Ferrari at a loss to explain Formula 1 qualifying problems

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were mystified by their pace in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix and worked in F1's subsequent in-season test to cure the problem.

However, Ferrari struggled again in Monaco, with Vettel 0.930 seconds adrift of polesitter Daniel Ricciardo with Raikkonen two tenths further back.

Both were then unable to use the car's strong race pace as overtaking opportunities on the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo are limited.

"I don't want to find any excuses because we were not good enough in Barcelona Q3 and Saturday also in Monaco," Arrivabene said.

"We paid the fee during the race and I take the lesson.

"We need really to understand what the problem is.

"Here in Q1 we were 1m14.1s, and we did not improve enough to Q3, so there is the problem that we have to solve."

Vettel added: "There are lessons we have to learn from Barcelona and lessons from Monaco.

"It's a no-brainer. If you position the car more up front in qualifying, you have an easier Sunday."

FERRARI HOLDING ON TO TITLE HOPES

Ferrari trails constructors' championship leader Mercedes by 67 points after six races, compared to 84 at this point last year.

However, it is only nine ahead of Red Bull in third, whereas last year, the Scuderia was 77 clear of third-placed Williams.

Ferrari has shown it has the pace to win races this year but has been unable to do so.

It failed to score a podium for the first time in 2016 in Monaco, but when asked by Autosport if he felt the title was slipping away, Arrivabene said: "No way.

"[Daniel] Ricciardo here was quite good, [race winner Lewis] Hamilton is coming back.

"What we have to do is keep our concentration, keep focused and to move forward.

"This championship is going to be quite interesting."

FERRARI'S QUALIFYING DEFICITS

Margin from pole position for the leading Ferrari driver in Q3, with corresponding 2015 result.

Australia: P3 Vettel +0.838s (P4 Vettel +1.430s)
Bahrain: P3 Vettel +0.519s (P2 Vettel +0.411s)
China: P3 Raikkonen +0.570s (P3 Vettel +0.905s)
Russia: P2 Vettel +0.706s (P4 Vettel +0.852s*)
Spain: P5 Raikkonen +1.113s (P3 Vettel +0.777s)
Monaco: P4 Vettel +0.930s (P3 Vettel +0.751s)

*2015 Russian Grand Prix was held later in the season, in October