Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz concluded the final stage of the 2023 Formula 1 championship in Abu Dhabi with a strategy that penalized him. However, Fred Vasseur denied the hypothesis that this was the factor that condemned him to a race of complete anonymity at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island.
The Ferrari team principal instead argued that what he lacked was pace. Moreover, any strategy applied would not have been enough for the Spaniard to climb into the points zone.
Are we really sure?
We have reconstructed the team radio exchanges between the driver #55 and his race engineer Riccardo Adami in Abu Dhabi, highlighting an interesting scenario. According to the conversations, it seems that Carlos Sainz realized he lacked pace with the hard tires, but despite this, he was asked to continue.
In the images at the link you’ll find at the end of the article, it is noticeable that from the second lap, the Spanish driver was asked to manage the tires. Later on, the pit wall informed him that they were sticking to Plan A.
Issues emerged on the seventh lap. Carlos Sainz complained about a “slightly weak” right front. A few laps later, his engineer asked for an update on the situation, to which the driver explained that he had very little grip, “especially from the front,” but also from the rear.
The situation worsened on the twenty-first lap. “I have no grip,” Carlos confirmed. On the next lap, #55 asked about their current plan, and his engineer informed him about Russell and Norris’s positions.
“I don’t have grip to fight with them,” Carlos Sainz complained again. “What is the plan?” “Plan C,” Ferrari replied from the pit wall.
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On lap 24, the Spaniard made a pit stop to switch to another set of hard tires. The situation remained stable in the following laps, with his engineer asking him to maintain a consistent pace.
On lap 40, Carlos Sainz expressed confusion and asked about his race. “19 laps to go. Try to go as long as possible. We’re waiting for a safety car, and then we’ll switch to the mediums,” they informed him.
But the safety car did not arrive. “We’re out of the points,” is the verdict that arrives on lap 48. The last ten laps will be critical for the Spaniard, who will find himself without tires, while reassurances from the pit wall continue that sooner or later, there will be a safety car.
Then, the epilogue. The final lap. “Box, Carlos, box. We have a problem,” they say from the pit wall. “Slow down and head to the pits, if you can.”
Carlos Sainz retired on the last lap, outside the points, concluding a lackluster weekend for him.
Here is the transcript of some team radio messages from the driver, which you also read in this article.
Source: f1ingenerale
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