Stoddie Straight: Ferrari's horrendous decision, Alonso clues and Verstappen's break

Ferrari, what can you say?

Another bad weekend and it is really starting to show that they're really nowhere despite some good one-lap pace.

When it comes to race day, they either make mistakes in pitstops or with strategy or they're pretty much nowhere.

I don't think the Tifosi is going to put up with that for much longer so they definitely need to improve.

They are in danger of ending the year in fifth place in the Constructors' and I can't see them doing much to improve it.

We're halfway through the season and every weekend is just an excuse. At this level you can't just make excuses, you've got to perform.

I just don't see where the improvements are coming from, because you've got to remember that they don't come overnight. If you are hiring new people, you've got to wait to get them, give them time to settle in and I don't see who the individual is who is going to turn them around.

It is not Frederic Vasseur's fault, but I still maintain they made a horrendous mistake in letting Mattia Binotto go.

They could have brought Fred in and kept Mattia in charge of the technical side - let's face it, only last year, he had the best car in the field.

It was a big mistake to let him go, it really was. If I was Ferrari, I'd be trying to get him back rather quickly.

Alonso's clues

We saw a massive step from Aston Martin in pre-season testing that had an effect for the first half-dozen races, and there's still a little bit now.

But there is a lot of changes going on, moving into the new factory, all these kind of things going on in the background can have an impact on performance, but I think Fernando probably got the nail on the head when he said the new Pirelli compounds don't really suit their car.

Verstappen's break

You can't really take anything away from Max Verstappen - that was a brave move at Turn 1 on Lewis Hamilton with the pole position more down to him than the car.

The car was probably good for a top three for Lewis just dragged that little bit more out of it in Qualifying.

Max had the inside line for Turn 1, but that could have ended in tears so easily, but it didn't and you know that F1 is 'IF' spelt backwards.

You really feel that nothing's going to stop this championship for Max.

Assuming he wins another race, I think you can pretty much let him have the rest of the year off and he's still going to win the championship.

It's definitely a strong year for Max and for Red Bull.