As Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur confronted the media following Method 1’s Singapore Grand Prix, the recent matter was Lewis Hamilton.
Many of the questions revolved across the unsuccessful technique that noticed Hamilton collapse from third to sixth within the Marina Bay race, as he stayed out below the VSC to finish a mammoth 44-lap stint on comfortable tyres.
Throughout the final 22 of these, following the neutralisation, Hamilton haemorrhaged 2.5s a lap on common relative to Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. That’s how he ended up sixth behind Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens.
With the unwell Briton exempted from his post-race media commitments to go to the medical centre as a substitute, Vasseur confronted scrutiny from journalists eager to determine how that call was made to the very best stage of element. And the Frenchman wasn’t having fun with that prospect; he even interrupted the primary query, suggesting it wasn’t essentially “the large occasion of the weekend”.
Regardless, Hamilton’s post-race radio apology made it clear that he had made the decision to remain out in the course of the VSC – so how precisely did that dialogue pan out?
“[It] was very clear,” Vasseur insisted. “We had been P2-P3 on the monitor. We referred to as two automobiles, ‘Guys, you pit behind the VSC’. Considered one of my guys stated, ‘No, I choose to remain on monitor’. Or he didn’t say – he stated, ‘I missed the pit entry’.
“Do not blame the group.”
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Picture by: Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Photos
Vasseur, who was but to talk to his driver, stated Hamilton’s determination was “clearly a mistake”, doubling down on what he beforehand instructed broadcasters.
However is it OK for a driver to override the group’s technique, given he doesn’t have the identical exhaustive knowledge and international view as engineers do?
“If you see the end result, it was not a very good name,” Vasseur admitted. “However alternatively, very often you might be additionally telling us that we have now to take heed to the drivers, as a result of they’re into the automotive, they’ve the sensation with their tyres and so forth.
“However I feel on this one it was clear for me. However I’ve additionally to respect their feeling when they’re into the automotive.”
Hamilton: “A painful lesson as we speak”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Mark Thompson / Getty Photos
Ferrari subsequently supplied a press release from Hamilton – making up for his absence within the post-race media pen – by which the seven-time world champion described the setback as a “painful lesson”.
“At the moment wasn’t the end result we had been searching for and it was on me,” Hamilton was quoted as saying. “At a monitor that’s tough to overhaul, it is advisable attempt one thing totally different and I selected to begin on a brand new medium tyre, to go lengthy and attempt to make a one-stop work. Sadly, the medium didn’t carry out in addition to the comfortable.
“I had a very good second stint and the tempo was again, however I couldn’t make the progress I wanted. Underneath the VSC, the group referred to as me in however I missed the entry. After that, I made a decision to remain out and attempt to maintain monitor place to the tip however, within the closing laps, I used to be struggling massively with tyre degradation and misplaced three locations, ending P6, which does not mirror the tempo we had within the automotive as we speak.
“A painful lesson as we speak, however I take full accountability for the selections I made. Not each name will work out, and I can settle for getting it improper however I’m sorry for the group for the factors we misplaced as we speak. They put a lot into each weekend, and I wished to ship extra for them.
“I’ll proceed to place the work in and are available again preventing on the subsequent race.”
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