Vettel and Leclerc will be difficult to manage - Brawn

Ross Brawn says Ferrari may find it tricky to manage a high-calibre driver line-up of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc in 2019, although the former Scuderia technical chief has backed new team principal Mattia Binotto to succeed in his role.

Leclerc has been tipped to push Vettel all the way in 2019 after replacing Kimi Raikkonen to become Ferrari's second-youngest driver in the Italian team's rich Formula 1 history.

Binotto has said that the pair will be free to fight on track, but warned that Vettel will take "priority" – particularly in the early stages of the season – as Ferrari try to break the stranglehold of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton on F1.

Ferrari's challenge fell apart last year amid errors on the track and pit wall, but Brawn believes keeping his stellar driver airing satisfied will be Binotto's biggest task this year.

"It could of course still change, but at the moment there is a good atmosphere", Brawn is quoted as telling F1 TV.

"I worked with Binotto in my time at Ferrari and he is a calm and logical man, I expect him to do well. Rest and control will be essential for Ferrari.

"I think the drivers are more difficult to manage this year. Charles will not be the same as Kimi, he will make sure that Sebastian is at the top of his game."

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