In the round-up: Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto justifies the team’s decision not to pit Charles Leclerc under the Safety Car at the end of the British Grand Prix.
In brief
“Nothing unusual” in Ferrari’s Leclerc strategy
Ferrari chose to pit second-placed Carlos Sainz Jnr but not race leader Leclerc when the Safety Car was deployed towards the end of the British Grand Prix. Leclerc fell from first to fourth, passed by Sainz and two other drivers who pitted for fresh tyres.
Binotto said “it was common sense to prioritise the lead car by protecting track positions” at that point in the race. “There’s nothing unusual in this strategy, we always prioritise the lead car and therefore Charles in this situation. He was on fresher tyres at that point, and if he had pitted, our opponents would have done the exact opposite and gained track position on almost new hard tyres.”
“Just think of Lewis Hamilton at last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi when he stayed out on track,” he added. Mercedes chose not to pit Hamilton from the lead during a late Safety Car period, a decision which cost them when the race was unexpectedly restarted in a manner which did not conform with the regulations.
“At the same time we decided to put Carlos on the opposite strategy in order to cover all opportunities,” Binotto added. “If we wouldn’t have done that split strategy, we would have risked losing the race and handing the win to our opponents.”
Hamilton receives Hawthorn trophy
Hamilton was formally presented with the Mike Hawthorn trophy during the British Grand Prix weekend. It is the 11th time he has won the award, named after the first British driver to win the world championship, extending his record. It is given to the highest-placed British or Commonwealth driver in the world championship at the end of each season, a position currently occupied by his team mate George Russell.
Protesters reminded Ricciardo of 2003 track invasion
Daniel Ricciardo said he was reminded of the track invasion at the 2003 British Grand Prix when he saw protesters on the circuit at Silverstone. Neil Horan, a former priest, ran onto the track during the race carrying a sign urging people to “read the bible”, shocking several drivers including Mark Webber.
Ricciardo said he saw the protesters out of “the corner of my eye” on the first lap of the race. “I think maybe they were wearing orange so I thought they…
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