F1. Monaco, Hungary, Silverstone… A look back at Ferrari’s mid-season strategy errors
80 points: this is what separates Max Verstappen (Red Bull) from Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in the F1 drivers’ world championship standings, after the Hungarian Grand Prix, this Sunday July 31, 2022. Halfway through the season, it is already a chasm that seems difficult to overcome for the Monegasque and the Scuderiabeaten this weekend by the reigning world champion and the Austrian team.
However, the performances of the cars, which were very close, did not suggest such a gap at the start of the championship. Part of the explanation lies in Ferrari’s more than hesitant strategy over several races, such as in Monaco or Hungary. Back to those moments.
Hungary: a proper scuttling
This is the most recent episode. The one who comes to add the icing on an already well supplied cake. Sunday, Ferrari was scuttled and in a good way. Everything was going well, however, when Charles Leclerc took the lead after a superb overtaking on George Russell. And then the low wall of the Italian team came into play: we took out the Monegasque, we put him on hard rubber, and he finished the race in sixth position.
“I don’t know what to say either. I was confident and I said it on the radio. On a decision to cover Max (Verstappen) with some tough, when he was in medium, and it was a carnage. Quite honestly, we can’t hope to win the championship if we do races like that.” complained Charles Leclerc.
Meanwhile, Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto was hiding behind the car’s performance: “The reason for this result is the car. It didn’t work as expected. » Starting on the podium at the start, the two Ferraris finished 4th and 6th.
Monaco: Sainz and Leclerc arrested at the same time
Another highlight of the season is the Monaco Grand Prix. A race during which Charles Leclerc recorded pole position and therefore has all the cards in hand to shine. Except that again, Ferrari hesitated too much on the decisions to be made. On a wet track, the Italian strategists did not react on the 17th lap of the race when Sergio Pérez changed tires, switching to intermediates. Charles Leclerc remained, for a few laps, with worn rain tires that were much less efficient. Enough to pass Pérez in front on the 19th lap.
A second gross error occurred later. On the 22nd lap of this Grand Prix, the Ferrari engineers called Sainz and Leclerc to the pits… At the same time. Enough to lose precious seconds to the Monegasque, who will finally bow to Max Verstappen. “It must not happen too often in a year, because today we had everything to win and we screwed it up (victory) in the garbage. It hurts again at home”declared Charles Leclerc, at the end of the race.
Silverstone: Leclerc banned from pit
Undoubtedly the most incomprehensible strategic error of this start to the season. As the safety car found itself deployed on the Silverstone circuit during the British Grand Prix, the majority of the paddock rushed into the pits to change tyres. All, except Charles Leclerc, who is asked to stay on the track with tires tough already well used.
Leader at that time, the Monegasque driver had the greatest difficulty in defending his position against the attacks of his pursuers. And if Sainz ended up winning the Grand Prix for Ferrari, Leclerc only finished fourth.
Something to annoy the latter, seen in great discussion with Mattia Binotto. ” We could (return to the pits to put soft tires), after me I was asked to stay on track, so that’s what I did. Honestly, I’m very, very disappointed, especially in the first part of the race where I feel like I lost a lot of time… But hey, we’ll look at that with the team, but I’m very disappointed”, he commented on arrival. We understand it.