Why Ferrari didn’t pit under VSC in F1 Australian GP
Team boss Fred Vasseur has ‘no regrets’ on the Scuderia’s potentially race-losing strategy – here’s why
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: William West / AFP via Getty Images
Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur has explained why neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton pitted under the VSC in the Australian Grand Prix, after losing victory to Mercedes.
Leclerc’s lightning getaway earned him the lead of the Albert Park race from fourth on the grid, and he traded first place with George Russell on several occasions over the first 10 laps.
However, when Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull broke down on lap 11 and caused a virtual safety car, both Ferraris stayed out while the Silver Arrows pitted for new tyres. This led Hamilton to express concern on the radio: “At least one of us should have come in,” he suggested.
Another VSC intervention occurred as Valtteri Bottas retired on lap 16; five more cars pitted then, but the pitlane entry was swiftly closed due to the stricken Cadillac being located on the inside of the last corner – which was “unlucky”, Vasseur told Sky Italia.
Leclerc ended up doing a regular pitstop on lap 25, followed by Hamilton on lap 28, with Mercedes taking a decisive advantage on its way to a 1-2 finish.
“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+ after the race. “From then on, they were able to exploit that advantage.”
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
The Frenchman expanded on the subject later on Sunday, when speaking to the written press.
“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.
“I think the pace of Mercedes was better than us. 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.”
From Vasseur’s point of view, the glass is therefore half full despite Leclerc and Hamilton ending up third and fourth, 16 seconds adrift of race winner Russell.
“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.”
Photos from Australian GP - Sunday
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Australian GP - Sunday, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
“Even faster than Ferrari” – Fernando Alonso grabs Aston Martin’s best result of F1 2026
Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Ferrari’s Vigna on Vasseur and fake news: “There is only one reality”
Lewis Hamilton labels Sepang qualifying as "best lap" of his 2026 F1 season
The slick tyre gamble that hurt McLaren and Ferrari's Bahrain F1 chances
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
The problem with Ferrari’s endless team principal speculation
Redemption at Road Atlanta: Kevin Estre breaks IMSA victory curse in thrilling Petit Le Mans finish
Winners and losers from an intriguing NASCAR Cup race at Las Vegas
Toyota explains how a photographer helped secure dramatic Fuji WEC win
Can Red Bull now fight for wins everywhere? "It's difficult to be on par with Mercedes consistently"
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi
The wide world of strategy options expected in F1's Bahrain GP in Malaysia
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.
Top Comments