Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has urged the Ferrari team and the Tifosi to remain optimistic despite a disappointing home race at Imola.

Carlos Sainz Jr retired on Lap 1 after an agonising clash with Daniel Ricciardo while Charles Leclerc spun at Variante Alta eventually finishing in P6.

Despite their lacklustre performance at Imola the Scuderia still lead both championships and Binotto is upbeat about their title fight with Red Bull.

The Italian said after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: “I think we always said we are not only a team we are a family and we are a family as a team and together with our Tifosi so very happy to see so many people here so many Tifosi. 

“They are cheering they are still cheering now in the pit lane and on the main straight so obviously we are a bit unhappy for the results of today but I think we need to keep the heads up that’s part of the racing some race may go wrong as it has been today but I think we’ve still got a competitive package and I think we need to keep the smile on and look forward to the next races.”

Ferrari’s main competitor Red Bull capitalised on their mistakes in Italy with Max Verstappen taking victory. Binotto is aware of the Austrian team's prowess but the title fight will ebb and flow throughout the campaign race by race and the team can be happy.

He said: "Certainly they [Red Bull] are strong and we know that they are developing the cars but two weeks ago we were in Australia we saw we got the best car today is the opposite I think it will be race by race the balance may change a bit but again I think we are here we had a good package overall we were second in the quali it was on the wet conditions and on the dry I think had a good Sprint Race so overall I think again we can keep the smile we know that the developing will be a key element of the season no doubt. We know that Red Bull will be very strong they are coming back and but again we will review the race of today and move forward.”