Binotto explains choice of team orders: 'Better for the constructors this way'

In the battle for second place, Sergio Perez and Leclerc are now exactly equal. Both drivers, therefore, asked their teams to push them further forward so they could bring in as many points as possible at the Brazilian Grand Prix. But where Red Bull did instruct them to do so, Ferrari deliberately chose to keep Leclerc behind Sainz.

Towards the end of the race, Ferrari found themselves in a tricky position. While it was indeed better for Leclerc to move forward it was by no means without risk, Binotto also explains. Fernando Alonso was just a second and a half behind the Monegasque, with Max Verstappen behind him again, who was catching up fast. So if the changeover manoeuvre was not executed perfectly, it was possible that both Alonso and Verstappen could pass both Ferrari drivers at once.

FIA error causes confusion for Ferrari

There was also a separate situation with the safety car. As usual, the opportunity was given for drivers a lap behind to get out but the FIA had not given that order to Yuki Tsunoda. Sainz passed Tsunoda under the safety car and that added another risk for the team, Binotto explained.

"We knew we were being investigated for the safety car rule. We had received a green light from race control so we were fairly calm but without a final verdict it would have been too risky to change positions. Indeed, if Carlos had received a five-second time penalty he would have lost even more positions. Therefore, for the constructors' championship it was better to keep them in place."

Binotto also cannot help but lash out at Red Bull, where there was much more confusion over a possible changeover. "Sainz was ready and willing to swap positions if necessary. We would have done it but in this particular case we chose not to. It is much more interesting what happened at Red Bull."