Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert has warned Ferrari that they must overcome their "historic" problem with strategy calls if they stop Red Bull and Max Verstappen from making it back-to-back titles in 2022. Charles Leclerc once against saw victory slip through his fingers last time out when Ferrari opted not to pit the Monegasque, despite being on used Hard tyres, during a late-race Safety Car period. The team say they chose not to do so in fear that Hamilton, whose Hard tyres were newer, would stay out, claim track position and prove impossible to catch. That saw them pit Carlos Sainz for new Softs and keep Leclerc out, vulnerable on his weathered tyre set. Sainz would go on to win the race while Leclerc finished fourth. Their two drivers also spent the majority of the race fighting for the same bit of tarmac with the team seemingly slow to act in ensuring they did what was best for their race. But Herbert believes that nailing those crucial strategy calls would have delivered a Ferrari 1-2 at Silverstone and breathed fresh life into their World Championship hopes.
Herbert: They need to band their heads together
Ferrari's strategy gaffes are now an all-too-regular problem, says Herbert, who has urged the team to "bang their heads together" and find an answer for the problem in time for the fast-approaching Austrian Grand Prix weekend (8-10 July). It comes after Leclerc deemed the next few races as crucial for his hopes of winning his first World Championship. "Red Bull's strategy, I have to say, sometimes is a bit risqué, but they make some absolutely brilliant calls to enable their driver to be able to capitalise on getting that race win," Herbert said, speaking on Any Driven Monday . "That's where it seems Ferrari are still lacking big time - and it's been a bit of a historic thing with Ferrari making, these errors, especially this season, but it's happened many times in the past. "They somehow need to regroup back at Maranello and really bang their heads together, and somehow have a proper idea going into the race weekend in Austria coming up."
Ferrari mistakes hand points to Red Bull and Mercedes, Herbert warns
It is not just Red Bull who Ferrari risk losing out to if they do not sharpen their strategy calls - but also Mercedes, who are now just 51 points behind in the Constructors' standings. Mercedes opted to pit Hamilton late in the race at Silverstone, allowing him to get replace the Monegasque on the podium. "How do they not see that themselves, when they've got all the information in the world right in front of them, and back at Maranello?" Herbert asked, referring to the team's decision not to pit Leclerc for Soft tyres during the late-race Safety Car period. "They still make the same mistakes. That's the unbelievable thing. And that's the strength I think of Red Bull, for sure, and with Mercedes. "That's where Ferrari are lacking at the present time."
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