Binotto: Ferrari was fully aware of risks in Abu Dhabi Q3 ‘screw up’

Ferrari Formula 1 team princi🌜pal Mattia Binotto says his side was fully aware of the risks it was taking after admitting it “screwed up” during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

In an attempt to ma𒈔ke the most of improving trꦰack conditions and compensate for its pace deficit to rivals Mercedes and Red Bull in the final sector at Yas Marina, Ferrari elected to wait until the last moment to send its drivers out for a final Q3 run.

 Ferrari was fully aware of risks in Abu Dhabi Q3 ‘screw up’

Feꦺrrari Formula 1 team principal Mattia Binotto says his side was fully aware of the risks it was takingܫ after admitting it “screwed up” during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

In an attempt to make the most of improving track conditions and compensate for its pace def𓂃icit to rivals Mercedes and Red Bull in the final sector at Yas Marina, Ferrari elected to wait until the last moment to send its drivers out for a final Q3 run.

But both drivers got caught up in traffic, wi꧑th Sebastian Vettel inadvertently holding up teammate Charles Leclerc to the point he ran out of time to complete a final flying lap.

Leclerc and Vettel set the fourth and fifth-fastest times - some four-tenths off the pace - but will move up to the second row after Valtteri Bottas’🐠 engine penalty is applied.

“We were not too competitive today, especially losing a lot of time in the🍌 last sector,” Bin🌊otto told Sky.

“I think on the last attempt we tried to do whatever we could to take some risks, as well with the track improvement, so bein🐎g the last going out of the garage.

“We knew it was already tight but that was a conscious choice but it was too tight with the traffic ♛we found and we screw🌄ed up.

“I think here we were completely aware and consc🌃ious of what could have been the risks. So it was a risk we knew that we were taking but it didn’t work today.”

Leclerc stressed Ferrari must analyse the incident and learn from it after calling t🐬he mix up “a big shame꧃”.

“I have no idea what happened but it’s l💟ife aꦅnd sometimes it happens,” he added.

“I don’t whether the situation was unlucky or whether we could have done anything better, buꦰt we will analyse it and try to understand for it to not happen again b𓆉ecause it’s a big shame.”

Vettel, who ended up over a tenth down on his teammate, felt the situation𒊎 was exacerbated due to facing slow cars in front of him.

“Alex [Albon] was backing up because he haꦯd ♕a McLaren in front of him,” Vettel explained.

“I don’▨t know who was in front of the McLaren or whether the McLaren could be closer. I don’t think that’s the po♛int of the exercise either.

“It was just ༺a pity because my tyres were very cold to start with and I lost it in the firs🐼t corner and Charles didn’t even start the lap.”

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