Arrivabene: Vettel will be world champion in a Ferrari

The team principal was a guest speaker at the Festival della Sport, on stage at the Teatro Sociale in Trento, where Arrivabene was questioned about the pressure he feels at the helm of the Scuderia.

He replied, "When we talk about Formula 1 we immediately think of Ferrari because it is in the DNA of this sport. Is there too much pressure? I wouldn't say so, on the contrary, we have to thank everyone for the passion they have for our team. This love has to make us strive to do better and better."

On being chosen to lead the Reds, the 61-year-old opened up, "It gave me great pride to be chosen for this role. I do not have the Prancing Horse only on my jacket, I also have it in my heart."

As for the highlight of his season thus far, "Among the most beautiful victories I remember was at Silverstone, the home of Formula 1. I always try to be calm and cool on the pitwall, I try not to show my feelings but this time I could not hide the great emotion of winning that grand prix."

Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel are the drivers currently under his watch, next year young Charles Leclerc joins the team. The veteran Finn. a long time soldier and Ferrari's last World Champion when he won the title in 2007, departs at the end of the season marking an end of an era.

Many believe that the announcement Raikkonen would leave the team was premature and, for whatever reason, did coincide with the team's dismal dip in form since their home Italian Grand Prix in early September.

Critics suggesting that the timing of the announcement did not do much to encourage Raikkonen to be a team player in their championship quest, particularly when coming to the aid of Vettel when it really mattered.

But Arrivabene explained, "I have worked with Kimi for many years, he is a great professional and wanted to know before Monza what our plans were for 2019. For that reason, we confirmed the arrival of Leclerc."

"We replaced Raikkonen to allow a talented youngster like Leclerc to grow alongside a champion like Vettel. Raikkonen will race another two years with Sauber, with us he would not have gone beyond 2019. Despite the news, Kimi showed that he is a great professional at Monza."

With four rounds remaining in this year's championship, the chances of a first F1 title in a decade for the Reds is bleak despite ruling the roost earlier this season. Heading to next round, in the United States, Vettel trails drivers' championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 67 points while Ferrari are 78 points adrift of Mercedes in the constructors' title race.

After a below par Japanese Grand Prix, Arrivabene declared that their task was "mission impossible" and repeated it to the audience on Saturday, "It has become a mission impossible, but it's not over."

"In Austin, if we leave beaten I want to say clearly: I am sure that sooner or later Sebastian Vettel will win the world championship at the wheel of a Ferrari."

"I think he has something of Schumacher in him, he is German but also very Italian and passionate about Maranello from an early age," concluded Arrivabene referencing Vettel's maiden victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix in a Ferrari powered Toro Rosso.