verstappen can replicate his form at the Temple of Speed, the Milton Keynes squad could prove a late contender for the runner-up spot. Nonetheless, the Ferrari boss sees reason for optimism. "I think we were one tenth off the first row in qualifying, even if you play differently with the engine mode or fuel," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365 . "We are speaking about three, four kilos of fuel - this, we never know. But it's true also that, even in the race, it's the smallest gap with McLaren." Highlighting the small margins in qualifying and through the three practice sessions, the Frenchman did, however, maintain that more work must be done. "It was also the smallest gap in FP3, the smallest gap in qualifying - and FP1," he added. "I think we were in better shape this weekend. Not enough, because they are in front of us, but I think at least we closed the gap."