Leclerc and Sainz praise Ferrari's ... strategist after double victory in

Leclerc and Sainz praise Ferrari’s … strategist after double victory in… read more

Following a remarkable double victory for Ferrari at the United States Grand Prix, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz praised the team’s strategy department for its notable improvement after previous mistakes. Ferrari secured the third and fourth positions on the grid during qualifying, with Sainz and Leclerc respectively.

When the race commenced, both drivers made strong starts from the second row. Leclerc took advantage of the inside line as leaders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen ran wide. Despite an early safety car requiring him to fend off Verstappen at the restart, Leclerc drove flawlessly, ultimately claiming his third win of the season.

Sainz encountered technical issues early on, but the team swiftly addressed the problem with a setting adjustment. This allowed him to undercut Verstappen during the pit stops, contributing to Ferrari’s second 1-2 finish of the year.

After the race, Leclerc and Sainz were joined on the podium by Ravin Jain, Ferrari’s Head of Strategy. Jain took over the role from former chief strategist Iñaki Rueda following a series of strategic missteps in the 2022 season. Jain, who is of Indian descent, graduated from King Edward’s School in Birmingham and earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics and a master’s in Mathematical Physics from the University of Oxford. He has experience with several Formula 1 teams, including Caterham and Williams, and joined Ferrari in 2016 as a mathematical modeling engineer, later becoming a race strategy engineer in 2017. He was promoted to Head of Strategy by team principal Frédéric Vasseur in 2023.

Leclerc expressed confidence in Jain’s capabilities, saying, “He’s incredible. I have a lot of trust in Ravin. He’s done an excellent job and is quite young for such a position, yet he remains super calm.” Leclerc emphasized that Jain’s ability to manage emotions has been crucial, highlighting a significant improvement in Ferrari’s strategic decisions compared to previous seasons.

Sainz echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, attributing much of the team’s recent success to Jain and the strategy team. He noted the importance of their progress over the past couple of years and mentioned the substantial behind-the-scenes work that has contributed to their achievements. Sainz emphasized that having a strong car on race day facilitates effective strategy implementation, stating, “This year, compared to last year, we have a very strong car on race day.”

Sainz highlighted the flexibility this year’s car provides in terms of strategy. He referenced past challenges, noting how he struggled with tire degradation last year. “The best example is today. A car that allows you to box early and still perform well on hard tires wouldn’t have been possible in previous years,” he explained. He recalled experiences from the Singapore race, where he pitted early but still managed to complete the race successfully—an outcome that would have been unlikely with previous car models.

Sainz concluded by reaffirming that the current car’s improved tire management allows for more strategic options, making bold decisions less risky and more feasible. Both drivers’ comments reflect a growing confidence in Ferrari’s capabilities, underscoring the significant progress made in both vehicle performance and strategic execution. The team’s recent success not only boosts morale but also indicates a promising trajectory for the remainder of the season.