The dust has settled on the Canadian Grand Prix, but the post-race analysis reveals a clear picture of disappointment for Scuderia Ferrari. Despite arriving in Montreal buoyed by recent successes, the Italian team left tracing their steps and admitting significant errors. This sentiment was echoed sharply by 2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, who didn`t mince words in describing Ferrari`s performance as “clumsy.”
The outcome saw Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finish a distant fifth and sixth respectively, allowing Mercedes to leapfrog them in the Constructors` Championship standings. This marked a stark contrast to Mercedes` strong showing, securing a one-three finish and demonstrating a significant upturn in form – a point Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur candidly acknowledged as a “good lesson.”
A Weekend Marred by Errors and Misfortune
While flashes of the SF-25`s inherent speed were apparent, particularly from Leclerc, these moments were overshadowed by a series of setbacks and operational missteps throughout the weekend. The Monegasque driver`s weekend began poorly with a crash in the first practice session, costing valuable track time. Further frustration followed in qualifying, where despite setting the fastest first sector, a critical error on his final lap prevented him from challenging at the very front.
Lewis Hamilton`s race, meanwhile, took an unexpectedly bizarre turn. His car sustained damage after a collision – not with a rival car, but with one of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve`s native groundhogs. Yes, in a sport defined by precision and high-speed engineering, wildlife managed to play a role in Ferrari`s downfall. While undeniably bad luck, it added another layer to the team`s challenging Sunday.
Strategy Under Scrutiny
Rosberg`s criticism extended beyond on-track incidents to the team`s strategic decisions. Speaking after the race, he highlighted what he saw as questionable calls, particularly in qualifying.
We`ve got to remember that Charles Leclerc was quick at times in the race… I think they also did a wrong tyre choice in qualifying [by not running the medium tyre in Q3]… So a lot of strategy mistakes there.
He also pointed to race strategy, noting that pitting Hamilton into traffic cost him valuable time. Furthermore, Rosberg felt Ferrari missed an opportunity with Leclerc to attempt a potentially race-altering one-stop strategy, especially given the lack of pressure from behind. “It was a free opportunity,” he remarked, expressing surprise that they pulled Leclerc in early despite strong pace.
Vasseur: “Too Many Mistakes Collectively”
Team Principal Fred Vasseur did not attempt to sugarcoat the performance, admitting that Ferrari “made too many mistakes collectively from the beginning.” He cited the FP1 crash, the qualifying error, and even the unfortunate groundhog incident as contributing factors in a championship fight that is “so tight, that you can change the position for almost nothing.”
Vasseur acknowledged the difficulty of the weekend but also pointed to Mercedes` sudden return to form as a poignant reminder of what is possible with perfect execution.
It`s a good lesson from Mercedes. They were nowhere the last three weekends and they were able to have two cars on the podium this weekend… This weekend, for different reasons, the focus was not always there.
Regarding the potential one-stop strategy for Leclerc, Vasseur explained the team`s caution, citing uncertainty about the hard tyre`s lifespan over the required distance (50 laps) and a lack of sufficient data gathered during the practice sessions to confidently commit to such a high-risk strategy. He stressed that achieving strong results requires a “very smooth weekend in terms of execution,” something Ferrari “failed massively” to do in Canada.
A Season Story of Inconsistency?
Rosberg`s assessment that the “clumsy weekend” was “like the story of their year so far” highlights a narrative of inconsistency that has plagued Ferrari`s 2024 campaign. While they have shown periods of genuine championship-challenging pace, operational errors, strategic misfires, and perhaps a touch of bad luck (the groundhog certainly qualifies) have prevented them from capitalizing consistently.
Falling behind Mercedes in the standings serves as a wake-up call. The Canadian Grand Prix was a painful reminder that raw speed is only one part of the equation in Formula 1; flawless execution, shrewd strategy, and avoiding unforced errors are equally critical, especially when the competition is as fierce as it is this season.
As the paddock prepares for the next European rounds, Ferrari faces the immediate task of analyzing what went wrong in Montreal and ensuring that the “good lesson from Mercedes” translates into a more focused and less “clumsy” approach in the races to come.
Gilbert Pendleton