Leclerc looks past Ferrari’s strategy and targets sole culprit of 'in the bin' Dutch GP

Charles Leclerc and Ferrari got off to a complicated start to their Dutch GP weekend, which however improved as race day approached. Nevertheless on Sunday everything that could go wrong, went wrong for the Scuderia and the Monegasque driver.

In the first quarter of the race, it was Lewis Hamilton who dealt the first blow to Ferrari’s weekend. Following a loss-of-grip induced oversteer and the subsequent correction, the Briton found the wall at Turn 3, ending his race prematurely there on the spot.

Some 30 laps later, Leclerc found himself having to cover off Andrea Kimi Antonelli from the threat of an undercut. The Monegasque driver emerged from the pits with a rather slippery Mercedes snapping at his heels.

At Turn 3, yet again, it went awry for Ferrari. Antonelli clipped and punctured Leclerc's rear left and sent him flying into the outer barriers where the SF-25's nose would be torn from the rest of the bodywork in spectacular fashion.

'Kimi's mistake threw out every effort we had in the bin'

Speaking to media including GPblog, Leclerc hinted at his pitstop's timing and alluded it might have potentially been held off, whilst acknowledging the threat coming in from behind.

"Well, I mean, the tyres weren't too bad. However, I think judging the outlap of Kimi [it] was probably very strong.

"And so I think the team decided to pit me because they thought that he would probably get past us again.

"So at the end, I was frustrated for what had just happened, but I don't think the strategy is the big talking point today.

"I think it's just Kimi's mistake that threw out every effort we had in the bin."

Ferrari will never know what their Dutch GP might’ve been

Whether it was the right strategy or not, Leclerc does not dwell on it, since in light of Antonelli's mistake, neither he nor the team will ever know.

"I mean I don't think it was wrong. Only by finishing the race we will have known whether it was a good choice or not.

"We didn't because of the crash with Kimi so it's a bit difficult to know," concluded Leclerc.

Read also

Stella highlights the particular sting behind Norris' already painful DNF

Wolff thinks Kimi is 'going for the moves: 'Sorry Ferrari, but it's hard racing'

Hamilton's 'special' crash doesn’t deter Ferrari from finding the positives

Verstappen gives Norris a chin-up advice in the wake of costly DNF