How Ferrari's most convincing win escaped its clutches
The Russian Grand Prix weekend was supposed to prove just how much Ferrari had improved its SF90. But while its speed was impressive, Ferrari struggled to control its drivers during a race that got away from it
The Russian Grand Prix should not only have been Ferrari's fourth consecutive victory, but perhaps the most convincing in the run of races since the August break. Instead, it descended into what the Italians like to refer to as a "grande casino", with early leader Sebastian Vettel refusing to heed team orders and let his team-mate past, and Charles Leclerc quietly fuming about that instruction being disregarded.
Unfortunately for Ferrari, that was the best bit of its race as Vettel's subsequent MGU-K failure triggered a virtual safety car that cost Leclerc victory and - compounded by a failed strategic gamble - handed arch-rival Mercedes a one-two. The repercussions could yet stretch far beyond the loss of a victory, with the relationship between two drivers who will be at the team together for at least another 18 months at best compromised. That went well...
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