Ferrari explains what RUINED Charles Leclerc’s race at Mexican GP

Charles Leclerc redeemed himself from the US GP disqualification with the podium at Mexico.

Ferrari explains what RUINED Charles Leclerc’s race at Mexican GP

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes the second tire stint with hards was why Charles Leclerc struggled throughout that run. According to him, the car could not keep up with the tires throughout that run. Even after Leclerc’s front wing end plate damage, the car ran brilliantly in the first stint.

After Leclerc pitted for tire changes, everyone was expecting a change to medium tires again, but to the surprise, the team chose hards. After that, everyone was allowed a tire change in the red flag caused by Kevin Magnussen‘s brutal crash. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton also passed the pole Ferrari early on the run, which was a result of an undercut from the Silver Arrows. 

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In the after-race interview with Autosport, Vasseur admitted that the tires didn’t work. He believes if the hard tires were a little more harmonious with the car, Leclerc could’ve fought for the win.

FS Video
My feeling from the pit wall is that the first stint was okay. But with the hards, we were never able to restart the tires and were always on the shy side, and it didn't work at all.

Vasseur was visibly sad when he said that the team again couldn't provide a good race car after yet another brilliant qualifying and when asked if mediums were an option after the restart, admited they weren't. He added that he didnt expect the medium tires to last that long. 
No, because we had to restart for 35 laps or something like that. And we were not expecting to be able to do 35 laps.

Fred Vasseur does not blame Sergio Perez for the first-corner contact with Charles Leclerc

Following the first-lap incident involving Leclerc and both Red Bulls, Vasseur believes it wasn’t Sergio Perez’s fault. He deems it more like a racing incident. He doesn’t blame Perez for closing in; Max Verstappen couldn’t go over the curb, and Leclerc was in the middle.

Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)
Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)
I think the issue is that when you start and are three on the same line in Turn 1, I think it's almost the same outcome. They asked me if it was a sandwich, and I told them that it was more a panini for us!

Even after a difficult second stint, Leclerc kept his P3 podium spot, with his teammate finishing right behind him. Ferrari also took some points over Mercedes to close their gap with them for P2 in the Constructor’s Standings.

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