Hamilton penalty: Vasseur and Ferrari’s thoughts
Fred Vasseur commented calmly but critically on the stewards’ decision to penalize Lewis Hamilton 10 seconds for not following the run-off after leaving the track, a maneuver deemed irregular but, according to the French manager, deserved a lighter sanction.
“I found that penalty to be harsh, but in the end we can’t dispute it because he crossed the white line. Still, 10 seconds is really severe: he lost three or four positions, a punishment that was really too big,” Fred Vasseur explained at the end of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Race strategy: different approaches for Leclerc and Hamilton
The team principal then explained the different strategic choices made for the two Ferrari drivers, highlighting that Leclerc’s strategy had been planned from the start: “Leclerc’s strategy was chosen from the beginning with one stop, but at a certain point they started coming in and we made the same choice for Hamilton. With Charles, everything was decided from the start.”
The decision paid off for the Monegasque driver, who managed his tires well in the final stages, defending second place from a charging Verstappen.
Start chaos and Oliver Bearman’s standout performance
Fred Vasseur also commented on the chaotic start and the excellent performance of Oliver Bearman, who once again delivered a consistent weekend: “The start was complicated; we couldn’t decide in advance how to react. Charles didn’t get off well, but we couldn’t pre-plan our moves. Opportunities had to be there. At Turn 1, everyone was really close.”
“I’m very happy with Bearman’s performance, keeping two Mercedes and Piastri behind him. So far, he has always had strong weekends, and this one was really perfect,” Fred Vasseur added.
