Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur has countered Charles Leclerc's post-Dutch Grand Prix claims regarding a "mistimed" second pit stop, asserting it was their best strategic option at the time. Leclerc had expressed displeasure, believing the call contributed to his race-ending collision.
Why it matters
The disagreement highlights ongoing strategy debates within Formula 1 teams, particularly after a race incident. Ferrari's decision to pit Leclerc was aimed at challenging Isack Hadjar, but it ultimately led to a crash and a DNF for the Monegasque driver, raising questions about risk versus reward.
The details
- Leclerc, starting P6, made an early gain to P5, trailing Isack Hadjar.
- After the first round of pit stops, Ferrari opted to bring Leclerc in on lap 53 for his second stop, a lap after Mercedes pitted Antonelli in an attempt to undercut.
- Leclerc strongly disagreed with this decision, stating it was ill-timed.
- Upon exiting the pits, Antonelli, on warmer soft tyres, attempted to dive down the inside of Leclerc.
- This aggressive move resulted in contact at Turn 3, sending Leclerc into the wall and forcing his retirement from the race.
Vasseur's Take
Confronted by media, Vasseur acknowledged Leclerc's perspective but maintained the team's decision was strategic.
"It's always easy to have a different view on the strategy after the race, [but] honestly, that was the only way we had to fight with Hadjar at this stage, to have a different option or at least to try to undercut."
He added that the crash with Antonelli, which occurred immediately after the pit stop, likely altered the perception of the strategy's validity. "For sure, when you see the outlap, you can have a different perception of this," Vasseur concluded.
What's next
Ferrari will look to rebound at their home race in Italy, hoping to put the strategic misstep and DNF behind them and achieve a stronger performance.