Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has refuted Sebastian Vettel's claim the team's strategy at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix "didn't make any sense", saying the German compromised his race by spinning at the start.
Vettel was in a frustrated mood after the race at Silverstone, complaining Ferrari had done exactly what it had talked about avoiding ahead of the race by leaving him stuck in traffic after a pit-stop. His race had unraveled at the start when he spun at the first corner when running alongside Carlos Sainz, despite not making contact.
Binotto said that moment ultimately contributed to Vettel's race, where he finished 12th, more than anything that followed.
Asked if the four-time world champion had lost faith in Ferrari, Binotto told Sky Italia: "I don't think Sebastian has lost faith.
"He is going through a difficult time in qualifying and the last two races where he hasn't found confidence in the car. Here, he spun putting his wheels on the kerb, and his race was uphill."
Binotto said Vettel did not lose any time in the strategy Ferrari chose for him.
"I honestly think there is little to say about strategies. We [were early] perhaps by a few laps with the call that made him lose the position to [Kimi] Raikkonen. However, we knew he would recover without losing time.
"It allowed Charles [Leclerc] to continue his comeback. Overall, it was the right choice for the team and we don't think we penalised Sebastian.
"He regained [the position] immediately on Kimi, he wouldn't have been able to do an overcut on [Daniil] Kvyat, because he was going as fast as he was at that time, and then he undercut [Carlos] Sainz.
"His race was compromised at the start, and I think that was the key, not the strategy chosen."
After five races of the season, Vettel is 13th in the championship.