Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has defended the team's strategy calls in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix after Carlos Sainz voiced his frustrations. Sainz had been running behind Esteban Ocon in the opening stages of the race, but damaged his front wing when an attempted overtake resulted in contact with the Alpine. After Ocon eventually pitted, Sainz was only kept out for an additonal lap, with the team opting to pit him early to cover Lewis Hamilton who had stopped earlier. The Spaniard did not feel that the timing of his pit stop worked out well for him , having suggested that more laps in clean air would have helped him to emerge ahead after his stop, and has called for Ferrari to "review" what happened. Vasseur, however, stands by the Scuderia's decision in the race.
Vasseur: No regrets over Ferrari strategy calls
"I think that it was a good strategy because when we asked him to pit it was to cover Hamilton, and it was to avoid [losing] a position against Hamilton," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365.com . "I think it was a good call because position [is] key on track. It would have been better to extend if we [were] not at risk with Hamilton, but in this situation I think it was the good call." Ferrari also took a strategy gamble by keeping Sainz and Charles Leclerc out on track for as long as possible when rain started to fall. While much of the field had switched to the Intermediate tyre, the Scuderia duo were two of the last drivers to make the change from slick tyres. This is a decision that Vasseur also stands by. "We can discuss about when the rain came. It was a bet from our side, but I have no regret on this because we didn't lose position," he added. Leclerc and Sainz ultimately finished the race in P6 and P8 respectively.
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