Nobody understands the strategy by Aston Martin. After more than 50 laps waiting for the rain to arrive, which was apparently the reason for the that Fernando Alonso started the race on medium tyres, started to fall the deluge over Monte Carlo.
Chaos began to take hold of teams and pilots, causing discussions on the radio about what tires to mount at the next stop, since half the track was flooded, while the other half was still dry.
The increase in rainfall It made you think that everyone would go for the intermediate tyres, but surprisingly, Fernando Alonso pitted on medium slicks while the rest of the grid put on wet tyres.
The team reported to Alonso on the radio the decision to put another set of dry tires, a decision that did not convince the Spaniard. “Okay, but make sure what the others do with the intermediates,” Alonso told his engineer.
A couple of laps later, Aston Martin rectified and called Alonso to the pits to fit intermediate tyres. Fortunately, Esteban Ocon was 30 seconds away from the Asturian, so he was able to maintain second position.
The distance with Verstappen went from eight seconds to more than 20, so the options of victory of the Asturian they vanished, since if he had put intermediate tires, Alonso would have had a couple of laps to attack the Dutchman and fight for the first position.
There were reasons to put the means
However, Aston Martin’s strategy has an explanation. Weather radar indicated that the rain would be light and it wouldn’t last more than ten minutes, so if Verstappen put in intermediates and then had to go back to slicks, Fernando would have taken the lead from him.
Also, new medium tires are easier to warm up than hard ones. worn worn by the Asturian, so they were more suitable to deal with the delicate conditions of the Principality’s asphalt.
However, the forecasts from the Aston Martin wall failed and the rain was heavier than expected, which forced Fernando Alonso to make a second stop and fit intermediate tires with which he managed to be faster than Verstappen, but the advantage of almost half a minute of the Red Bull driver was insurmountable.
