Ferrari F1 team principal Frederic Vasser suggested that tire preparation on the lap could be a key factor behind Lewis Hamilton’s Shock Q2 exit in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton endured another nightmare qualifying session in hangering, finishing 12th on the grid in Sunday’s race.
Hamilton’s worst qualifying round at Hungary’s Grand Prix, a circuit that he has often thrived over the years.
Hamilton gave a terrible interview after qualifying, describing himself as “no use.”
Vasseur provided a brighter perspective as he reflected on Hamilton’s struggle.
Speaking to Sky Italia, Vasseur stated:
“If you lighten the tires in order, you take a risk or slide too much at the end of the lap.
“Hamilton went out in the second quarter. Charles was only a few hundredths of a second. Lewis was only a few hundredths of a second, but it’s always difficult to manage the lap. Of course, he’s annoyed because he only missed laps in Q2.
“We have to learn from this. The outcome is fine, but we can’t rely on glory. In race simulations, we were as consistent as McLaren. Focus on yourself, manage your tires, and come up with a good strategy.
Leclerc pole “sensitive” tire window keys
Charles Leclerc’s Paul came in shock.
It was a similar story in the third quarter, with Leclair behind both Aston Martins after the first run.
Vasseur pointed out the importance of making your tires the right work window.
“We have been struggling to get our tires into the right temperature window this year, and we pretty much went out in the second quarter.
“In the end, Charles managed to put the tire in the right window. It’s all very sensitive – the gap between the first and the number 10 is small. In the end, it’s along the limits of the tire.
“There were a lot of ups and downs, but then it got stronger than I expected. You need to remember how difficult the session is. You need to understand what happened so that you can improve in the future.”