P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari admitted it “underestimated” the time loss in the pit lane with the stop that dropped Charles Leclerc behind other cars in F1’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Despite Ferrari’s decision to switch to Intermediate tyres prior to a red flag, Charles Leclerc missed out on a podium result in Brazil. Leclerc was the first to pit on Lap 25, losing positions to eventual winner Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly. Leclerc’s advances were hindered as he rejoined the track behind Oliver Bearman and Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur agreed that pitting at that moment was a wise choice, given the worsening conditions. Vasseur acknowledged that not staying on track until the red flag was the critical strategic error that impacted Leclerc’s fifth-place finish. Leclerc himself identified waiting for the red flag as the strategy that could have led to a better result. Despite challenges, Vasseur and Ferrari remain focused on improving performance for future races.
