Why Ferrari Didn’t Pit Leclerc and Hamilton Under VSC at Australian GP
Ferrari’s strategic decision to keep both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on track during Virtual Safety Car periods at the Australian Grand Prix proved costly, as Mercedes secured a 1-2 finish.
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix started spectacularly for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc launched from fourth on the grid to steal the lead before Turn 1, while Lewis Hamilton made an equally impressive climb from seventh to third. The prancing horse was looking dominant—until the Virtual Safety Car periods that would ultimately cost them victory.
The VSC Dilemma
On lap 11, Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull ground to a halt, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Mercedes immediately took action, double-stacking both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for fresh tyres. Ferrari, however, made a very different call—keeping both Leclerc and Hamilton out on track.
« At least one of us should have come in. »
Ferrari’s Calculated Gamble
Speaking after the race, Leclerc explained the reasoning behind Ferrari’s controversial decision. « I don’t regret it. It was a wanted choice, a wanted and conscious choice, » the Monegasque driver stated.
« Looking from FP1 to now, there’s been at every session a car that was stopped, at least one car. We knew that there were very high chances that this was not going to be the only VSC of the race, and so we thought that it was better for us to maybe wait for another one. »
In essence, Ferrari believed the race would bring more opportunities. They were betting on further interruptions that would allow them to pit under more favourable conditions.
A Second Chance Slips Away
A second Virtual Safety Car appeared on lap 18 when Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac stopped near the pit lane entrance. This seemed like Ferrari’s perfect opportunity to finally make their pit stop. However, fate had other plans.
The pit lane entry was swiftly closed due to the Cadillac’s position inside the last corner—leaving Ferrari trapped. « We were a little bit unlucky on that side, » Leclerc acknowledged. The timing was devastating for the Italian team’s strategy.
« The pace of Mercedes was better than us. What happened was Mercedes thought they were going to pit again and we were all surprised by how well the tyres held up, because we could have done 350 laps with those. »
The Final Outcome
Leclerc eventually pitted on lap 25, with Hamilton following three laps later—both under green flag conditions. By then, the damage was done. Mercedes cruised to a comfortable 1-2 finish, with Russell taking victory ahead of Antonelli. Leclerc finished third, with Hamilton settling for fourth.
Key Takeaways
- Leclerc made brilliant start: P4 to P1 at Turn 1
- Mercedes double-stacked under VSC, Ferrari stayed out
- Ferrari gambled on expecting more VSC periods
- Second VSC: pit entry closed due to Bottas’ Cadillac
- Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari P3-P4
No Regrets?
Despite the disappointing outcome, both Ferrari drivers maintained they had no major regrets about the strategy. Hamilton summed it up: « I think ultimately the Mercedes were quicker than us, and that’s probably the maximum result we were going to get today. »
The question now lingers: was Ferrari’s gamble a brilliant calculation that just didn’t pay off, or a miscalculation that handed Mercedes an easy victory? Only time—and the upcoming races—will tell.
Sources
- Motorsport.com – Why Ferrari didn’t pit under VSC in F1 Australian GP
- GPblog – Leclerc lays out clear motivation for Ferrari’s debated VSC call
- ESPN – Charles Leclerc downplays talk Ferrari got strategy wrong
- Sky Sports – Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has no regrets
- Racer – No regrets from Ferrari drivers after staying out during VSC