Moments before the start of the US Grand Prix, F1 journalist Will Buxton asked Fred Vasseur if he could keep the McLaren and the Ferraris behind. Mocking the exhausted journalist, Vasseur replied with humor, “We will keep the Ferraris behind.” Oh, how that aged like a fine wine. Or milk, at this point, we’re not sure. But the team boss’ foreshadowing was immaculate. The Maranello outfit’s strategy of giving up on Charles Leclerc is not the newest upgrade Ferrari brought this season. However, one must imagine the pit wall would have a better strategy for their pole-sitter.

The United States Grand Prix had a clear winner- a good strategy. While Max Verstappen was grappling with the braking issues of his RB19, Charles Leclerc was grappling with the tactical miscalculations of his team. However, despite the tough battle with the car, Verstappen took his 50th win from P6. But Leclerc, starting on the pole, fell back to P6, followed by a disqualification. His best friend on the grid, Pierre Gasly, knows exactly why.

The strategy for Charles Leclerc baffled Gasly at US GP

The strategy the pole-sitter was on was failing him, albeit not just him. A one-stop strategy was the end of Mercedes and McLaren’s aspirations for a win. Most teams went for a two-stop, Alpine being one of many. However, as indecisive as McLaren and Mercedes were in their strategy, Alpine and Pierre Gasly had it under control. However, he cannot say the same about his best friend on the grid.

On whether the team deliberated over pit-stop strategy, Gasly said, “The first time it came up was when Charles came to see me on the grid and said, ‘You also going for a one-stop?’. I was like there was no f*cking way that I was going for a one-stop. Then we looked at each other because at that time I was a little confused with what he was saying.”

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“But it turned out well. I think we did the best strategy we could and from his face after the race I don’t think he really liked that one-stop strategy,” he added. With his teammate’s early retirement and two disqualifications, the Sunday race worked out tremendously in Gasly’s favour. The Alpine driver, leader of the two here in Austin, finished P8 but got promoted to P6. Good strategy calls and a relatively good car helped Gasly make the best of the opportunity presented to him. But Leclerc suffered a major blow in his 100th Grand Prix with Scuderia Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc Slammed for Piling on Ferrari’s Issues as Major Weakness Gets Exposed

Ferrari’s strategy calls have often created confusion and chaos. However, no matter the tactics the Italian Outfit would have deployed, the Monegasque’s Sunday was about to end in a catastrophe.

Ferrari’s masterclass in a disastrous Sunday for Leclerc

Charles Leclerc‘s misery just never ends. In his debut, he was challenging the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in the same machinery. However, the disaster at Ferrari seems to have swept up Leclerc.

After the Saturday sprint race, Lando Norris was expected to be under threat from the Ferrari driver. Leclerc was in all praise for Max Verstappen’s move into him going in turn 1. The verdict was out. Norris had to get his elbows out. But it’s Ferrari. As the lights went out for the US GP, the McLaren driver took the lead from Leclerc before turn 1. And soon enough Hamilton in P3 capitalised on the falling Ferrari and gained on the Monegasque. A few seconds into the race, Charles Leclerc was fighting a losing battle.

His woes hadn’t ended just yet. ‘Mad Max’ fury was closing in on him from P6. And before you knew it, Verstappen was ahead in P3. And if you think, surely, that was the end of his woes. Wrong. The domino effect at Ferrari was very real. Soon, he was told to let Carlos Sainz by, switching P4 and P5. Sergio Perez was quick to join the party, demoting Leclerc to P6. And end scene.

The Ferrari ended the race in P4 for Sainz and P6 for Leclerc. And they all went home slightly disappointed but content. But it’s Ferrari, remember? Hours after the podium ceremony, FIA rang the disqualification bells for Lewis Hamilton in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P6. The Monegasque’s Sunday just kept getting worse and worse. His pole-to-win ratio, not getting any better.

WATCH THIS STORY: How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other Team Post-2024?

The race, once hailed to be the most boring race of the season, provided the most action so far. As Max Verstappen fought his own car for the win, Hamilton and Verstappen, the two old rivals almost went head-to-head. Mercedes has been consistently introducing upgrades. But no team can beat Ferrari’s implosion when it comes to consistency. How long can Charles Leclerc survive at Ferrari?