The Japanese GP concluded with the Red Bull drivers dominating the race. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished the race with 1 and 2 positions. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc ended the race with 4 and 5. Interestingly, the same strategy followed by Ferrari became a nightmare for other F1 giants.
Ferrari went with a one-stop strategy that worked really well for the team—Mercedes who also followed the same strategy ended with a different result and a frustrated Lewis Hamilton. The Silver Arrows team ended the Japanese GP with George Russell at 7th and Lewis Hamilton at 9th.
The one-stop strategy that worked wonders for Ferrari
The Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc who started in the 8th position ended the race in the 4th position. The Monegsque followed a one-stop strategy. Charles went 27 laps before changing to hard tires from medium tires.
The driver believed he could have finished in a better position if he had better results at qualifying. According to a Sky Sports news report, Charles Leclerc said, “We did an amazing strategy, amazing time management, amazing pace, but it’s just not enough when you’re starting from eighth,”
He added, “We did an amazing strategy, amazing time management, amazing pace, but it’s just not enough when you’re starting from eighth,”. One of the key attributes of the driver is his ability to perform at the qualifying. However, he failed to deliver during the qualifying for the Japanese GP.
It was impressive of Charles Leclerc to finish at 4 considering his start a way lower position. Whereas Carlos who was also set to follow a one-stop ended up changing his tires to hard during the second pit stop. This helped him take over Charles and gain the third position.
Mercedes Who tried to follow Ferrari’s strategy turned into a nightmare
After the crash between Daniele Ricciardo and Alex Albon the teams had the oppertunity to shift to hards and maximize it for a one stop strategy. Mercedes were quick to hop on this and shifted to hard aiming for a one stop strategy. However, the strategy did not work out as they planned.
The team struggled with the hards and a frusturated Lewis Hamilon can be heard saying, “Change the strategy”. With the hards Lewis Hamilton is seen struggling with understeer. The Briton asks for a change in strategy and the team later switched to medium tires.
“Change the strategy!” 🔄
Lewis is NOT happy with his old hard tyres… pic.twitter.com/9yQBNVoz30
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 7, 2024
While the switch did take place it was too late do recover his position. Hamilton ended the raced at 9th position after starting in 7th, Where as George Russell ended up in the 7th position.
While Both the F1 giants followed the same strategy, the teams ended up with different results. It has been an unfortunate season start for the Mercedes. There is still time for the Silver Arrows team to make changes to the car to gain some points before the seaon end.
