While Carlos Sainz in 2023 continues to show his true potential, Charles Leclerc’s campaign is turning out to be a disaster. Following his pole position, the Monegasque finished the Austin race in sixth place. However, due to Ferrari’s disaster class, the 25-year-old was disqualified for using an illegal part. During the race on Sunday, Ferrari was seeking perfection to challenge Mercedes for the P2 slot, but their one-stop pit strategy only resulted in disappointment, as revealed by Leclerc’s friend Pierre Gasly.
In a recent interview with F1 TV, the Alpine driver, who had a great race and was promoted to P6 after finishing in P8, said that Charles Leclerc approached him before the race to discuss his pit stop strategy. However, as the Monegasque revealed Ferrari’s plan, the Frenchman revealed the 25-year-old’s true emotions.
How did Pierre Gasly respond to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc strategy?
In many races where Ferrari has ruined the weekend for Charles Leclerc, the Austin GP will undoubtedly finish on the top. Given that Leclerc’s attempt to finish sixth failed when the FIA discovered a prohibited plank measurement in his Ferrari, the management then disqualified the Monegasque along with Mercedes maestro Lewis Hamilton.
Although the race appeared to be difficult for Leclerc after he tumbled down from his pole, Ferrari’s bizarre strategy made the Texas track the hardest for him. While most teams used a double pit-stop strategy, the Prancing Horse raced on the Austin track with a single pit-stop strategy. This was the precise subject of Charles Leclerc’s pre-race meeting with Pierre Gasly.
In an interview with F1TV, the 27-year-old revealed how Charles Leclerc came to meet him on the grid before the race. Gasly said that the 25-year-old inquired him whether the Frenchman and his team are also using a one-pit stop plan, to which Gasly first responded, “ The first time it came up was when Charles came to see me on the grid and said, ‘You also going for a one-stop?’. I was like there was no f*cking way that I was going for a one-stop.”
However, the 27-year-old then divulged Charles Leclerc’s true emotions, claiming that he was unhappy with the one-pit-stop plan. While wrapping up the conversation, Gasly commented, “I think we did the best strategy we could and from his [Leclerc] face, after the race, I don’t think he really liked that one-stop strategy.”
Although Leclerc did not score any points during the Austin Grand Prix, it turned out that Sainz was the one who managed to accumulate a handful of points for Ferrari.
How did Carlos Sainz keep Ferrari in the P2 battle after Charles Leclerc’s disaster?
Carlos Sainz has been outstanding in the 2023 season. All of his hard work over the years appears to be paying off for the Spanish driver, who has been more at ease in the SF-23 than Charles Leclerc this year. Sainz’s peak form was again on display at the USGP, where he finished fourth but was promoted to the podium (P3) after Hamilton’s disqualification.
While earlier in the race where Leclerc was obliged to use a single pit-stop strategy, the Spaniard remained firm about his decision. The Scuderia driver emphasized his ability to direct his own racing plan. The 29-year-old said in a recent interview with Motorsports Week, ” I think we did a good job [with the strategy].”
Later, the Spanish ace explained how he had to stop, given that he had opened up the front tires. He remarked, “It was clear to stop as soon as I opened up the front tires, I was asking for two, and from there onwards two stops felt like I could push on the tires and I was quite solid.” Carlos Sainz’s clever tactics held the Scuderia in the P2 battle with the Silver Arrows. Given that the points deficit is now 22, it will be interesting to see whether the Prancing Horse can dethrone the Mercedes or not.
