Binotto explains why Ferrari didn’t pit Leclerc behind the Safety Car

                                                                                                                                Image Courtesy of Scuderia Ferrari

​   Mattia Binotto has now explained why Ferrari didn't pit Race Leader Charles Leclerc during the safety car period at the British Grand Prix. The Ferrari Chief told Formula 1 media, that they had to make a choice between the 1st and 2nd car as they didn't have time to Pit both as reported by the Team Strategists. 

“We believed that we didn’t have enough space between the two cars to stop both of them so we had to make a choice between the first or the second car, so we decided to stop Carlos because Charles had the track position and was the leader of the race at that time, so you don’t know what the others would have done if we had stopped as the leader,” 
 “The others were just behind and you cannot lose even a second at the pit stop trying to organise it, so it was clear: we keep track position with Charles, and stop Carlos.
“Obviously, with the hindsight now, [Leclerc] being on softs would have been better, but that’s not what we thought was the right decision.”

Binotto also told of what he was saying to the Ferrari driver in the snap that appeared to be a sort of dressing down where a finger was being waved. AS it turns out, an image can always give other impressions as to what actually was going on. 

“It was simply to tell him: I understand your disappointment, but you did a fantastic race today, fighting at the start, fighting later on when he was on hard and the others were on softs.

“I think the way he was driving there, protecting the position was amazing, so being happy is difficult – but I think staying calm and being positive is important.”

Charles Leclerc #16

"I didn’t finish where I wanted to, so it was a frustrating race for me. There were times when I really had to be on the limit to keep my position, fighting with others who were on Softs which was not easy at the end. It’s a shame not to bring home more points for our team today, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
No matter how disappointed I am, it should not take away from what is an amazing first win for Carlos. It’s a moment he will never forget, a dream come true for every driver and I hope that he enjoys it!