Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed that the team will convene this week to discuss and find solutions to resolve strategy disagreements that have caused tension within the team. The announcement comes after Charles Leclerc’s frustration over Ferrari’s decision not to switch him onto soft tires during Q2, ultimately costing him a place in the final qualifying shootout.
Leclerc expressed his disappointment publicly, stating that this was not the first time such a problem had occurred. Although Ferrari later claimed that Leclerc changed his mind after reviewing the available data, the incident added to the already strained atmosphere within the team.
Recognizing the need to address the issue, team boss Vasseur has taken on the role of mediator. He revealed that the Ferrari squad will hold a meeting on Tuesday to thoroughly discuss the situation and devise measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
“We have to reflect on what happened,” Vasseur stated, according to Motorsport.com. “We will have a meeting to discuss it on Tuesday and find a resolution. We can always improve our performance. However, it is true that the immediate impression you have ten seconds after qualifying is not always the most accurate one.”
Vasseur confirmed that a productive conversation had already taken place with Leclerc, providing him with a comprehensive overview of the situation during the session, leading to a more amicable atmosphere.
Ferrari’s decision not to fulfill Leclerc’s request was based on the expectation of rain arriving soon after the tire change, potentially preventing the driver from setting a competitive lap time.
“At that moment, rain was approaching, and our objective was to set a time as quickly as possible,” explained Vasseur. “If we had pitted at the end of the first lap to switch to soft tires, we would have had to warm up the tires for two laps and postpone the first flying lap by approximately five minutes. It was not the right strategy at that point.”
Vasseur acknowledged that confusion arose from Leclerc not fully grasping the overall picture of the qualifying session. He also mentioned the need for improvement in certain areas, emphasizing the importance of Leclerc understanding the team’s perspective.
“We cannot say that we performed well in qualifying,” Vasseur admitted. “The pace was exceptional, but we finished in 10th or 11th place. This indicates that something went wrong.”
Despite the disappointment in qualifying, Ferrari had a successful weekend overall, employing a smart strategy that resulted in a fourth and fifth-place finish in the race.
The upcoming meeting will provide an opportunity for Ferrari to address the concerns and foster a stronger collaborative environment, ensuring that strategy decisions align with the team’s goals and drivers’ expectations.
