Binotto hails 'fantastic' Ferrari strategy after troubled year

Mattia Binotto has praised Ferrari's "fantastic" strategy team after they engineered a tactical 'dummy' radio call to trigger a Sergio Perez pit stop in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez were battling for the runner-up spot in the championship going into the finale level on points, but the Ferrari driver was behind following the first round of pit-stops.

He was closing in on Perez and on Lap 34, was told to "box, opposite Perez."

Perez and Red Bull bought this bait and covered Leclerc off, who then moved onto a one-stop strategy – setting up a thrilling chase, with the Mexican falling just 1.3 seconds short.

In a year littered with multiple Ferrari strategic errors – including in Monaco, Britain, Hungary, Belgium and Brazil for Leclerc – team boss Binotto was quick to praise the under-fire department.

Viewed by others:

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Sergio Perez Perez felt Verstappen was hindrance at crucial point in Abu Dhabi
Leclerc Abu Dhabi
Charles Leclerc Leclerc reveals Ferrari trickery that fooled Perez in Abu Dhabi

Binotto praises Ferrari strategy

"We were flexible with both drivers because we knew it would have been somewhere in between the one or the two [stop strategy]," Binotto explained to media, including TheFOXposts.Com.

"Charles had a bit more margin on the cars behind and could save more of the tyres which gave him the benefit to go for the one-stop.

"It was great to see the team being flexible in choosing one driver [to go on the one-stop] and the second [on a two] to optimise the race results.

"The dummy call on the Red Bull was fantastic.

"Certainly we did a proper job, and overall, we made it right so I'm happy for the team.

"When Ferrari has been making mistakes, there is always a lot of criticism, but I know that these guys can do very well."

© RN365/Michael Potts © RN365/Michael Potts

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