Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur says that Carlos Sainz was “really under control” over the course of the Mexico City GP weekend.
He was chased for his while by team mate Charles Leclerc who eventually dropped behind Lando Norris to take third after running wide coming out of the final corner.
“It was a very strong weekend from the beginning,” said Vasseur of Sainz. “From FP1 he was there, FP2 he was very strong, a long stint, and one-lap pace. And the race, he did a very good job at the end.
“If you have a look, that he was really under control. I think was very clever to give up the position in the lap one. And it’s also the proof that he is very self-confident in this situation, because when you are fighting with Max and you are to give up and say, ‘Okay, I will do it next lap,’ it’s a good move.”
Expanding on that theme he said: “I think what was very clever from Carlos, and it was already the same last week I think with Russell, is that when you are in the fight and you are overtaking someone, and you are not sure, to give back the position. And the two times that he was able to come back the lap after and to do the move again.
“And I think it was a very clever, clever move, because that you can fight three or four corners in a row. First you lose two seconds, and at the end you will get the penalty or not. But you are really on the edge.
“I think he was very self-confident. It meant that he gave a position, but I think he was also convinced that he will be able to do it next time.”
Vasseur also defended Leclerc, noting that he lost out under blue flags while being chased by Norris, and that triggered his mistake at the final corner.
He also hinted that the Monegasque driver had more cooling issues to manage than his team mate.
“I think that Charles was on a good pace, but we lost three seconds with the guys who were blue flag,” he said. “And we lost also a lot of temperature in the tyres at this stage. And then he made a mistake. But I think from the beginning, the race was in our control.”
“The race in Mexico. And I don’t want to give technical details, it’s a lot about management, the cooling on everything, and it’s not an easy exercise. And sometimes, for details, you are on the right side or not.
“Carlos did a very good job from the beginning. He was also in clean air all the race, and it’s also much easier to manage in this situation.
“Charles was not happy with FP3. But still today, he did a good race. I’m a bit upset with the story with the blue flag. It cost us P2, but at the end of the day, it is like it is. We have to be focused now on the next one, and to forget this one.”
