Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has fired back at critics after the team’s defeat in the Australian Grand Prix, insisting the Scuderia’s loss to Mercedes had nothing to do with strategy — and everything to do with raw speed.
After a race that saw Charles Leclerc briefly seize control at the front and Lewis Hamilton question Ferrari’s decisions over team radio, the paddock quickly pointed fingers at the team’s refusal to pit under two early virtual safety cars.
But Vasseur isn’t buying that narrative. According to the Ferrari team principal, the truth is far simpler: Mercedes were just quicker.
Ferrari’s Gamble Under the Safety Car
The race initially looked promising for Ferrari at Albert Park.
Leclerc produced a sensational start from fourth on the grid to snatch the lead, immediately throwing himself into a tense duel with polesitter George Russell. The pair traded positions several times in the opening laps, turning the race into an early thriller.
Then the first turning point arrived.
When Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull stopped on lap 11, triggering a virtual safety car, Mercedes reacted instantly by bringing Russell and Kimi Antonelli into the pits. But Ferrari stayed out.
That decision immediately raised eyebrows – even within the cockpit. Over the radio, Hamilton questioned the call.
“At least one of us should have come in,” he suggested.
Moments later, a second VSC followed when Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac stopped on lap 16. Once again, Ferrari did not pit, and once again the opportunity slipped away when the pitlane entry was suddenly closed.
From Vasseur’s perspective, that moment of bad timing was simply misfortune. He described the pitlane closure as “unlucky” when speaking to Sky Italia.
Mercedes’ Pace Made the Difference
Despite the strategic debate, Vasseur insists the outcome in Melbourne had little to do with pit calls. Instead, he says Mercedes’ speed advantage ultimately made the difference.
“What happened was Mercedes thought they were going to pit again and we were all surprised by how well the tyres held up, because we could have done 350 laps with those,” Vasseur told Canal+.
“From then on, they were able to exploit that advantage.”
Ferrari eventually stopped later in the race – Leclerc on lap 25 and Hamilton three laps afterward – but by then the damage had been done. Mercedes held the upper hand and marched toward a dominant one-two finish.
For Vasseur, the numbers tell the story.
“To be realistic with this, they were eight tenths faster than us yesterday,” he pointed out. “I think at this stage of the race, nobody was expecting to do one stop. We targeted the optimum for us, and the optimum was to extend.”
“The issue is not the strategy call, but just the pure pace.”
No Regrets, Focus on China
The Frenchman also rejected the suggestion that Ferrari’s early fight with Russell showed they could have won with different decisions.
While Leclerc briefly battled at the front, Vasseur believes that pushing hard early likely cost Ferrari tyre life later in the race.
“I think the pace of Mercedes was better than us,” he said. “Even when they pitted they were three, four tenths faster than us. They kept this pace all the stint. Okay, perhaps we were able to fight a little bit more at the beginning but perhaps pushing a bit more on the tyres.”
In the end, Ferrari finished third and fourth – 16 seconds behind Russell – a respectable but frustrating result after briefly leading the race.
Still, Vasseur insists there is no point dwelling on what might have been.
“I have no regret on the strategy, no regret on the pace of today,” he insisted. “We did this instead compared to yesterday. Let's be focused on China now.”
For Ferrari, the message is clear: the strategy debate can rage all it wants – but the real fight lies in finding the speed to match Mercedes before the championship momentum slips away.
Read also: Russell had ‘nothing in the tank’ to counter Leclerc off the line
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