Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel says his team are desperate to get back to winning ways, but he admits the whole team and fanbase must be patient this season. The Scuderia sit second in the Constructors’ standings on 261 points, but they are some way behind Mercedes.

Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have won nine races between them so far, while the only other victories have gone to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Ferrari have wasted several chances this season and they were hit by more car problems on Sunday at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

While Charles Leclerc, Vettel managed to battle through the train and finish second despite qualifying on the back row. Ferrari have now not won a race in 14 attempts, but Vettel is confident they can end that wait soon, starting with Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

He told Sky Sports F1: “It’s certainly a tough time for us as Ferrari with days like [Saturday] because it shows that we have things that we need to sort out, we have things that we need to do better but I think in this period it’s very important that we keep the morale, we keep supporting the team.

“From the inside that is happening, from the outside I hope it’s happening as well. I know the Tifosi are behind us but sometimes the headlines can shift in either way so it’s important that we keep the support because I think things are moving, we are pushing very, very hard and when it comes to passion I think we put a lot of effort and a lot of hours in; the people are very determined.

“I’m as impatient as everyone else to get the results finally but it will take a little while. We know what we can improve and that’s where we are working on but in the meantime I hope that people are a bit patient and give us that freedom in that time.”

Hamilton is the 1.95 favourite to win this weekend’s race but Vettel is as high as 9.00.