Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur defends thrilling battle for podium at Italian Grand Prix

In the race's nail-biting finale, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc engaged in a fierce duel, with the team asserting that they could race but "with no room for error," following Sainz's request to halt the contest with just three laps to go.

Despite heart-stopping manoeuvres at Turn 1 and a hair-raising near-collision at the Della Roggia chicane, which threatened to eliminate both drivers, Sainz managed to stave off his teammate, securing his inaugural podium finish of the season.

When questioned about their decision, Vasseur retorted to the media, "Had I frozen the situation, I would have faced identical criticism: 'Why did you freeze? It goes against the racing spirit.' It's much easier to critique when there's a happy ending, but I believe it was the finest way to express our gratitude to everyone, particularly the Tifosi. 

"I wasn't entirely at ease with freezing the situation five laps from the end. I had faith in them, but I reminded them, no risks whatsoever."

Leclerc described the race as one of the season's most thrilling and remarked that Sainz had pushed the boundaries with his defensive manoeuvres.

Vasseur expressed his preference for allowing his drivers to determine their positions on the track, even in the face of several close calls. "I wanted to leave the final decision to them. I said, 'Race, but without any margin for error.' It's all relative," he affirmed. "But I felt much more comfortable with this approach than freezing the situation."

The forthcoming Formula 1 event, the Singapore Grand Prix, is slated for the weekend of September 15-17 and will be the 16th race of the season. The Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore is renowned for its physically demanding nature, encompassing 5.063km of uneven street surface and oppressive humidity, forcing drivers to push their limits.

 

Read More: Italian GP: Max Verstappen sets new Formula 1 record with tenth consecutive race win (planetsport.com)