Ferrari Explains Controversial Team Orders During Miami GP

In the thrilling world of Formula 1, team orders have always been a topic of debate. Recently, during the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari made a controversial decision to swap drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, sparking frustration among both drivers. However, team principal Frederic Vasseur defended the move, stating that it was in line with ‘s policy and strategy.

Understanding Ferrari’s Decision-Making Process

During the race, Ferrari made the call to swap Leclerc and Hamilton to help Hamilton press his medium tyres and potentially catch the Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in sixth position. However, when it became apparent that Hamilton couldn’t make any further progress, Leclerc was moved back into seventh place. Both drivers expressed their displeasure about the tactics, with Hamilton feeling that the decisions were made too slowly and Leclerc uneasy due to the proximity of Carlos Sainz.

Vasseur clarified that the decision was based on Ferrari‘s general policy and that the team was trying to understand if the car behind was genuinely faster or just benefiting from DRS assistance. He emphasized that the team didn’t swap drivers aimlessly but only when it was clear that the car in front couldn’t be overtaken without DRS help.

Addressing Driver Frustration and Radio Delays

After the race, Vasseur had a discussion with Lewis Hamilton to address his frustration. He acknowledged the champions’ desire to win races but emphasized that they were asked to let their teammates go, which is never easy. He also clarified that Ferrari was not responsible for the delays in radio broadcasts, as it was managed by FOM, and that discussions were interspersed with other information about car setup and other aspects.

Vasseur denied accusations of slow decision-making, stating that the team was simply trying to dissect the information in front of the engineers to make a definitive call. He suggested that the delays in radio transmissions might have painted a slightly worse picture of the situation.