P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Frederic Vasseur has chronicled the “strange” Italian Grand Prix from his perspective, admitting he remained worried Charles Leclerc’s tyres would fall off the “cliff” at Monza.
During the “strange” Italian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, tried to avoid thinking about the possibility of victory at Monza, focusing on managing the race’s fluctuations to prevent Charles Leclerc’s tires from suffering a performance drop-off. Despite the challenging conditions, including high temperatures at the Temple of Speed, Leclerc and Carlos Sainz successfully managed a two-stop strategy, securing a memorable home victory. Vasseur detailed his race progress, emphasizing their confidence in the tire advantage early on and the cautious execution of the one-stop plan throughout. The unexpected pace set by McLaren prompted a shift in tire strategies for much of the F1 field, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri opting for a two-stop approach. Ferrari’s early recognition of their tire management advantage over McLaren and a steadfast commitment to the initial strategy ultimately led to a successful outcome at Monza. Vasseur acknowledged the team’s well-executed race plan, highlighting Leclerc and Sainz’s consistent performance and their ability to sustain target lap times until the finish line.