The crucial error that cost Ferrari the F1 Miami Grand Prix?

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has defended his team’s decision not to pit either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz during the late Safety Car during the inaugural F1 Miami Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferr
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferr

Race control deplo♔yed the Safety Car on Lap 41 following Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris’ collision.

With a big gap to Valtteri Bottas behind in fifth💯, the top four all had an opportunity to pit without losing too many places.

Red Bull decided to pit Sergio Perez for new medium tyres while the top three stayed out on their worn hard ty൲res.

Fortunately for th෴e leading trio, Perez’s ongoing engine issues meant he was unable to make the most of the fresh rubber.

Speakin🦩g after the race, Binotto explained why Ferrari didn’t pit either driver for new༒ tyres.

“The reason is that we believed that in terms of warm-up,” Binotto explained. “A used tyre would have been stronger than a new one and that we would have suffered more warm-up issues on a new hard which were the ones we had available in the garage so we decided simply to stay out because we believed that wa💎s the best chance for us to have a good ♏warm-up and try to attack on the first laps, which is what happened. 

“I think that the best opportunity for Charles has been on the very first laps after the Sꦓafety Car. He didn’t overtake but certainly was close at that stage and for Carlos as well, on Checo with the new tyres.”

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB18 leads behind the Mercedes Benz FIA Safety Car. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB18 leads behind the Mercedes Benz FIA Safety Car…

On the other hand, Red Bull team principal Christian Hornerꦐ felt that Ferrari missed a trick by not stoꩲpping either of their drivers.

“No mistakes, Ferrari let us off the hook slight🦹ly when it went from a Virtual Safety Car to a full Safety Car, Max had already passed the pit entry, whereas Fe﷽rrari would’ve had a free stop,” Horner said.

“They didn’t take it with either of their cars. We’re grateful for that, because I think if they had put Soft tyres on, tha🐽t would’ve been P3 today.”

Red Bull deserved to win F1 Miami GP - Leclerc

Des🔥pite starting from pol♔e position, Leclerc lost the lead of the race after just nine laps as he was overtaken by Verstappen into Turn 1.

Leclerc was runn🤡ing seven seconds behind Verstappen before the Safety Car after the Dutchman extended his advantage significantly on the medium tyr🃏e.

Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari F1-75 leads at the start of the race. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 5, Miami Grand Prix,
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari F1-75 leads at the start of the race. Formula 1 World…

The pair were closer on pace on the hard tyres with Leclerc managing to pressure his title rival after the ℱSafety Car came in.

Reflecting on his latest duel with Verstappen, Leclerc said: “I took a bit too muc🧜h kerb. I think the lap before it was Max who took it quite hard and helped me to get close. As we were saying in the press conference, with those cars, they are so big that five centimetres can ma♔ke a huge difference there and especially the way the kerb is done. 

“It’s a very tricky part of the track and on that particular lap I overdid it but I didn’t lose that much compared to my previous laps so I was surpriಞsജed. It was a big hit but I managed it quite well. 

“In the end, it didn’t have any consequence on the opportunity for overtaking. I think there was one very good opportunity on the second lap after the Safety Car but there was no DRS. A𝄹part from that, the Red Bull deserved to win and Max deserved to win, he💧 was a bit quicker than us today.”

Sunday's result means Leclerc'𝕴s championship lead has been reduced to just 19 points while Ferrari have a six-point lead o😼ver Red Bull.

(L to R): second placed Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari and race winner Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing on the podium.
(L to R): second placed Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari and race winner Max Verstappen (NLD) Red…

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