Rich in emotions, poor in strategy: Ferrari wins the Great Britain F1 GP

If the hypothesis that Formula 1 needs more circuits than city tracks needed some sort of factual proof, well, Silverstone it is the best evidence.

Memories from Silverstone

The Great Britain GP in the historical circuit in Silverstone is one historical and beloved racetrack for both drivers and fans. You can expect at all times some incredible moments and races to be remembered in the history of the race.

Last season, that accident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in turn 1, which officially sparked the rivalry between the young dutchman and the British, with Verstappen flying over the barriers and out of the race.

The 2021 race was a spectacular one, if not one of the best of the past season, with an amazing Charles Leclerc finishing second, at podium with the two – back then- far superior Mercedes.

The 2022 season promised a Silverstone script as equally rich in emotions, with a weekend in which Ferrari looked to be the best performing over the weekend, with an incredible Carlos Sainz, which landed his very first pole position in career, followed by Max Verstappen second and Charles Leclerc in a wet and rainy Saturday in very British style.

Driving in Style

Speaking of British style, some old Ferrari fans must appreciate a Nigel Mansel in top form, always around its home track with a Ferrari hat, pledging his love to Ferrari and remembering it as the best part of his career. For Carlos Sainz, receiving the first pole position award from a legend as Mansel, must have been a highlight of his career.

Ferrari is coming to Silverstone with the necessity to convert all the good work done over the weekend into points. The Scuderia entered this second half of the season recognizing issues in reliability and team strategy.

The SF-75 is now fresh of power unit for Charles Leclerc, and for Sainz the car started to have a better handling, with the Spaniard looking a bit more comfortable with the car. Sunday is an unpredictable sunny day in Silverstone.

Verstappen surprises the whole paddock with Red-Slick tires at the starting grid. Sainz and Leclerc are on the same strategy, starting with Medium-Yellow tires. Fresh reminder, red tires are the most performing and fastest set, with great features of warming up faster and to have great grip on track, while being more abrasive and subjected to faster wear.

God Bless Halo

Obviously, Verstappen hits first place right at the start. Passed turn 1, his nightmares from the last season are gone. Not for Alfa Romeo driver Zhou.

Right at turn 1 again, another Mercedes – this time George Russel – goes in contact with Zhou’s rear tire, with the Alfa Romeo flipping and moving toward the sand, starting spinning in the air like a snowball directed towards the fan’s grandstand.

Two things to mention, great safety measures on track to protect the fans. Formula 1‘s greatest invention is the Halo.

Halo saved Zhou from very serious injuries, maybe fatal. The race is stopped with Red Flag, for about 20 minutes.

Silverstone Crash Aftermath

Even if before Verstappen gained the lead before the accident involving four cars -Zhou, Russell, Albon and Ocon – the commission applies the rule that no lap was completed, and the race will restart from the grip with Sainz on pole position.

This second start Sainz turns into an aggressive driver, protecting his position on Verstappen and maintaining the lead of the race. Not for long, as the Red Bull champion is once again perfect in his drive, and steal the lead, looking to cruise in front of Sainz and Leclerc with a good margin.

In this moment Ferrari experience team strategic turning point, where Sainz continues losing gap from Verstappen, and Leclerc, increasing his race rhythm, asking team orders to let him go through. All of sudden, Verstappen hits a carbon piece and start losing power, and now the crowd roars at Sainz and Leclerc taking the lead of the Gran Prix. In this weekend, there was also a certain Sir Lewis Hamilton looking to bring a strong performance in his home circuit.

Team Strategy Matters

Which all of a sudden, he does. Third place, about 6 second gap from Leclerc, and start building a great pace. A warning bell for Ferrari.

Leclerc has a strong pace, Sainz can’t keep up.

In this case Binotto becomes that key strategic leadership able to read the race and allow both drivers and team to gain the most out of the race. In other words, in this moment, is where Ferrari see his weekend success at stake.

Every Second Counts in Formula 1

Hesitating a second in Formula 1 means losing a second gap from the opponents on track. Hesitating brought again negative notes in this weekend. Happened already in Monaco (link article from F1 Monaco), with Leclerc losing first place due a miscommunication with the box. Waiting that Hamilton recovers almost 3 second to Leclerc and Sainz, before acknowledging that Sainz should have concede the position to the Monegasque, it is too much hesitance. Formula 1 is a sport that teaches that the ability to take the best decision in the shortest time is the greatest leadership skill to win races for Team Principals.

Especially when Ocon leaves the car in the middle of the track after an engine failure, and the safety car comes out with twelve laps to go.

Leclerc waits until the last minute for a pit stop call, slows down, hint he should pit and get red tires. Team strategy keeps Charles out, calls in Sainz.

Now, when you have in order Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Alonso pitted for red tires, Leclerc out with medium and about 15 laps old tires, there are two things to realize.

1. Leclerc has no chance to hold the lead.
2. Ferrari is choosing to go for Sainz to win the race.

Sainz Takes the Lead

This is why after hesitating at first, leaving out Leclerc basically in a carnage with cars with faster tires, it is unclear why Sainz is asked to leave Charles with a 10-cars length gap after safety car. Sainz adopted (just as in Monaco) to override team’s order, took comfortably the lead from Leclerc, leaving poor Charles feasted by Perez first, Hamilton after.

By the way, what a beautiful race overall, these last twelve laps are so exciting, Hamilton-Perez-Leclerc showing some of the finest driving skills, especially Leclerc, getting trajectories and overtakes in places no one could ever imagine. Too bad for Leclerc, P4.

Congratulations to Sainz, which cruises easily towards his very first win in his career, taking advantage of a Leclerc that even if left in the mix as prey for Red Bull and Mercedes, gave enough fight, allowing his teammate to win easy.

Does  Ferrari want to win a race or a championship? Silverstone offers some clarity.

In this article, Ferrari looks to account for three major strategic-related situations that compromised the maximum result for the Scuderia. It is unclear why sacrifice Leclerc with the most points and highest chances to battle Verstappen for the title.

Who is driver #1? Most would answer Leclerc.

Undoubtedly, Ferrari could’ve finish P1 and P2. In addition to the gap drivers have from Verstappen, Ferrari needs to look at maximum result. Some may say that Ferrari obtained maximum result in Silverstone. Which is partially true. If the measure of success is solely related to the short-term success in Great Britain.

However, Ferrari and the Ferraristi are probably aiming at the title. Maybe realizing that Leclerc lost an incredible occasion to gain lots of points from Verstappen in the WDC, and Ferrari losing points in the Constructor championship.

Ferrari is a team that is always expected to aim to win the championship. That is why, these three pivotal team strategy moments of the race are a dark note that makes Sainz’s success leaving Ferrari with a bitter taste, yet concerning if the car and driver that performing, are not adequately supported by team strategy.

Forza Ferrari! See you in Austria on July 8-10