The head of the Ferrari Formula 1 team, Frederic Vasseur, acknowledged that the team’s strategic choices played a role in limiting Charles Leclerc’s chances of winning the Australian Grand Prix. Leclerc showed impressive pace in the practice sessions, but struggled with the balance of his SF-24 car during qualifying, resulting in a disappointing fifth place on the starting grid. This hindered his ability to take advantage of Max Verstappen’s brake issue, with teammate Carlos Sainz in a better position to do so. Ferrari opted for an undercut strategy on Lando Norris of McLaren to put Leclerc in second place after pit stops, but Sainz’s later stop allowed him to extend his lead. Nevertheless, Leclerc put in a strong final stint, closing the gap to Sainz and even setting the fastest lap. Vasseur explained that the pace difference between the drivers was minimal and that the team’s decision to cover Oscar Piastri early in the race put Leclerc at a disadvantage. Leclerc himself admitted that Sainz was the better driver of the day and acknowledged his own shortcomings in qualifying. He also expressed excitement about the competitive dynamic between him and Sainz, where they encourage each other to improve.
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