Ferrari explain Leclerc strategy switch
Ferrari explain Leclerc strategy switch
Ferrari strategy director Iñaki Rueda has explained why Charles Leclerc switched to a two-stop strategy at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Monégasque had led from pole position at Monza but after six laps was already joined at the front by Max Verstappen, who started seventh.
When Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin ground to a halt on the exit of the second Lesmo and triggered a virtual safety car in the early stages, Leclerc was pitted and switched to an alternate two-stop race, leaving Verstappen on the more conventional one-stop and with track position.
"On lap 11, we had an opportunity to pit under the virtual safety car," explained Rueda.
"Our pre-race numbers told us this race would be an easy one-stop race featuring soft and medium tyres.
"The two-stop race was 10 seconds slower. A pit stop under a virtual safety car is nine seconds less costly than a normal pit stop.
"So we had a window of opportunity where we said we can offset ourselves onto a two-stop with a shorter VSC pit stop, or stay on the conventional one-stop.
"After the VSC, we understood on paper that Charles would finish four or five seconds behind Verstappen, but we persevered, we kept on trying to execute the perfect two-stop and we were hoping that towards the end of the race there would be a VSC or safety car period from which we could profit."
Why safety car stayed out
The safety car at the end of the race caused controversy after staying out for the last five laps of the race.
The neutralisation prevented racing from resuming, with boos ringing around Monza and leading to criticism from Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto.
"Typically, a safety car lasts around three to four laps, so we expected two to three laps of racing after the safety car period," said Rueda.
"What happened was the safety car came out of the pits and picked up Russell, which was the third car.
"The normal procedure is that this car is let by by a green light on top of the safety car and this car goes around the track following a safety car reference lap, a reference lap the FIA gives so we drive slowly and safely around the track to not endanger the crews that are retrieving the car that has a problem.
"The safety car held Russell for five minutes, crucially, three laps behind them. This ate up too much of the remaining laps of the race and by the time the safety car let the field go by to reorganise themselves, we had no more laps to finish the race."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- 29 minutes ago
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- 59 minutes ago
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- 1 hour ago
Wolff left FUMING with Mercedes despite amazing Hamilton lap
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen admits Red Bull 'DESERVED' horror China qualifying
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Verstappen suffers MAJOR China defeat as F1 star LOSES pole after FIA intervention
- 3 hours ago
Related news
Hamilton to open Wolff talks at Mercedes amid Ferrari F1 move uncertainty
Hamilton WARNED by Ferrari chief over performance levels
Brundle issues WARNING to 'under pressure' Ferrari star
F1 pundit says SHOCK team have ‘broken the back’ of rivals
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860