Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has insisted that there are no communication issues at the Scuderia despite mounting frustration from its drivers over strategy calls.
Charles Leclerc initially hit out at Ferrari after he was knocked out of Q2 in Montreal when his team failed to capitalise on improving track conditions.
Leclerc began Q2 on the intermediate tyres, but with a dry line emerging, the Monegasque driver requested a switch to slicks. The team denied his request, and instructed Leclerc to set a banker lap on the intermediate tyre.
By the time that Leclerc did go out on slicks, the rain had returned and the chance to make Q3 was all but over.
Speaking after his Q2 elimination, Leclerc said that he was “frustrated” and that Ferrari had been “making life way too difficult” in similar situations.
Speaking on the disappointment of Ferrari’s qualifying in Montreal, Vasseur said: “You can always do a better job, it’s true also that the picture that you have 10 seconds after quali is not always the best one.
“We had a discussion with Charles after your discussion with him, we gave him the global picture of the situation, what happened during the situation, and he was much more calm.
“I think the confusion came from the fact that perhaps he didn’t get the global picture of quali, and we probably have to improve some areas, he has to put himself in your shoes sometimes.
“We can’t say we did a good job yesterday, I think the pace was mega but we finished 10th and 11th. It means something went wrong.”
Ferrari has been criticised heavily in recent years for its strategy calls, and Leclerc himself has been particularly vocal in voicing his frustrations with the team. Vasseur, however, refuted claims that the tension is indicative of deeper communication issues within the Scuderia.
“No, no, not at all,” Vasseur said when responding to the accusations.
“It was crystal clear. But it was not a choice because at this stage the rain was coming and we wanted to put a lap on the board as soon as possible.
“If you pit at the end of lap one then you have two laps to warm up the tyres and then you postpone your first flying lap by five minutes. It was not the strategy at this stage.”
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