Carlos Sainz has explained how pre-empting a forecasted rain shower was behind Ferrari’s decision to use new tyres earlier in Q2 at Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Ferrari endured a nightmare qualifying session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as both drivers struggled with grip and were unable to progress into the top-10 shootout.
Charles Leclerc halted his frustration with the team’s decision-making on the radio as Ferrari’s gamble to run new Softs from the outset in the second stage backfired.
Sainz – who qualified 12th, one position behind Leclerc – revealed that Ferrari was striving to maximise the newer rubber as it anticipated precipitation that didn’t come.
“We saw this shower coming, and we saw that potentially the track might be better at the beginning than at the second half,” Sainz disclosed.
“Anyway, long story short, normally in any other track, running just at the end, we would have still made it to Q3 and we would be fighting for pole.
“But when you don’t do these kind of details perfect, when you don’t have a fast car, it’s when you get caught out.”
The superior compliance over the bumps and kerbs that inspired Ferrari to the win in Monaco prompted the Italian marque to be tipped as the favourites in Montreal.
But while it’s been touted the resurfaced track and cooler conditions worked against the side, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur denied either could be used as an excuse.
“The new asphalt is the same for everybody,” Vasseur outlined.
“I think the conditions are a bit extreme with the weather, with the drops and so on, and the cold conditions, and it’s probably difficult to switch on, but it’s not an excuse at all.
“The conditions are the same for everybody and we have to deal with the conditions.”
The astute Frenchman adopted the same tone when it came to the limited track time the teams and drivers received due to the adverse weather prevalent on Friday.
“We all had the same time [on the track],” he reiterated. “It means that the others, they were able to do the job and not us. That means that we have to do a better job.”
However, Vasseur was more positive concerning Ferrari’s longer-run pace and is hopeful that the predicted rain could intervene to aid the team’s recovery prospects.
“Tomorrow the weather forecast is not very good,” he touted. “It means that it could be a chaotic race and the race pace was okay.
“It means that let’s see tomorrow, we have to do the best in these conditions.
“When it’s not going very well, you have to be able to be opportunistic and to get the maximum of points.”
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