Ferrari slam ‘idiots’ for costing Charles Leclerc second in Mexico..

Ferrari slam ‘idiots’ for costing Charles Leclerc second in Mexico….read more

In the aftermath of the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur expressed frustration over what he termed “idiots” who disregarded blue flags, which he believes cost Charles Leclerc a second-place finish. Initially, Leclerc found himself in a strong position, moving up to second place behind teammate Carlos Sainz after Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went off-track early in the race.

Ferrari appeared to be on course for a second consecutive one-two finish, with both Sainz and Leclerc maintaining a comfortable lead over Norris. However, the situation changed dramatically when Leclerc encountered backmarkers on Lap 62. This led to a snap of oversteer as he exited the final corner, allowing Norris to overtake him.

Vasseur criticized the backmarkers, specifically calling out Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, and Lance Stroll for failing to yield to the blue flags. He noted that Leclerc lost three to four seconds while stuck in traffic, which significantly impacted his race. Vasseur highlighted that the team had a four-second advantage over Norris prior to the incident, which ultimately evaporated. He expressed bewilderment that the FIA did not penalize the drivers who ignored the blue flags, saying, “When you do five corners when the guy has a solid blue, it’s not unfortunate. It’s a mistake of the guy.”

Despite the setback, Vasseur acknowledged Leclerc’s performance, stating that while he wasn’t pleased with starting positions of P3 or P4, he had a commendable race overall. However, he was disappointed about the blue flag situation costing them a potential podium position. He emphasized the need to focus on future races and move on from this incident.

Leclerc himself shared his frustration over the radio, expressing disbelief at being held up by Lawson. He admitted that, while he struggled to fend off Norris, the backmarkers played a crucial role in the outcome of the race. Leclerc noted that there was “no way” he could have kept Norris behind him indefinitely, especially after the latter’s impressive second stint.

He reflected on the early race dynamics, indicating that Ferrari benefited from the misfortunes of Verstappen and Norris, which slowed them down and allowed Leclerc to gain an advantage. However, he acknowledged that it became increasingly difficult to maintain his position as the race progressed. Leclerc described the moment he lost control at the last corner as a critical point, admitting he pushed too hard in an effort to secure a strong exit.

In conclusion, while Ferrari had aimed for a strong finish in Mexico, the incident with backmarkers significantly altered their trajectory. The frustration expressed by both Vasseur and Leclerc highlights the importance of adhering to race regulations and the impact of traffic on competitive racing. Moving forward, the team aims to learn from this experience as they prepare for upcoming races.