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Charles Leclerc’s Triumph Over Lewis Hamilton: The Strategy Behind Ferrari’s Unusual Decision

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 23, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Charles Leclerc’s Triumph Over Lewis Hamilton: The Strategy Behind Ferrari’s Unusual Decision

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

Charles Leclerc’s astonishing victory over Lewis Hamilton in the Chinese Grand Prix, despite sustaining front wing damage on the first lap, continues to raise eyebrows. A seemingly unfortunate racing incident in the initial phases saw the two Ferraris graze each other at Turns 1-3, resulting in the wreckage of Leclerc’s left-front endplate. Neither Hamilton nor Ferrari team boss, Fred Vasseur, pointed fingers, agreeing it was a mere racing mishap.

The intrigue lies in how Leclerc, carrying the encumbrance of front wing damage, outpaced Hamilton, prompting Ferrari to instruct Hamilton to cede his position to Leclerc. This maneuver played out at Turn 1 on the 21st lap of the 56-lap race. Interestingly, this occurred after Ferrari made the strategic decision not to replace Leclerc’s damaged front wing during his earlier pitstop.

Although Leclerc’s speed dwindled towards the final stages of the race, allowing Max Verstappen to snatch fourth place, he managed to keep a reinvigorated Hamilton at bay, securing fifth place. However, a potential disqualification looms over Leclerc, along with Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, as their vehicles failed to meet the minimum weight requirement post-race.

The decision to continue with a damaged front wing wasn’t a result of Leclerc being faster with it. Instead, it was a calculated move by Ferrari to prioritize track positioning in a race where it was critical. Had they replaced the wing, Leclerc would have conceded his track position to Verstappen due to the extra five seconds needed for the procedure. Given the difficulty Leclerc faced through the lengthy Turn 12/13 right-hander leading onto the back straight, Ferrari couldn’t risk losing more ground.

Post-race, Leclerc dismissed the idea that his Ferrari was quicker with the damaged wing. He argued that the damage cost him a potential challenge against the formidable McLarens. He added, “I felt there was a lot more potential, destroying fronts [tyres] and [losing] 30 points of downforce is a huge amount. I do not expect the car to be faster like that [with damage], otherwise, we have a problem.”

Despite this setback, Leclerc remains hopeful of Ferrari’s prospects for the title this year, given the performance promise it has exhibited. However, he pointed out the glaring need for improvement in the qualifying pace which is lacking significantly.

In contrast, the pace gap between Leclerc’s damaged Ferrari and Hamilton’s Ferrari has left Vasseur puzzled. The latter, despite showing excellent tyre management the previous day, struggled to keep up with Leclerc’s pace. Hamilton conceded that the post-sprint set-up changes, which were meant to enhance his car’s performance, were detrimental, making the car “really, really hard to drive.”

In conclusion, Leclerc’s triumph in the Chinese Grand Prix, despite the setbacks, reflects his driving prowess and Ferrari’s strategic acumen. However, there are lessons to be learned, especially for Hamilton, who will undoubtedly look to bounce back in the upcoming races.

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