Vettelswonmeover wrote:Ferrari bottled it AGAIN with Kimi. I know its not as straightforward as it it seems but still, Singapore being a street circuit with limited overtaking opportunities and keeping the Ultrasofts fresh enough to pass after 16-17 laps were 2 big factors which would have probably helped Kimi retain third (keeping the Speed Diff. between Merc & Ferrari in mind).
Ferrari should have remembered last year’s Canadian GP while pitting Kimi again. Kimi in a faster car pitted to put on fresher tyres but could not pass Bottas for 3rd.
This is probably Ferrari’s 3rd critical strategy mistake of the year. (Could have been 4 had Vettel not overridden the team’s decision in Baku)
I may be wrong (& probably am) but all I seem to remember about Ferrari’s pit/car/aero strategy are mistakes. Glaring ones. Right from costing Fernando the title at Abu Dhabi 2010 to Vettel’s spectacular tyre burst at Spa last year to costing themselves 2 victories this year. From firing Aldo Costa to focussing on aero rather than engine power at the start of the hybrid era to sacking James Allison, mistakes, mistakes and just mistakes. Wonder when they will learn!
I agree with everything you said except with 2015 Spa. (IMO Ferrari and Vettel did great, but Pirelli is crap)
Ferrari made at least 4 obvious errors this year. Any time they're in front, they find some way to give up track position.
Like in Canada, or in Australia. They did nicely in Spain and Monaco.
I can only imagine RB and Mercedes strategists laughing.
The best/worst part of this Singapore blunder was that everyone knew Hamilton started pushing at lap 38 and if he doesn't pits, he would had hard time getting till the end. He would get there, but wouldn't be fast, so why haven't they told Kimi to push to keep the gap, so they are safe from undercat.
When they failed to do that, they committed to stay on softs till the end.
Ferrari knew that 1 lap undercut is worth at least 3 seconds(Vettel undercut Perez), and Kimi had only 2.5s advantage! WTF!