Charles Leclerc experienced a challenging race at the United States Grand Prix as he was the only Formula 1 driver to opt for a one-stop strategy. This decision placed him in a relentless battle against faster competitors on a two-stop strategy. Unfortunately, this marked the 10th consecutive time that Leclerc couldn’t convert a pole position into a race victory. Instead, he struggled to maintain sixth place in the final laps of the race.
While the SF-23’s race pace didn’t allow for a competitive shot at victory, Ferrari missed the opportunity to have both their cars challenging Lando Norris for a podium finish. However, Leclerc’s post-race disqualification due to a technical violation was inevitable, but what concerns Ferrari more is their strategic misstep.
Ferrari’s Mistake:
Ferrari is not always quick to admit strategic errors, but team boss Fred Vasseur promptly acknowledged the mistake in Leclerc’s strategy after the race. Vasseur pointed out that while Carlos Sainz had a strong race, finishing fourth, Leclerc’s one-stop strategy did not work out as planned.
Vasseur’s admission is significant, but it raises questions about why Ferrari believed the choice between a one-stop and two-stop strategy was so closely balanced. Part of their reasoning was that most other front-runners opted for a two-stop, leaving Leclerc dealing with more traffic. However, this turned out to be a misjudgment.
The fact that Leclerc was the only one on a one-stop strategy, especially in a car with poor tire degradation, highlighted how isolated Ferrari’s decision was.
Misleading Data:
Ferrari’s pre-race simulations misled them, and Leclerc’s struggles with tire degradation in the sprint race should have been a clear sign to choose a two-stop strategy. Leclerc himself acknowledged the wrong choice, stating that their numbers were off.
Why Didn’t Ferrari Convert Leclerc to a Two-Stop?
While they could have converted Leclerc to a two-stop strategy, they believed that the delay in making this change would result in significant track position loss. Vasseur explained that Ferrari was caught in a dilemma similar to Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton but chose to leave Leclerc on the one-stop strategy longer, potentially losing more time in the final stint.
Where Ferrari Goes from Here:
Ferrari needs to learn from this strategic misstep and improve their decision-making even when pre-race simulations are misleading. They have a talented team on the pitwall, but there is room for improvement in maximizing their strategic choices. Evaluating why they relied on a flawed strategy and were hesitant to change it during the race is a crucial step in addressing these issues.
