Ferrari have gained an unwanted reputation this season as specialists in failure, following a spate of strategy calls that have been detrimental to their drivers’ results.
The Scuderia were back at it again in Brazil as they put Charles Leclerc out on track in Q3 on the intermediate tyres, while every other driver, even including his teammate Carlos Sainz, set their first laps of the session on slicks.
The decision raises more concerns about the communication within the team, with it being a strange decision to send both drivers out in qualifying on different tyres, despite both garages receiving the same information about the conditions.
Leclerc was understandably furious on the team radio after it was confirmed to him that he was the only driver out of the ten in the session that went out on the intermediates.
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The Monegasque driver was significantly off the pace and set the slowest time out of the drivers, who all managed to get a lap in on the soft compound tyres before George Russell red flagged the session by beaching his car down by Turn 4.
“We were expecting some rain which never came,” explained Leclerc.
“I will speak with the team and try to understand what we can do better in those conditions, but I’m extremely disappointed but the pace was there.
“For now, we need to get on it and still do everything good for the rest of the weekend.”
The Scuderia also made the strange decision to not pit their driver for the slick tyres at the end of his out lap, even though it was already clear how far off the pace the 25-year-old was compared to those running the soft compound tyres.
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This decision frustrated Sergio Perez, as the Mexican found himself stuck behind the Ferrari driver and he slowly made his way around the Interlagos circuit, resigning the Red Bull driver to a P9 finish at the end of the session.
The Ferrari golden boy has recently suggested that his team have made improvements with their communication, with the mistakes beginning to look like a thing of the past, however this latest incident in a catalogue of errors will make him rethink this statement.
Leclerc will be relieved by the fact that the Brazilian Grand Prix features a sprint race, which will give him the opportunity to make up as much ground as he can for a better start position for Sunday’s race.