Ferrari's strategy call in Austria: 'Not attack ourselves'

Ferrari were the second force behind Red Bull at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finishing in second and fourth place respectively, yet Sainz could have finished on the podium as well without the doublestack. Team principal Frederic Vassaur explained the decision.

"It's not so easy when you are on the pit wall and into the car, but the result is a good one," Vasseur told Sky Sports following the race. "I think we are on the right direction. We did a strong quali on Friday, the race in Canada was a good one, we confirmed today on a completely different track layout and with a different tarmac and so. But now we have to do another step if we want to fight with Max but we are pushing for this."

Vasseur also expanded on the decision behind pitting the two cars the same lap under the virtual safety car and the team orders given to Sainz about not attacking Leclerc. "I think we were quite safe with Charles compared to Perez, it was not a big issue. But I think he fighted as he could and he did a very good job at this stage of the race. At the beginning it was a strategy that we decided that our interest as a team and as two drivers was to pull away of the P4, P5 and to not attack ourselves, and for sure when you are behind you are much faster with the DRS, and we did not want to swap each two laps, that was the strategy and they applied the strategy perfectly."

Uncertainty about the battle behind Red Bull

Vasseur was also asked about where do Ferrari rank following the race, as they had better pace the Aston Martins and the two Mercedes. "Safely (ahead of Aston Martin and Mercedes), I am not sure that is the right word!"

He added: "And I am sure that they will develop and they will bring some updates on the next couple of events and we will do the same. But no, I think it will be a long one until the end of the season, it is very close because today the gap was 2 or 3 tenths a lap, but we have to keep this momentum and this pace because I think we are doing a good job."