Ferrari ‘In Even Worse Shape’ as Charles Leclerc Suffers Big Blow After Frederic Vasseur’s Gamble

With a close fight with Mercedes for second place in the constructors’ standings, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari rolled the dice with a daring tire strategy. The Tifosi opted for soft tires for both drivers, hoping for an early advantage in a crucial race. However, what followed was a tumultuous journey for the drivers. This, unfortunately, left Leclerc and Sainz to face difficulties as they struggled to finish ahead of the Silver Arrows.

It’s no secret that Ferrari has a history of making bold and risky decisions, although they often seem to be plagued by misfortune. This has earned them a reputation for being the target of ridicule, a trend that continued at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race.

Tire dilemma for Charles Leclerc

In a high-risk decision, Ferrari put both of their drivers on soft compound tires. Hoping for a competitive edge at the start of the race. And to their credit, the soft compound tires are definitely the best choice to gain an advantage early in a race. ‘Smooth Operator’ Carlos Sainz capitalized on the clean side of the track and made an impressive climb to third place. Charles was closely following his teammate, but unfortunately, luck ran out. As the laps ticked by, the soft tires were overheating, causing drivers to lose grip significantly.

Leclerc, who started the race on used soft tires, shared his insights as quoted by Formula 1, “It was an interesting Sprint. I didn’t have any new Soft tires left after Qualifying and the Shootout, so we went out on a used set, which was a bit more challenging in terms of management.” However, he remained optimistic about the Medium compound tires and their potential advantage in the upcoming race.

Carlos Sainz also weighed in, reflecting on the difficulties posed by the soft tires. “It was a very hard Sprint today. We didn’t have any data on long runs, so we decided to start on the Softs to try and gain some places at the start and then manage the tires to defend our position.” During the Sprint race, Sainz showcased promise but struggled to out-duel Lewis Hamilton, who was driving on medium compound tires.

However, adding to the already challenging race day for Charles Leclerc, a significant setback came in the form of a 5-second penalty. This penalty, imposed by the race stewards, was a severe blow that further worsened his position. Initially running in the 7th place, Leclerc was within reach of scoring valuable points for Ferrari.

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For Leclerc and Ferrari, this penalty compounded the challenges they were already facing due to the tire strategy and the issues with the soft tires. It turned what could have been a modest points-scoring race into a frustrating finish outside the points. Further adding to the disappointment of a day that delivered little.

Frederic Vasseur’s response

Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur, offered his perspective on the tire strategy. He was quick to acknowledge that the decision to go with soft tires didn’t yield the desired results. He commented, “First of all, we offer our congratulations to Max (Verstappen) and to Red Bull on winning the Drivers’ title today. As for ourselves, the decision to go with the Soft tire clearly did not pay off.”

Ferrari was very lucky that the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race saw multiple safety car periods. Vasseur himself also noted that the multiple safety cars prevented them from slipping further down the order. Allowing them to salvage some valuable points. But despite the adversity faced during the race, Vasseur and the team are already focusing on the next race. Eager to apply the lessons learned.

But the forever luring question remains. Can Ferrari ever learn from their poor management? With the Tifosi trailing the Silver Arrows by 26 points at the constructors’ championship. Every point from here onwards matters! If Ferrari wants to have any chance of stealing Mercedes’ spot, they have to get their decisions on point!

The W14 already looking faster than the SF-23, on the same tires at the Sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix. The race ahead is bound to be a crucial test for Ferrari. Moreover, as Russell and Hamilton both start behind Max, at the podium, Mercedes already has an upper hand on Ferrari.

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Can the duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz be the hero that Ferrari need? Or will their team let them down once again?