Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has explained the squad’s approach to the Russian Grand Prix, amid the controversial tactics during the opening stint.
Charles Leclerc retained the lead from pole position through Turn 1 but on the long run to Turn 2 Sebastian Vettel used the slipstream to overtake his team-mate, who did not put up a defence.
Shortly after a sequence of radio messages went back and forth between the respective engineering crews and drivers, instructing that Vettel would allow Leclerc back through.
This did not happen, with Vettel citing the fact that he did not want to relinquish a two-second advantage; Ferrari instead shifted the swap to the pit stop phase.
That plan was carried out and Leclerc used a four-lap undercut to emerge from the pit stop cycle ahead of Vettel, as they made their sole intended pit stops.
Ferrari’s race nonetheless unravelled as Vettel retired and caused a Virtual Safety Car period that ensured Lewis Hamilton could pit from the lead and still emerge ahead.
“Obviously looking at the past races in Russia, we know that it is important to be ahead at the first lap, because normally if you start first, you may finish first,” said Binotto.
“As a team, obviously the victory was key, so we decided that the most important thing for us was to be first and second at the first lap, because by being first and second, we would have somehow control and manage the pace and control the positions, which is what was happening.
“We were first and second, and as a matter of fact we were controlling the race, and without our reliability issues, we would have kept the positions after the pit stops.
“We agreed together that the best way was not to give any slipstream to Hamilton at first, because giving a slipstream to Hamilton would give him some advantage, at least some possibility.
“And therefore Charles would give the slipstream to Seb, that was what we agreed and discussed.
“But by giving the slipstream to Seb and not giving the position, it would give an advantage to Seb which later on in the race we could give back by swapping the cars. So that was the deal.
“What happened I think exactly as I explained, we got a good start, both drivers, they both had very similar starts, we were on the Soft tyres, we got a good speed, Charles stayed on the left, Sebastian jumped initially Hamilton and very soon was in the slipstream, naturally I would say in the slipstream of Charles.”
When asked for their respective opinions on the agreement both drivers were coy.
“I think on my side it’s best if I don’t say anything,” said Vettel. “I think I kept that way in the TV pen, which obviously you were not part of. I think Mattia gave an explanation which is valid, so leave it.”
Leclerc said: “I don’t know. In the car obviously there was an agreement and that’s all I can say.”
