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Ferrari vow to bounce back from 'black day'

  • Story Highlights
  • Ferrari left Singapore pointless despite looking set for a 1-2 finish early on
  • Massa's botched pitstop left him out of the points and Raikkonen crashed out
  • Massa now trails Hamilton by seven points, Ferrari trail McLaren by one
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Neale Graham
For CNN
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Ferrari's humiliating performance in the Singapore Grand Prix marked a "black day" for the Formula One outfit, team director Stefano Domenicali says.

Ferrari mechanics struggle to remove the fuel hose from Felipe Massa's car after a botched pitstop.

Domenicali did not bother to hide the team's anguish after Felipe Massa's title charge was derailed by a chaotic pitstop and Kimi Raikkonen crashed out from fifth place with only a few laps remaining.

Massa was hurriedly released from his stop with the fuel hose still attached and into the path of Force India's Adrian Sutil, which left him at the back of the field after the hose was freed and a drive-through penalty served.

"It's hard to deal with losing in this fashion a race that was within our grasp, with a car that was just the way I wanted it," said Massa, who is seven points behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings.

"We had a good strategy and all the signs were there that we could get a one-two finish. But things can change in a moment. At the pit stop, one of the guys made a mistake.

"But we are only human -- each one of us always tries to do our best and these things can happen. Read more about F1 at The Circuit.

"Seven points to make up in three races? That can be a lot or it can be a little. We have the potential to do well, as we saw today and we will give it our best shot. We mustn't give up and I'm sure we won't," Massa said.

Raikkonen failed to score points for the fourth race in a row and while he is not mathematically out of the running to defend his title, he is resigned to playing back up to Massa's bid.

"My situation in the championship was already rather compromised, so this doesn't really make that much difference, but I am unhappy because the team has lost precious points in the constructors' classification," Raikkonen said.

"But I am not used to giving up and will do my very best to try and help the team reach its targets."

With neither driver scoring points, Ferrari fell behind McLaren in the constructors' championship.

Domenicali echoed Massa's sentiments, declaring that Ferrari would bounce back from their Singapore humiliation.

"The objective that we have is clear: we have three races to go, we will approach the last three races aware that we need to finish first and second every time," he said.

"We have the potential to do so, so the target is very clear. It is not easy, but don't forget that we have raced in very difficult situations over the last couple of years.

"The team is very strong. Unfortunately you have the moments such as this Sunday but after two hours we were already motivated and looking forward to going to Japan to attack again."

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