Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Ferrari used "dummy" pit radio message to trick Red Bull in Abu Dhabi GP
Ferrari has revealed that it used a "dummy" radio message to trick Red Bull into putting Sergio Perez on to a two-stop strategy at Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 22, 2022, 2:34 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez was running in second place, just ahead of Charles Leclerc, in the middle phase of the Yas Marina race, with the pair locked in a tight fight for runner-up spot in the drivers’ championship.
But with Red Bull appearing to have a bit more pace, Ferrari knew that its only chance of getting Leclerc in front was through strategy – and that meant forcing Perez on to a two-stop.
That opportunity came on lap 33, when Ferrari gave the impression that it was going to gun for an undercut on Perez to try to get Leclerc ahead.
It told the Monegasque driver: "Box opposite Red Bull."
However, the message was not real as Leclerc was long committed to a one-stop, and Ferrari was using the call to only make it look like it was going for a two-stop.
The trickery worked as Red Bull responded and pulled Perez into the pits immediately to cover off Ferrari.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted after the race that a combination of Perez’s tyre condition plus it seeing that "Ferrari were gearing up for an undercut" was behind its decision to stop the Mexican.
With Leclerc having no intention of stopping, that meant Perez had to recover all the ground lost with the tyre change, which he ultimately failed to do, as he finished 1.3 seconds behind his Ferrari rival.
Reflecting on the strategy call, Leclerc told Sky Sports: "I have to say that everything that we've done was exactly what we wanted to do.
"That's what was planned before. The laps where, I can say it now, where we dummied him and made him think that we were going to pit opposite. He took it and went for the second stop. So we did everything perfect. I'm very proud of our execution."
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2nd position, lifts his trophy
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto praised the way that the strategy was pulled off to help Leclerc finish second – especially considering it is an area of operation where the Maranello squad has made mistakes this season.
"I think that certainly the dummy call on the Red Bull was a fantastic call from the pits," said Binotto.
"I think it's great for the team It is great for the strategists, and it is great having done a solid race weekend this weekend.
"I think P2 and P2 [in the drivers’ and constructors’ championship] has been the balance of the entire season, not only today. But today certainly we did the proper job.
"The dummy pitstop on the Red Bull was the right call. And I think that overall, we made it right. So happy for them, happy for the team.
"I think that as well Ferrari, when it is making mistakes, there is always a lot of criticism. But, as well, I know that these guys can do very well."
Leclerc reckoned that the team, having performed flawlessly in Abu Dhabi, was all the more impressive considering the extra pressure on it through the battle for position in the championships and the rumours circulating over the future of Binotto.
"We executed the right one, and the one with the most pressure," he explained.
"Obviously, the outside pressure with all the rumours going around coming into the weekend, and the pressure of keeping the second place in the drivers' and constructors' championship.
"We managed to perform at our best in a situation like this, which makes me very proud of the team.
"I don't think that in pure pace we were stronger than Red Bull. I think Red Bull was still stronger than we were. But we pushed them into doing mistakes and pushed them into two stops and eventually that paid off. So we're very happy."
Read Also:
- Horner: Perez would have been "dying fly" on one-stop F1 strategy
- Hamilton’s sour Abu Dhabi F1 race “sums up the whole year”
- Verstappen: Holding up Leclerc not a nice way to end F1 season
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes: F1 2022 still less painful than last year’s Abu Dhabi title loss
Next article Alonso: DNF to end F1 season in Abu Dhabi was "summary of the year"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
11 h
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Ferrari downplays expectations for F1 Mexico GP despite blistering Friday
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
20 h
Ferrari downplays expectations for F1 Mexico GP despite blistering Friday
Latest news
Yamaha to boycott Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
7 min
Yamaha to boycott Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 min
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Mexico GP
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
14 min
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Alex Marquez skips controversial Qatar GP to undergo surgery
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
38 min
Alex Marquez skips controversial Qatar GP to undergo surgery
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe