Carlos Sainz says criticism of Ferrari's F1 strategy calls has been unfair, after its tactics helped Charles Leclerc score French Grand Prix pole position.

In recent races, Ferrari has come under fire for strategy calls that have cost it big results, such as the decision not to change Leclerc's used tyres at the last safety car during the British Grand Prix, and the pit blunder that cost him victory in Monaco

But at Paul Ricard on Saturday, Ferrari enacted a pre-weekend plan for Sainz to tow Leclerc in his slipstream in Q3 to negate Red Bull's top speed advantage over the Scuderia along the back straight.

The plan worked perfectly, with Leclerc – who admits Ferrari got the first Q3 lap wrong – taking pole from Max Verstappen by 0.304 seconds.

Sainz, who will start from the back of the grid due to a change in power unit components, says Ferrari's qualifying tactics proved how "solid" the team is strategically.

"I think we've received quite a lot of criticism on the strategy front," Sainz said. "And I think it's a bit unfair because [with] every team this season, there's going to be mistakes with tyres, choosing tyres and everything.

"But I think this year the team has been very solid on the strategy side and I think today proves it. Also, the relationship with Charles, and the way the team works, I think again proves that it's working very well and we are working very well together.

"It's nice to see. I think you need to give it to us and to Ferrari that we did a very nice day."

Ferrari elected to take its grid penalty hit at Paul Ricard as it should still offer Sainz options to mount a solid recovery through the field.