For 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill, Ferrari’s performance at Zandvoort does not bode well ahead of Monza.
Ferrari had a weekend full of mistakes, problems and a lack of pace in the Netherlands, making the right strategy decisions but poor execution and missing out on a possible podium.Leclerc was forced to retire on lap 41, first losing time due to a late pit stop for tires and then suffering a front wing piece caught in his floor.Sainz, who had a relatively good day and at one point finished as high as third, couldn’t hold off the faster Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly and finished fifth.
Commenting on Ferrari’s situation after the race, Damon Hill thinks this performance will not go down well in Italy.
“We go to Monza next week and I’m looking forward to seeing how the press will criticize the team,” Hill told Sky Sports.
“Their performance this weekend was very inconsistent. They couldn’t stop the car going into the first corner, the drivers weren’t happy with the grip, Charles crashed, they weren’t there in the race.”
“That’s not good before your home race.”
Bernie Collins, Sky’s strategy analyst and former Aston Martin chief strategy officer, believes Sainz’s fifth place was down to the mistakes of others.
“Obviously fifth is not a bad result for Carlos, but perhaps he benefited from the mistakes of others. Almost all the teams thought they were late getting into the pits.”
“Leclerc looked like he was having a really bad day, yes, he had a damaged base, but before that he had a terrible qualifying session in variable conditions.”
“Let’s hope Monza will be stronger, it can’t be any worse than this weekend.”
