Ralf Schumacher: Ferrari have to relearn how to make the right decisions
Follow Us
Ralf Schumacher feels that Ferrari need to up their game following a strategic error at the Monaco GP
Charles Leclerc qualified on pole for his home race, for the second year in a row. Carlos Sainz joined him on the front row. Ferrari looked dead-set for a 1-2 finish, especially because this was Monaco. They had looked like the better car all weekend, and Charles Leclerc was looking supreme and it seemed as if he would finally prove that there is no curse.
It was not to be. Ferrari made two errors, the first: underestimating Perez’s pace, and the second: They brought in both drivers in for a double pit-stop at the end of lap 21 when the gap between them was not sufficient for both of them to pit without losing time. The time Leclerc lost in the pitstop meant he conceded the podium position to Max Verstappen, and the fact that he was stuck behind Albon for a whole lap before being let go also contributed to him losing positions.
This was also because Leclerc had pitted for intermediates at the end of lap 18, after Perez. Sainz, however, stayed out and switched straight to slick tires, and hence kept his original position. He might have even taken the lead, perhaps if he was not stuck behind the unlapping Nicholas Latifi.
Instead, Red Bull and Sergio Perez took the lead of the race, completely outwitting Ferrari with a brilliant overcut. Perez won the race, and Leclerc had to settle for a miserable fourth place.
Ralf Schumacher believes Ferrari’s mistake is from ‘rust’
Ralf Schumacher is of the view that it was Ferrari’s mistake in the pit stops that lost them the race. Writing in his column for Sky Deutschland, he had said:
“The Monaco GP was ultimately decided by a strategic mistake by Ferrari in the pits. It was decided to split the two Ferraris and proceed with different tire tactics. It initially made sense for Charles Leclerc as he was very fast on the rain tires.”
The former Williams’ driver continued explaining Ferrari’s error(s). “The mistake was that you reacted too late to Sergio Perez’s undercut. Carlos Sainz wanted to ride slicks and not intermediates. Charles should have just stayed out longer.”
For Schumacher, this was proof of one thing: that Ferrari need to elevate their decision-making, as these decisions are crucial for the championship fight.
“Ferrari has to relearn how to make the right decisions when fighting for victory at the front. This is a new situation that they haven’t had in recent years.”
“On the other hand, Red Bull has learned an awful lot in recent years from the tough World Championship fight with Mercedes, who have always been strategically very strong. They now benefit from this.”
Ferrari certainly can not afford any more weekends of this sort, not when Red Bull sit 36 points away from them at the top. They will hope to put their woes behind them in Baku. Max Verstappen and Red Bull currently lead their respective world championships. Red Bull have 235 points, with Verstappen contributing 125 of those points. Charles Leclerc sits 9 points behind Max Verstappen.
Stay Updated!
FS Desk
(8023 Articles Published)