Fred Vasseur has reflected on Ferrari’s strategy during the Dutch Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton criticized the team’s decisions on the radio.
ferrari claimed fourth and fifth with hamilton and Carlos Leclerc during Sunday’s 72-lap race at Zandvoort, with the pair missing out on the final podium position as Mercedes’ George Russell resisted late pressure.
During the race, Hamilton warmed up on the radio after being stopped by Leclerc despite having a newer set of tires and implementing an alternative strategy.
Leclerc sat out an extra lap before Hamilton was released, prompting the seven-time world champion to sarcastically say over the radio: “It’s a big waste of time, guys.”
He also questioned whether the team was using him “as a guinea pig” as the Briton remained on track with worn tires and was overtaken by eventual race winner Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli, and only made one final pit stop under a late virtual safety car.
After the race, team manager Vasseur stated that not telling Hamilton what the strategic plan had been was intentional to gain an advantage over rival teams.
“We didn’t want to tell him the strategy right now, because we didn’t want to reveal it to competitors. We wanted to keep him on track until the end. [before the late VSC]. “I think it would have been the right decision,” Vasseur said.
“Charles was supposed to pit, we extended a lap and it was kind of a mix-up, but I’m not worried about this. They will have a clear idea of the race.”
“Charles was also a bit frustrated at one point by the compound. [of tyre]but I think everyone was a little lost about the resort.
“[Lando] Norris started on medium at the first start, then moved to soft, and the difference between these two compounds was very marginal today, and it was difficult to get a clear picture of the strategy.
“Sometimes we have to change strategy or adapt because we are trying to learn from and for others. [the drivers]It’s a little frustrating.”