Binotto defends Ferrari strategy: “There was no margin to bring in our two drivers”

At Ferrari, there has been a bittersweet feeling since the arrival of the British Grand Prix. Sweet, since the Team finally found victory, the first since Australia in April, with the first success of Carlos Sainz en F1. Bitter, since on the other side of the garage, Charles Leclerc was thrown off the podium at the end of the race. 

The Monegasque was the victim of a failed strategic choice on the part of the Italian team. During the intervention of the safety car, on lap 39, Ferrari asked Leclerc (then leading the Grand Prix) to stay on the track. At the same time, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Pérez all came through the pits to put on soft tyres. Alone in front with hard and worn tires, the Ferrari driver was unable to keep his position, despite fierce defense.

“We thought it wouldn’t happen” argues Binotto

If many did not understand Ferrari's strategy, the director of the Scuderia, Mattia Binotto, was keen to explain his team's reasoning. “We thought it wouldn't work, that there wasn't enough room to bring in our two drivers. A choice had to be made. If we had stopped both, Carlos would have lost positions, said the Italian engineer. Why did we choose Carlos? Because Charles was in the lead. Of the two, it was the one with the fresher tires and Carlos could have tried to protect him. We knew that the soft tires would go quickly but we hoped that they would deteriorate quickly, which was not the case.

🗨️ “We didn’t think there was enough room to make the two drivers stop (…)”

The reaction of Mattia Binotto who notably returns to Ferrari's strategy on this #BritishGP 🎙️🔴

▶ https://t.co/t7uFs3yVeh pic.twitter.com/s69zLNtdAz

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According to Binotto, if Charles Leclerc had stopped, Lewis Hamilton would have chosen the opposite strategy and stayed on track with his fresh hard tires. “It didn't seem like the right choice, so we decided to leave it on the track. Unfortunately, on the restart he was at a tire disadvantage. »

Ferrari, which was in a strong position with its two cars in the lead before the Safety Car, therefore once again lost valuable points because of the strategy. Leclerc finished 4th, losing a podium that was destined for him and which has eluded him since the Miami Grand Prix. Quite annoyed upon arrival, the Monegasque quickly explained himself to Mattia Binotto before the podium ceremony. A tense exchange, like the Scuderia driver after the race.

ALSO READ > Leclerc: “I was asked to stay on the track, that’s what I did…”