‘Blessing in disguise’ there were no F1 fans at Monza - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel says having no spectators present at the Italian Grand Prix was a ‘blessing in disguise’ after both Ferraris failed to make the chequered flag at Monza.

Vettel suffered a double brake failure, while Charles Leclerc crashed at the Parabolica after losing the rear of his Ferrari while running in fourth place.

Ferrari now sits sixth in the constructors’ championship and is on course for its worst finish since 1980.

“It’s very difficult for us at the moment for sure, for the whole team. Mega frustrating, obviously," Vettel said. “I don’t know what to say. You’re not even in the car, you don’t have a chance to do anything, so obviously a tough day.

“Obviously if I could choose then I don’t want to be here [conducting interviews] I want to be in the car on the track right now – and not in the back of the field but in the front, but sometimes you don’t get to choose.

"Tough times are part of life and part of sports but at the moment I think it’s not fair to all the guys that put so much effort in, that we are that bad.

“But on the other hand it’s a testimony of where we stand and it’s poor obviously where we are, especially here for our home race – I think it’s probably a blessing that there’s nobody in the stands."

F1 remains in Italy for the Tuscan Grand Prix as Mugello hosts its first ever championship grand prix.

Vettel doesn’t expect miracles in Mugello but he’s hopeful of a “smooth weekend” on the series' first visit to the fast, sweeping circuit in Scarperia e San Piero.

“You see where we are," Vettel added. “I hope in Mugello we’re in a little bit of a better place but that doesn’t mean we’re fighting for the podium.

“You need to be realistic. Expectations are very low. Hopefully we have a smooth weekend, a weekend without trouble – that would be a good start, at least on my side, and then we’ll see.”