Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, Fred Vasseur, has revealed the reasons behind the decision not to pit Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton under the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) during the Australian Grand Prix, which ultimately cost them victory against Mercedes. Leclerc’s impressive start in Albert Park saw him take the lead from fourth on the grid and engage in a battle for first place with George Russell early in the race. However, when the VSC was deployed following Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull breakdown, both Ferrari cars stayed out while Mercedes cars opted to pit for fresh tires. This led to Hamilton expressing concern over the team radio about the decision not to pit.
Another VSC was deployed when Valtteri Bottas retired, prompting more cars to pit, but the pitlane entry was closed due to a stranded vehicle. Despite this, Leclerc eventually pitted on lap 25 followed by Hamilton on lap 28, giving Mercedes a significant advantage that allowed them to finish with a 1-2 result. Vasseur admitted that Mercedes had a pace advantage over Ferrari throughout the race, despite the strategic decisions made by the team. He emphasized that the focus now is on the upcoming race in China, maintaining a positive outlook despite finishing third and fourth in Australia.
