Ferrari's Strategy Errors Continue to Haunt Them, Says Damon Hill

The Canadian Grand Prix saw another strategic blunder from Ferrari as Charles Leclerc was left frustrated after being moved onto dry tires too late in qualifying. This decision prevented him from making it into Q3 and hindered his chances in the race on Sunday. Leclerc's criticism of his own team highlights an ongoing issue for Ferrari, with their questionable decisions on pit wall often under scrutiny.
Leclerc expressed his frustration after qualifying by stating that staying on intermediate tires when track conditions were dry did not make their lives any easier. He further emphasized that this was not an isolated incident but rather a recurring problem where Ferrari consistently makes incorrect decisions during tricky situations.

Damon Hill, who won the Formula 1 World Championship with Williams-Renault in 1996, believes that these mistakes expose a wider "malaise" within the team which needs urgent attention. According to Hill, there is a lack of clarity regarding who holds ultimate authority within Ferrari and suggests that someone like Ross Brawn or Jean Todt should take control to bring about positive change.

"They need to have a good, long, hard look at themselves or someone does," said Hill when discussing Ferrari's recent strategy error. "It just seems this is the malaise they perennially suffer from. It’s like you’re not sure who’s really in charge there."

Ferrari underwent changes at its management level earlier this year with Fred Vasseur taking over as boss after Mattia Binotto resigned from his position. However, according to Hill's assessment of recent events, Ferrari requires a strong figurehead capable of making firm decisions and leading the team effectively.

While Ferrari faced criticism for their performance in qualifying, they managed to salvage their race with an impressive recovery. Both Carlos Sainz and Leclerc adopted a strategic approach by staying out on medium tires when others pitted under an early Safety Car period. This decision propelled them into the top five by the end of the race, earning much-deserved praise for their resilience.

Vasseur acknowledged that qualifying did not go as well as expected but commended his drivers' performances during the race. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast in Montreal, Vasseur stated that he was satisfied with Ferrari's recovery due to good strategy calls and solid driving from Sainz and Leclerc.

"It was not a good quali for us, and we were for sure a bit frustrated after the results," said Vasseur. "But today, the race was strong with a good strategy, a good drive from both drivers."

Despite this redemption in terms of overall results at Canada Grand Prix 2023, it is evident that Ferrari's recurring strategy errors remain cause for concern within Formula 1 circles. The team must address these issues promptly to ensure better decision-making moving forward.

The upcoming races will offer opportunities for Ferrari to address these strategy errors and prove that they can make better decisions under pressure. Only time will tell if they heed Hill’s advice, take a hard look at themselves, and emerge stronger in future races - or risk falling further behind their competitors in Formula 1's relentless pursuit of victory.