AR3-GP wrote: ↑26 Jun 2024, 02:18
The drivers make their choices about race management on the track. That's what makes each driver unique. With Sainz and Leclerc you get to play both types of strategies and it's not a given which strategy is best. Sainz should not have to be trapped behind Leclerc if Leclerc doesn't want to push.
Ferrari
told the drivers to manage their tires before the race. This argument would only make sense if their strategies were an actual free for all, but of course Ferrari, like all teams, decided on a general strategy before according to the track, their car, and so forth. Sainz didn't follow it, Leclerc did, and it frustrated Leclerc that Sainz changed his strategy at his potential expense, which I think is a logical reason to be upset.
Additionally, Leclerc said he didn't care about being overtaken, he was only upset at the manner at which Sainz did it. Leclerc has not been one to commonly complain about Sainz overtaking him in the past unless it was in a questionable manner, so I believe that he wouldn't have cared if not for the fact they got too close.
AR3-GP wrote: ↑26 Jun 2024, 02:18
No one appreciated Sainz for following team orders later in the race to let Leclerc past in his home race [...]
The reason why Sainz had to let Leclerc pass is because Sainz had awful pace and had no chance of catching Russell ahead. That late in the race, the strategies are more dynamic and keeping Leclerc behind in the last dozen laps would make no sense for the team's success. As a fan of the team more than either driver, I appreciate that he moved aside; I don't appreciate his solo fans acting like he did something remarkably generous.
AR3-GP wrote: ↑26 Jun 2024, 02:18
Sainz is immediately attacked.
You have not been on most other social media sites, where Leclerc is being dragged from here to Hell. You only need to check Leclerc's Instagram comments to see that Sainz is not the one being attacked by the public.
AR3-GP wrote: ↑26 Jun 2024, 02:18
Vasseur should be more pro-active about letting the drivers not get in each others way. For the time being, Sainz prefers to attack the starts, so let him go. Don't pin him up behind Leclerc who wants to go slowly all the time and do 80 laps on soft tires. There's not just "Leclerc's way or the highway". There are other race strategies.
I'm sure they'll consider this for future races given what happened. However, this was not the proposed strategy for Barcelona. What he "should" do is not what they had planned.
Moving on from this: I'm worried about the weather in Austria this weekend. A damp and probably chilly track is going to be a struggle, should the current forecast be accurate. They're going to really need to hustle during FP1 since it's a sprint weekend. It does seem like the aerodynamic upgrades worked, or at least they didn't actually bring the car backwards, but the bouncing seems to be becoming a bigger issue with every passing race, or at least the drivers are noting it as a prominent issue.
Also, very interesting that Uno reiterated a verbal agreement with Newey has been made and Maranello is expecting him to sign a contract. It's been a few weeks since the last relevant "Newey to Ferrari" rumors so I'm surprised it's being doubled down on once more.
