Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Karun Chandhok has criticised the strategic decisions made by Ferrari during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, after the team chose not to pit either of its drivers during the early Virtual Safety Car periods at the Albert Park Circuit.
In the opening round of the season, Charles Leclerc started fourth but surged into the lead after a strong launch into the first corner. Team-mate Lewis Hamilton also made significant progress on the opening lap, climbing from seventh to third.
With both Ferrari drivers surrounding George Russell, the Mercedes driver was forced to attack and defend simultaneously while carefully managing his battery energy during the early stages of the race.
However, the race dynamics shifted during two Virtual Safety Car periods early in the grand prix. Ferrari opted to keep both Leclerc and Hamilton on track, while Mercedes brought its drivers into the pits, allowing Russell to rejoin the race in clean air.
Ferrari eventually made its pit stops once the race had resumed under green flag conditions, a decision that cost the Maranello-based team several seconds and removed them from direct contention with Russell.
“I think for me Ferrari was a little bit disappointing strategically, because the cars seemed competitive, more competitive than perhaps we expected, but they weren't bold enough on that first virtual safety car,” Chandhok said.
“I was disappointed that they didn't take the gamble. Despite being in the lead, to try and do a long stint would have been 46 laps on a hard tyre. Other people managed it. I was disappointed they didn't take that chance.”
Chandhok argued that Ferrari could have strengthened its chances by pitting at least one driver under the Virtual Safety Car, potentially forcing Russell into a more difficult race while battling two cars.
“At worst, they would have been third and fourth. So why not take a chance and try to go for the win anyway, or at least get in that fight with George?”
He also explained that once Russell emerged into clear air, the Mercedes driver had time to stabilise his battery management and car balance before building the decisive gap needed to control the race.
“I think as long as they had those two dogs in the fight against one, they could have forced George into never really getting the battery into a happy position,” Chandhok added.
During the second Virtual Safety Car, Chandhok acknowledged that pitting Leclerc would have been difficult due to his proximity to the pit entry. However, he suggested Ferrari still had an opportunity to call Hamilton in when Valtteri Bottas stopped on track for Cadillac.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season continues beyond Melbourne, strategic execution remains a critical factor in the battle at the front of the grid. For Ferrari, the decisions made in Australia are likely to be closely analysed as the championship moves into the next rounds.
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