Binotto calm about Ferrari's French GP: "Think we had a good performance"

Discussion on the radio

Whilst Sainz was in a wheel-to-wheel battle, the Italian team were talking to their Spanish driver on the radio trying to make key pitstop decisions. In the end, Ferrari pitted Sainz from third place on the grid. In the end, Sainz finished in fifth place and secured the fastest lap of the race. Despite some serious questions about losing points, Binotto remains confident Ferrari got the decision right. 

"It didn't go to plan, but I think we had a good performance in tyre management and tyre degradation on the Red Bull. [For the late pitstop] We don't feel it is the right choice, we are pretty sure it was the right choice. He was short on life and wear and we thought it was risky. We don't think he had the pace to open the gap and fight second. By stopping he did the fastest lap which was another point. It was the safest and right decision," Binotto explained in his interview with Sky Sports.

Leclerc's crash

Leclerc lost out massively in terms of points to Max Verstappen. His rival for the title went on to win the race whilst Leclerc secured zero points. There was a suggestion on the team radio that Ferrari had a problem with the throttle but Leclerc owned up to a mistake. Binotto agreed with his driver. 

"It was a genuine driver error. When he tried to move back from the barrier there is a strategy. We are going into the briefing that somehow he through the throttle of the engine wasn't responding but nothing to do with the mistake," Binotto added.