At the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari pilots Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were in third and fourth place in the final laps. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was in second place.
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto did not choose to tell the drivers to hold their places, instead conveying the message that they could continue to race each other until the checkered flag, as long as they "don't take risks".
Leclerc made several valiant attempts to pass his teammate, but in the end Sainz managed to stay ahead to take the podium.
Binotto said he was happy with his decision.
"If I had told our pilots to 'hold your seats', this time you would have asked the same question, 'Why didn't you let them race?'"
“Obviously it's much easier to comment when you get to the end, but I think it's the same zamIt was the best way to thank everyone at the moment and the support of tifosi and others. "It wasn't good to end the action with five laps to go."
Binotto said he trusts his drivers.
“I trust them, but I told them not to take any risks. This is every zammoment is relative and I think the concept of no risk is also relative.
"But it's an opinion and I'm proud of that decision and the work the pilots did."
Binotto reiterated that he was satisfied with his decision.
“I wanted to make the final decision on this matter, so I told them 'no risk', 'you can race but there is no risk'.
“As I said, it's relative, but I would be uncomfortable if I stopped the action.”
"Each zamYou can tell it's a little too much or it's not. But in the end, that's why we finished the race and I'm very happy with the result.”
Binotto's decision was criticized by some fans. Some said Leclerc was denying him the chance to overtake Sainz and that could damage his title challenge.
However, Binotto rejected these criticisms. He said Leclerc had a chance to overtake Sainz but failed to do so.
“Leclerc had a chance to overtake Sainz, but he couldn't do it. This is real. But this did not reduce the excitement and tension of the race.”
Binotto said he was happy with his decision and would do the same again.
