Sainz and Leclerc secure third and fourth place in a challenging Grand Prix
A ROLLERCOASTER RACE FOR FERRARI
The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered intense emotions for Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz finishing in third place and Charles Leclerc taking fourth. While the results placed the team in competitive positions, the day was overshadowed by strategic complications and Leclerc’s public complaints about his team.
Leclerc attempted to challenge George Russell for the lead, but the medium tires couldn’t sustain the required pace, causing him to lose ground. Later, with hard tires, his performance improved, but after a pit stop, he fell behind Sainz, who quickly overtook him. Sainz, meanwhile, faced a critical moment when he received an unexpected order to stay on track as he was heading to the pits, forcing him to react quickly to avoid major issues.
VASSEUR ADDRESSES STRATEGIC DECISIONS
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, analyzed the challenges faced during the race. Regarding tire degradation, he commented:
«When Leclerc tried to overtake Russell, the tires immediately degraded. Sometimes these situations are unavoidable.»
He also acknowledged that delaying Sainz’s pit stop was a complex but necessary decision to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Vasseur addressed Leclerc’s frustrated radio messages to the pit wall:
«Tension during a race is normal. We understand his perspective, but these decisions are made to avoid internal clashes and to optimize the team’s results.»
MERCEDES DOMINATES THE WEEKEND
Despite Ferrari’s efforts, Vasseur admitted that Mercedes showed superior pace in Las Vegas:
«Even with different strategies, I don’t think we could have won. Their performance was stronger throughout the event.»
With this result, Ferrari retains its chances in the Constructors’ Championship, though the gap to McLaren remains at 24 points with only two races left.
QATAR AND ABU DHABI: THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY
Looking ahead to the final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Vasseur assured that Ferrari will give its all:
«We’d rather be 24 points behind than 200. There are still opportunities, and anything can happen. We will keep pushing until the final corner of the season.»
Ferrari aims to capitalize on any opportunity in these final events, striving to close the gap with McLaren and end the year with a strong performance that reaffirms their competitiveness.
