Charles Leclerc has his doubts about Ferrari’s strategy during the recent Dutch GP. The Ferrari driver hoped to build a tire advantage over George Russell in the final phase of the race by staying out longer, but was called in for a pit stop earlier than he wanted. “That was actually the moment for us to run five, ten laps longer,” Leclerc reflects.
Charles Leclerc started the last Dutch Grand Prix weekend well with a podium finish during the sprint race. However, the Monegasque had a much tougher time during the main event on Sunday. After starting the race in sixth, the striking strategy of Ferrari meant he could only gain one position in the end.
At one point, Ferrari tried to call Leclerc in for a pit stop, but the driver stayed out against his team’s wishes. The Monegasque was asked about this notable moment after the race. “Well, I didn’t get a message about that,” he said to the media. “I focused on my own pace and tried to drive as well as possible for my own race; I had a very good first stint.”
“I had to stop early to try to undercut the guys ahead of me,” he continues his reflection. “And that’s part of the team game. Sometimes you have to take a small risk for that, especially in the first stint.” Meanwhile, teammate Lewis Hamilton hoped Ferrari would decide to swap the two cars, hinting at team orders, but the Italians did not respond to the Brit’s call. To the great frustration of the seven-time world champion.
Read more FIA speaks out against online abuse of stewards after Dutch GP: ‘Threats are never allowed’
‘Sometimes I’m frustrated, sometimes Lewis is frustrated’
Leclerc, however, is not too concerned about his teammate’s frustrations. “Lewis was very strong in the second stint, but that’s just how it goes. So I think sometimes I will be frustrated, and sometimes Lewis will be frustrated, but that’s just how it is. I was very surprised that I had to pit so early because George made a pit stop. That was actually the moment for us to run five, ten laps longer to build a tire advantage and get closer to George again at the end. Two laps later I was told to pit, which I believe I did three laps later.”
According to Leclerc, the communication over the radio about his pit stop was not so much a ‘discussion’. “I mean, I don’t think there was much discussion. First, I was asked to stop. Then, towards the end of the lap, I was asked to stay out, which I did. And a lap later I was asked to stop after all. Yes, I need to review exactly how the situation looked, but I was definitely in favor of staying out longer.” Thanks to the two podium finishes by Mercedes at Zandvoort, the Silver Arrows extend their lead further in the constructors’ championship.
Read everything about the Italian GP here
NOW ONLINE: 45 pages Race Special GP Netherlands: our online magazine with news, reactions, analysis, and interview!
Read more Oscar Piastri saw Dutch GP derail after slow pitstop: ‘That’s when it became a mess’
