Sainz blames pit strategy for Miami GP win loss

The 2024 Miami Grand Prix saw McLaren's Lando Norris claim his maiden Formula 1 victory after benefitting from a well-timed safety car period.

However, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz felt he missed out on a potential race win due to the timing of his pit stop.

Pit Stop Strategy

Sainz was running ahead of Norris but pitted a lap before the safety car was deployed following a crash between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant.

This meant he rejoined the race behind Norris, who had pitted under the safety car conditions.

Driver's Perspective

"Frustrated, because we were ahead of him before that pit stop before the safety car,"

Sainz said.

"If we would have extended one more lap, we would've caught the safety car, and we could have won the race too."

Team Principal's Reaction

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the team's misfortune with the safety car timing, joking,

"I was not aware that Sargeant and Magnussen would crash the lap after! Of course, when you are in this situation, you are a bit unlucky."

Missed Opportunity

Sainz believed that had Ferrari pitted him a lap later, he would have emerged in the lead after the safety car period, giving him a prime opportunity to fight for the race win.

On-Track Incident

Sainz's race was further complicated by a clash with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, resulting in a five-second penalty that demoted him to fifth place in the final results.

The Spaniard explained his aggressive move, saying,

"I realized it was time to be aggressive because everyone was being aggressive today."

The incident highlighted the importance of pit stop timing and strategy in Formula 1, as well as the impact of safety car periods on race outcomes.

Teams must constantly evaluate various scenarios and make split-second decisions that can significantly influence the final result.