F1 News: Binotto defends Ferrari strategy blunder at British GP

Scuderia Ferrari’s British GP was bitter-sweet, though – frankly – the team again showed itself grossly lacking operationally, not displaying the ruthlessness needed to win championships.

Issues for both Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen gifted the Italian squad the opportunity for a 1-2. but Ferrari fumbled their strategy reacting to the final safety car, costing Leclerc what could have been a well-earned and much-needed victory.

Mattia Binotto tried to justify the team’s strategy post-race, though most Ferrari fans will remain irate about their execution:

it’s a shame we scored fewer points than we could have done with Charles who, when the Safety Car came out, was comfortably in the lead.

Pitting Charles at that moment, which would have put him behind Hamilton, who at that point would have stayed out on fresh Hard tyres, did not seem the right choice, so we therefore decided to leave him out on track.

Unfortunately, at the restart, he was at a disadvantage in terms of tyres.

Charles Leclerc will feel that Ferrari continues to throw away points in the championship, with embarrassing strategic blunders in Monaco and Silverstone costing the 24-year-old race victory.

Reliability has been an issue for the #16 this season, but when looking at Red Bull’s DNFs with Verstappen and Perez, this is not the reason for the team’s deficit in both championships.

This season, Red Bull has proven far more efficient than Ferrari operationally, executing better strategies and preparing better race set-ups.

Red Bull continues to maximise their car, whilst Ferrari fails to take advantage of the opportunities presented.

Whilst Leclerc held his tongue post-race (likely at the instruction of Mattia Binotto), Ferrari’s leadership must address their consistent errors if they fight for the title this season.