Originally Posted by
RossTheBoss
A team can have a flaw and be a great team still. Mercedes didn't always have the best strategy or pit stops, but always have great development, clear number 1 driver, and reliability. You can have one or two internal problems at a team and survive, but 3 or 4.
The problem at Ferrari is they have a world class driver and great base care, but horrible development strategy, incompetent race engineers, bad reliability, and a number 2 driver who's allowed to live with delusions that he can fight for outright wins, and throws tons of points away.
Think about some of the bad calls on and off the track. The team don't bring the floor to Imola, because it's a sprint weekend and they don't have enough parts for both drivers, even though Red Bull brought their updates no problem. Didn't use the new LDF RW in Miami that we can now see would've made it possible for Leclerc to win. Then you had a full clown show at Monaco. Those races alone cost Leclerc a good 25 points, and those were all internal decisions. And need I remind everybody that Sainz has thrown away countless points in Melbourne, Imola, and Barcelona?
Clearly, Ferrari thought their base car was so good, they didn't need to have updates on stand by ready to go. That it was ok to let Sainz delude himself that he can beat Leclerc right now. They made the decision to give the engine department the green light to start sending out PU2's that were clearly not ready, while meekly holding car updates. They put all the pressure on their Leclerc to make up for this dangerous strategy, and all they did was create a perfect storm for disaster that's now fatal for the team in 90% probability.
The strategy was clear on updates. Give them to Leclerc, Sainz waits next race. Sainz covers any odd strategy by Red Bull, he is not equal. Those two things alone would've saved tons of points.
Until Leclerc is clear number 1, and the team learn to not wait on chassis updates, this will continue.
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