Ferrari must “understand what went wrong” after Australian GP strategy blunder

Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur has admitted the Scuderia made a mistake in leaving its drivers out on slick tyres for therefore lengthy when a bathe disrupted the late levels of Components 1’s Australian Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been operating in fifth and eighth, 42 laps into an eventful mixed-weather race, because the rain returned.

Leclerc was overtaken by Yuki Tsunoda the following time round, then spun on lap 44, which price him seven seconds in comparison with Hamilton – moments earlier than most rivals pitted for intermediate tyres.

Others, together with Max Verstappen and the Ferrari vehicles, tried to complete the race on slick tyres, however the downpour saved intensifying, which led Crimson Bull to pit Verstappen on lap 46 – as did Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Haas’ Esteban Ocon – with no apparent time loss.

Hamilton, Leclerc and Tsunoda nonetheless persevered for yet another lap, however elevated rainfall meant they ended up eighth, ninth and tenth after their respective tyre modifications.

The Monegasque ultimately overtook his team-mate for eighth, whereas the Briton additionally misplaced ninth place to Oscar Piastri and scored a solitary level.

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“The result’s unfavourable, that’s not what we got here for,” Vasseur admitted, talking to Canal+ after the race.

“First, in qualifying, we didn’t put all the pieces collectively, and I feel our tempo was a lot better than the consequence we acquired,” the Frenchman added, as Leclerc and Hamilton certified seventh and eighth respectively with 0.659s and 0.877s deficits to polesitter and eventual winner Lando Norris.

“Then, at this time, the technique was not straightforward – we made the flawed name on the finish. Let’s face it; we tried to remain out like Max, to outlive with slicks when it began to rain, as a result of we thought – mistakenly – that the bathe wasn’t going to final that lengthy. Had this labored out, it will have been beautiful, however it didn’t! That’s it, we misplaced.

“We should not attempt to blame somebody however try to grasp what went flawed in our decision-making system. The gamble was good, however we must always have pitted one lap earlier – like Max.”

Ferrari is just seventh within the constructors’ standings following the primary grand prix of the season, with a five-point tally – Williams, Aston Martin and Sauber all collected extra in Melbourne.

“There are 23 races left and we’ve got to look ahead,” Vasseur insisted. “The tempo we confirmed on Friday – be it on a qualifying lap or lengthy runs – was good, and that’s what we have to construct our season on, not on a technique name that wasn’t the appropriate one on the finish of the race.”