Ferrari crew principal Fred Vasseur says he was stunned by McLaren’s strategy to the Italian Grand Prix that opened the door for Charles Leclerc to take victory.
Leclerc had already taken benefit of the 2 McLarens preventing on the primary lap to overhaul Lando Norris for second place, however the tempo of the primary stint additionally caught Ferrari out as a result of it was concentrating on a one-stop technique. Pitting Leclerc early to answer Norris’ first pit cease might have modified that strategy, however Vasseur says it quickly turned clear Ferrari might nonetheless run to the top and safe a well-known win.
“I’m attempting on the pit wall to keep away from fascinated by if it’s doable or not,” Vasseur mentioned. “We’re managing the hole, we’re giving goal lap instances to the drivers and never pondering an excessive amount of if it’s doable or not.
“However it’s true that the race was fairly unusual as a result of we began aiming for one cease after which McLaren pushed a bit greater than anticipated within the first stint. After which Norris struggled earlier than us and he needed to pit, we needed to cowl him and to remain in the identical race as them as a result of we had the sensation at this stage that we had a bonus on the tires.
“However the benefit was so good that after 10 laps with the exhausting [tire] it was clear for us that we might go till the top. Then you definitely by no means know, as a result of you may have a cliff at one stage. However it was not the case and it was fairly properly managed by the 2 guys, and on the finish of the day they had been capable of obtain the goal lap time every lap and really constantly.
“We’re doing the calculation on what we might give as much as Piastri every lap and to repair some goal to Charles, and solely within the final lap I mentioned, ‘OK now we’re secure’, as a result of for the final lap we had one thing like 4 seconds and you then begin to consider reliability. However we attempt to keep targeted – it’s not all the time simple nevertheless it’s an important factor to do and to not assume an excessive amount of in regards to the podium, as a result of that may be a mistake.”
As a lot as Vasseur was attempting to keep away from feelings throughout the race itself, he says Monza is likely one of the most essential races for Ferrari to win even when the factors return is similar.
“For certain, it’s a great one,” he mentioned. “For Ferrari and for Charles to win in Monaco, to win in Monza, I believe most likely with Imola they’re the 2 or three that you just wish to take within the season. However it’s extra emotional than mathematical on the finish of the day, you might be [not] scoring extra factors in Monza than in Baku – mathematically talking it’s a win.
“Emotionally talking, for certain it’s crucial as a result of we had enormous assist from the start of the week, from the tifosi. Beginning on Monday on the manufacturing unit in Maranello, we had lots of of individuals in entrance of the doorway, and one of the simplest ways to pay them again was to win.
“It’s not ever simple, it’s not all the time below management, nevertheless it was one of the simplest ways for the crew to pay again everybody for his or her assist.”
