The decisions of the Ferrari pit wall have been the focus of much criticism during the current 2022 Formula 1 season, since their strategies have on many occasions harmed the fight of their drivers for the drivers’ championship and that of the same team for that of builders.
During last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, for example, Charles Leclerc debated strategy for almost the entire race on team radio, before stopping on the penultimate lap to try to snatch the lap point from him. fast to his closest rival and championship leader Max Verstappen.
However, the Monegasque finished behind Fernando Alonso in sixth after receiving a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane by 1km/h.
Mattia Binotto said at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday that there were differences between the perception of Ferrari’s strategy by those outside the team and the “reality” of the situation.
The team manager said that: “If I look back at the season, I think there are a lot of different perceptions from the outside compared to what actually happens.”
“I think sometimes we are not making mistakes, but it can be perceived as a mistake.”
Carlos Sainz, in Zandvoort qualifying, supported Binotto , saying that people react much quicker to criticize Ferrari compared to the other teams on the grid.
“It is very difficult to generalize and say that we should have been more courageous or more cautious.”
“It would be necessary to choose one by one and analyze it independently.”
“I’m pretty sure one by one, each result or each conclusion will be different.”
“For me, it’s about continually improving and finding a way to make the right decisions at the right time,” Sainz added.
The Spanish driver also recognized that nobody usually congratulates Ferrari when they get the strategy right.
“There have been many times during the year where we’ve made the right decisions and no one has come to say, ‘Oh, you’ve made the right decision,’ or to congratulate us on it.”
“But on the other hand, when there have been two or three, let’s say bad decisions, we have received massive criticism for it. That seems to me to be a bit harsher at Ferrari.
“I feel like when I was at McLaren or Toro Rosso or Renault, when we made a big mistake, no one came to point it out and criticize you or belittle you as much as they do with Ferrari,” concluded the Spaniard.
