Ferrari didn’t want to risk pit stop for fastest lap extra point at COTA. Ferrari didn't want to risk pit stop for fastest lap extra point with Charles.

“I am convinced that we will fight until the end for the fight for third place and that we have all the credentials to achieve it”. Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto remains focused on the final part of the 2021 Formula One season after the Italian side recovered four points against McLaren in the United States Grand Prix on a track which on paper was hostile to the SF21, or in any case favorable to the MCL35 in light of the long straight. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished in fourth and seventh position respectively, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (fifth) and Lando Norris (eighth).

“We leave Austin with the awareness of having shown, both in qualifying and in the race, that we have improved even on a track on paper that is not particularly suitable for our car – added the team principal of the Scuderia from Maranello – “the SF21 has improved in terms of performance also thanks to the introduction of the new hybrid system.” – he confirmed.

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In the final stages of the United States Grand Prix, the Ferrari pit wall in light of Charles Leclerc’s advantage over Daniel Ricciardo also considered the possibility of stopping to change the tyres and attempt to take the fastest lap for an additional point that would have reduced the gap from McLaren to 2.5 and consequently increased Max Verstappen’s point advantage over Lewis Hamilton to 13. Mattia Binotto stated that in the end the men in red preferred not to take risks, also in light of the pit stop problem that Carlos Sainz had during the second stop.

Interviewed by ‘Sky Germany’ the team principal from Maranello confirmed that the scenario would have been possible given the fact that Charles had 27 ‘of margin over Daniel Ricciardo (around 24s are needed for a pit stop at Circuit of the Americas). In the end, however, the technicians agreed that they would be exposed to too many risks.

“We considered the possibility of trying to set the fastest lap – Mattia Binotto told Sky Germany – but in the end we realized that we would be exposed to too many risks”.