"Strategic bets that didn't pay off": Peugeot misses the mark after promising qualifying

After narrowly missing pole position on Saturday by 73 thousandths of a second, Peugeot had a much more laborious Sunday at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Classic Ferrari for saleThe Lion leaves Italy with a mixed record and a lot of work to do before Spa-Francorchamps, penalized by a lack of race pace and strategic errors.

« We take away some positives and some less positives, obviously. Emmanuel Esnault confided exclusively to AUTOhebdo. Qualifying was the culmination of several days of work optimizing the car's performance. The race was a different story; we took some strategic gambles that didn't pay off. »

Within the French camp, strategies diverged between number 94, in the hands of Loïc duvalMalthe Jakobsen and Theo Pourchaire, starting from the second row and car number 93, driven by Nick Cassidy, Paul di Resta and Stoffel Vandoorne, relegated to fifteenth place after a failed qualifying session. There were two scenarios on the table: protecting the position of car #94 at the start of the race without any intention of challenging Ferrari, or Toyota, because we knew their performance level, but at least we wanted to protect our position in the following group, explains the head of the French team. On the other car, it was a slightly more aggressive strategy, as we felt that the qualifying position of the #93 was clearly not where it deserved to be. There was potential to do something similar to the #94, so we had to try and be bolder to gain positions somehow, either through strategy or on track."

A disappointing result for Peugeot at Imola

A double losing bet, marked by the plunge of both prototypes down the standings. While Loïc Duval conceded valuable positions from his very first stint in the #94, the Sochaux-based manufacturer saw its hopes of scoring points vanish in the pits. He mainly lost positions when he pitted because we believe his competitors refueled less, and mechanically, this allowed them to gain places. " analyzes the French director.

On the other side of the garage, Nick Cassidy quickly went off the track in the No. 93. A painful baptism of fire for his official debut behind the wheel of the 9X8. The verdict was clear: twelfth and sixteenth positions at the checkered flag. It didn't work, that's racing, that's how it is, we have work to do. he decides. We have an idea of ​​the topics we need to work on, and now we need to do it."

However, the potential of the 9X8 is there. In terms of the car's performance, it seemed the balance wasn't bad; it was more related to the overall grip level and traction. These are limiting factors that we need to address, and which have been identified." he emphasizes.

Peugeot thus leaves Italy empty-handed, with the #94 car just missing out on points and the #93 relegated to the back of the Hypercar field. A missed opportunity to score big points, leaving a feeling of unfinished business before turning their attention to Spa.

Interview by Valentin Glo, in Imola

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