Ferrari and Leclerc hit by Hill broadside over "fundamental" errors
Ferrari and Leclerc hit by Hill broadside over "fundamental" errors
Damon Hill has launched an attack on Ferrari after the Scuderia again failed to get the "fundamental things right" in São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying.
Friday's session took place in changeable conditions, with the Interlagos circuit initially wet before a change to slick tyres.
In Q1, indecision saw Leclerc fitted with three different sets of tyres at one pit stop as pandemonium permeated through the Ferrari garage.
The team escaped a disastrous elimination on that occasion, but when rain threatened at the start of Q3, the Monégasque was the only one of the 10 drivers to sit at the end of the pit lane on intermediate tyres.
By the time he had set a lap and George Russell had triggered a red flag following an excursion in his Mercedes, the rain had begun falling and left Leclerc 10th on the grid for the sprint.
It is the latest in a long list of failures from Ferrari operationally this season and speaking to Sky Sports F1, 1996 champion Hill said: "They just have to do the fundamental things right. That is the problem.
"What is going on in Ferrari? Who is going to take charge in this situation? This has been going on all year.
"It is upsetting in a way because they have the potential and you can see Charles is criticising the team on the radio effectively saying 'nice one guys', but he has to assume some responsibility as well.
"Maybe they are not letting him do that or maybe he doesn't have the courage to assume it for himself.
"Can you imagine Max Verstappen saying 'What are we doing?' His personality is such that he commands attention and that is part and parcel of being a leader in the team."
To add further confusion to Leclerc's intermediate tyre strategy, team-mate Carlos Sainz was sent out on soft tyres despite the Scuderia's insistence rain was due to fall.
When this query was put to Hill, he replied: "If it is on the radar, it is not on the track.
"If you can do a lap, you look at the track... this is fundamental racing stuff.
"You go with the conditions that are present at the time. You can't tell if it is going to rain in 30 seconds or two days."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Hamilton blasted by former F1 giant as multi-world champion poised for FIA showdown
- 1 hour ago
Newey Red Bull exit details confirmed as Ferrari make dramatic unveiling - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Award-winning director reveals STUNNING tribute to F1 legend Senna
- Yesterday 22:57
Ferrari fans BEG for Newey after team reveal shock change
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey manager hints at Red Bull legend's SHOCK next move after exit
- Yesterday 20:57
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
- Yesterday 19:57
- 1
Related news
Tsunoda "bullied" by FIA in safety car confusion
Button 'amazed' by Verstappen team order own goal
Alonso makes "two year" Alpine claim after fiery São Paulo weekend
Russell joins historic list as Verstappen falls to F1's newest jinx - São Paulo Grand Prix stats
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