Source: Official Team Post via X
Lewis Hamilton Defends Ferrari After Bahrain Tyre Strategy Snafu
Lewis Hamilton claims Ferrari faces undue criticism for strategic errors compared to other teams, like McLaren, which made similar mistakes. Despite Ferrari's botched tyre call in Bahrain, Hamilton emphasizes the collective nature of strategic decisions.
Lewis Hamilton is standing up for Ferrari, suggesting the team gets more criticism for its mistakes than others, particularly after its recent tyre strategy blunder at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, noted that McLaren made a similar decision to start on soft tyres but escaped the same level of scrutiny.
During the race, Ferrari opted to start both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on soft Pirelli tyres after a delayed start due to wet conditions. This decision quickly proved misguided, as the track remained too wet, leading to a slippery and dangerous situation. "It's so slippery, guys. It's dangerous," Hamilton remarked to his race engineer, Carlo Santi.
As the race unfolded, Hamilton and Leclerc found themselves at the back of the pack. Ferrari called Leclerc in for an early tyre change, while Hamilton stayed out, ultimately managing to finish in third place. Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, defended the initial decision, explaining that the split between slick and wet tyre choices was about fifty-fifty on the grid. "Based on our feeling on the grid... it was not a good one," Vasseur admitted, reflecting on the choice made with the information available at the time.
Hamilton, however, feels Ferrari's errors are unfairly spotlighted. "For some reason, as a team, we get far more flak than anybody else," he told Sky Sports. "McLaren made the same decision, and no one even said anything about it."
He further elaborated on the collective nature of strategic decisions at Ferrari, emphasizing that it wasn't solely the strategists' fault. "It was ultimately a mistake, but it’s not the strategists. The call comes from us working together," Hamilton explained. He detailed how input from various team members, including Fred Vasseur and head of track engineering Matteo Togninalli, contributed to the decision-making process.
Hamilton described how multiple perspectives can sometimes sway an original gut feeling, admitting that while collective decision-making is vital, it can occasionally lead to the wrong choice. "You hope three are more right than one," he said, acknowledging the challenges of team strategy.
Currently, Hamilton sits third in the Drivers’ Championship with 214 points, just 22 points behind his former teammate, George Russell, who occupies second place.