F1

Ferrari failed to win the Russian GP because their strategy did not go well

by
Saidur Rahman
October 1, 2019

Sebastian Vettel ignores Ferrari’s team order at the Russian GP. This is considered to be the culprit of the Prancing Horse team failed to reach the first podium.

Ferrari’s winning streak in the previous three Formula 1 series must stop at the Russian GP on Sunday (9/29/2019). They had to give up racing at the Sochi Autodrom Circuit which was controlled by the Mercedes team.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas won the first and second podiums. They were able to finish ahead of Charles Leclerc in the third place.

Ferrari’s failure to win the Russian GP cannot be separated from their strategy that did not go well. Even though at the beginning of the second race the Italian manufacturer’s rider was in the forefront.

Leclerc who took pole position let Vettel poke into first place in the early laps. In this condition, Ferrari gives a team order so that the Monaco racer returns to lead the race.

But this exchange of positions did not occur. Because Vettel ignored the team order and actually spurred his car quickly.

Disaster approached Ferrari on lap 28 when Vettel failed to continue the race. While Leclrec was displaced by the Marcedes duo after entering the pitstop. This sequence does not change until the race is complete.

Related to the chaotic Ferrari strategy, Leclerc claimed to ask for further explanation from his team. Even so, he insisted he still believed fully in Vettel.

“I will always believe in this team. But our tactic is to give slipsteram , which makes us in first and second position,” Leclrec was quoted as saying by Sky Sport.

“After that, I don’t know. I need to talk to the team to find out more about this. We will try to negotiate now.”

“I think we respect each other, as seen by me giving the slipstream. We should exchange positions again at the pit stop. That’s all,” he added.