Editorial – Failures in math

To pilot is to expose yourself. To physical trauma, but also to a perhaps even greater danger: criticism. OK, this aspect goes hand in hand with the highly publicized job of pilot of Formula 1, but if we rewind history to its beginning, we do not practice this sport to please others, but first and foremost to please ourselves. By seeking to prove things to oneself and extract pleasure linked to adrenaline.

Anyone who has already driven at Paul-Ricard will assure you that the time trial is done in Beausset and not in Signes, contrary to what the legend conveys. Even more so today with the “supermarket parking” style clearances and the aero load of the single-seaters which very quickly allows you to feel confident. The Beausset, on the contrary, is a huge downforce braking that closes. There are various ways to rotate your car depending on your sensibilities, but patience and a talent for balancing are required to evolve on the edge of performance. On Sunday, Charles crossed this limit, these are the risks of the profession and it would be bad form to blame him for this. OK he was in the lead, but a victory in F1 is not achieved with your elbow at the door. Its release also reminds detractors how arduous the exercise is.

What bothers me more is Ferrari's posture. There Team excessively plays down disappointments, forgetting that indifference is the source of failure. Jean Todt would never have joked like that. The situation is serious and the only one who seems to take responsibility for it is Charles, at his own risk. When car red is failing, he advocates team spirit. When he is guilty, he pours into useless public contritions. Humility and pride are the under and oversteer of a competitive spirit, and you have to find the right balance to overcome the difficulties that litter the path of a career.

Finally, in addition to not being good at strategy and human relations, Ferrari managers are also bad at math. For each abandonment when they lead, they say they have given up 25 points to the enemy; personally, I count 32: those of victory... and the 7 which separate the 1st from the 2nd. Spain, Azerbaijan, Monaco or Silverstone, there are already 93 points subscribed to Verstappen since the beginning of the year and not due to the pilot. Charles, stop flogging yourself, and weld your foot into the sheet metal!

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