At Monaco, Ferrari’s deputy team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio defended the club’s double‑stack pit strategy that shocked favourite Charles Leclerc after a frantic safety‑car break‑out.
Unsettling Strategy During the Safety Car
Leclerc, almost second before a five‑second penalty for Lewis Hamilton, was rushed into a stop that left him a lap behind. The call, made under safety‑car conditions, aimed to protect the team’s overall position but left the Monegasque driver trailing.
Brake Problems Lead to a Sudden Retirement
On lap 65, Leclerc lost control; he later attributed the crash to brake sensations that had troubled him earlier. The incident erased his points and highlighted a potential flaw in the vehicle’s braking set‑up.
Team’s Rationale and Next Steps
D’Ambrosio admitted the stop “wasn’t 100 % optimised for him” but explained that waiting could have trapped the drivers behind the safety‑car once more. He said, “In hindsight we had to double‑stack to protect the result.” The squad will now analyse the brake data and strive for the correct feel in the coming sessions.
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