New Ferrari Formula 1 team boss Marco Mattiacci believes the Italian team needs to improve off the track as well as on it to become more competitive.

The former CEO of Ferrari North America replaced Stefano Domenicali ahead of April's Chinese Grand Prix and was backed by company president Luca di Montezemolo to turn Ferrari's difficult season around.

Mattiacci told reporters after the Monaco Grand Prix that he had conducted a "thorough assessment" of the Scuderia, and that it would need to improve its working practices at the factory, as well as its car, in order to catch the frontrunning Mercedes team.

"In the last six weeks we did a very thorough assessment about which are the opportunities to improve in the short term, and which are the areas that deserve a medium/long-term approach in order to bring back Ferrari at the highest competitive level," Mattiacci said when asked by AUTOSPORT what his priorities were for the rest of the season.

"For obvious reasons I'm not going to disclose publicly which are the areas we need to work.

"But it's clear we need to make some action towards improving the working methodology, the overall organisation, making the Scuderia faster, not only on the circuit, but as well in terms of decision of process."

Analysis: why Ferrari chose Marco Mattiacci

Mattiacci suggested in China that Ferrari would "go to market" in order to strengthen the outfit if necessary, and amid reports Ferrari had sounded out Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey about a move to Maranello, Mattiacci re-iterated his commitment.

"I think we have a lot of assets, I think we have a lot of good people, and I believe if in the market there are people who can bring a strong added value to the team, we will definitely go for it," Mattiacci added.

"There is no entity that can stay the same only to improve.

"To organisational change, to bringing people from outside, that's normal, everyone is doing this. It's not only Ferrari."

Source: Europsort.com

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has ruled out an imminent return of the French Grand Prix.

Recent reports suggested that the management at Magny-Cours was trying to put together a deal to get the event back on the calendar.

But speaking in Monaco at the weekend, Ecclestone made it clear that France was not on his list of contenders to join the 2015 schedule.

"No," he said. "They are knocking on the door, but I don't think we can do that."

Ecclestone has confirmed, however, that Azerbaijan will hold its inaugural race in 2015 on a street circuit in Baku.

"Yes, it is all done," he explained. "It will happen next year."

Source: Autosport.com