More personnel departures could be on the cards at Ferrari.
Talk that the Maranello marque is in ’crisis’ only intensified ahead of the German grand prix when it emerged technical director James Allison has left.
His replacement by engine chief Mattia Binotto has raised suggestions it is obviously an ’interim’ solution.
"Even if Binotto is a good and experienced guy, he was certainly not Ferrari’s number one choice," said Ossi Oikarinen, a pundit for Finnish television MTV.
"So this is a bit of a quick fix and, in my view, a temporary solution."
At Hockenheim, Ferrari cemented its new place not only behind Mercedes but also now regularly outpaced by Red Bull, with even Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg almost as competitive in qualifying.
"It’s a shame to be fifth but this is where we are," Kimi Raikkonen, fifth, said.
"We are not fast enough," the Finn told MTV.
Now, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that Allison might not be the only departure from Ferrari.
"Perhaps the engineers who Allison brought with him from Lotus in 2013 will go as well," wrote correspondent Michael Schmidt.
"The flurry of activity does not feel as though Ferrari has a clear plan for how to get out of this crisis."