BREAKING:Ferrari defend team order chaos: ‘It… read more
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has stepped forward to defend his team’s decision-making during the Miami Grand Prix, particularly regarding the controversial team orders involving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The Italian outfit faced criticism after seemingly delaying the instruction to allow Hamilton past Leclerc, a move some believe cost the British driver a chance to challenge Kimi Antonelli for sixth place.
During the race, Hamilton, visibly frustrated over team radio, sarcastically quipped that the Ferrari pit wall must have been taking a “tea break” while deciding on the swap. His frustration stemmed from the belief that the delay hindered his ability to fully utilize the advantage he had in tyre compound at that point in the race. Despite his medium tyres being fresher and theoretically faster than Antonelli’s, Hamilton spent several laps behind his teammate before Ferrari finally issued the order to let him pass.
Vasseur, however, defended the team’s actions, stating that the decision was reached quickly under the circumstances. Speaking to media including RacingNews365, the Frenchman said, “It didn’t take so long – it was one lap and a half or something like that.” He elaborated that when two cars are on differing strategies, the team must assess several variables, such as the potential performance benefit of DRS (Drag Reduction System) when trailing a teammate. This analysis, Vasseur noted, can only be made in real time, and in this case, it took approximately 90 seconds to determine the correct course of action.
The Ferrari boss emphasized that issuing such orders is never straightforward, particularly when dealing with high-caliber drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc. Nonetheless, he credited both drivers for complying with the team’s instructions without resistance. “We took the tough decision… But we did it, and they did it on track. I didn’t see a lot of teams doing it,” Vasseur added, suggesting that Ferrari’s handling of the situation was more decisive than public perception suggested.
After Hamilton was eventually allowed through, he struggled to close the gap to Antonelli, despite his initial tyre advantage. According to Hamilton, much of the performance benefit had already been used up while he was stuck behind Leclerc, further validating the criticisms about the delay.
Eventually, Ferrari reversed the earlier swap, putting Leclerc back ahead of Hamilton before the race concluded, with the Monegasque finishing seventh and Hamilton eighth. Vasseur explained that this decision was in line with team policy: if a position swap is made to allow a faster driver to attack the car ahead but no progress is made, the order is reversed to restore fairness. He also clarified that even though Leclerc did not object to the final change, it was essential for maintaining internal consistency and trust within the team.
In summary, while the situation sparked debate among fans and pundits, Vasseur stood by Ferrari’s process, arguing that the decision-making was prompt and aligned with the team’s strategy and principles.
