Vasseur Defends Ferrari's 'Team First' F1 Miami GP Team Orders

English (en)

title: Vasseur Defends Ferrari's 'Team First' Strategy at Miami GP

Why it matters: Ferrari's team orders during the Miami Grand Prix sparked debate. Team principal Fred Vasseur explains the rationale behind prioritizing the team's overall strategy over individual driver ambitions.

The details:

• Ferrari swapped Leclerc and Hamilton to assess Hamilton's pace on medium tires.
• Hamilton couldn't close the gap, Leclerc was reinstated to his original position.
• Both drivers expressed frustration with the strategy.
• Vasseur emphasized the team's policy of prioritizing Ferrari's overall result.

Key Quotes:

• Vasseur: "We are racing for Ferrari first."
• Vasseur: "I can perfectly understand the frustration [of the drivers]. They are champions. They want to win races."

Vasseur's Defense:

• The team needed to determine if the following car's pace was due to genuine speed or DRS.
• Radio transmission delays, managed by FOM, can create a false impression of slow decision-making.
• The team is constantly exchanging information about car setup etc with drivers.

What's next: The debate around team orders will likely continue, but Vasseur stands by his decisions, emphasizing the importance of the team's championship aspirations.