Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur's explanation for the disastrous tire strategy call at Malaysia is getting ripped apart, and honestly, it's hard to disagree. Lewis Hamilton absolutely delivered a masterclass drive to claw back to third after a nightmare start, but Ferrari's decision to gamble on slick tires when the track was still wet cost them potentially so much more. Hamilton himself warned the team over the radio that conditions were slippery, yet they stuck with their choice while others like Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto pitted during the pre-race window to reassess.

More F1 news: Piastri's Brilliant Malaysia Braking Defense Leaves Palmer Seriously Impressed

Here's where Vasseur's post-race comments fall apart. He claimed that Ferrari simply 'lacked information' to make the right call, saying they only had visibility of the asphalt on the grid and had to make the decision together with limited intel. But come on, that's not really how it works. The team had spotters positioned around the circuit who could have evaluated track conditions properly. Hamilton's own engineer Carlo Santi literally had onboard footage from the safety car showing the track was dry enough in places, which was another data point Ferrari completely missed or ignored.

More F1 news: Verstappen Breaks Through in Rain-Soaked Bahrain Chaos as Hamilton Storms Back from 18th

The reality is that Ferrari had multiple chances to pivot before things went pear-shaped. Half the grid chose intermediates while the other half went with slicks, so teams weren't flying blind here. Hamilton's radio message about the slippery surface alone should've been a red flag. Charles Leclerc, his teammate, actually did pit for intermediates and survived, while Hamilton persisted on softs before eventually fighting his way back. The pace Hamilton showed on his way to third suggests he could've genuinely fought for the win had Ferrari made the smarter call at the start.

More F1 news: Russell's Title Dreams Buried as Mercedes Faces Double Penalty Nightmare After Malaysia Retirement

What makes Vasseur's excuse particularly frustrating is that it undersells the resources Ferrari has available. A top team's strategists have access to data feeds, spotters, driver feedback, and safety car footage. Saying they lacked information sounds like passing the buck when what really happened is they made a bad decision and got lucky that Hamilton's incredible recovery masked just how costly it could've been. For a driver with two wins already this season, that's one that got away.

Shop the collection: Oscar Piastri merch  •  Charles Leclerc merch  •  Lewis Hamilton merch  •  Scuderia Ferrari merch  •  McLaren merch