Ferrari not concerned by 'inevitable' friction between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

Ferrari not concerned by 'inevitable' friction between Vettel and Leclerc

Mattia Binotto thinks the competition is an advantage.

Martin Macdonald

Sunday 2 February 2020 15:00

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Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto reckons any friction between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc is inevitable, but actually sees it as an advantage as he has two drivers hungry to succeed.

Leclerc enjoyed his maiden F1 campaign with the Scuderia in 2019, and quickly impressed to become just as important to the team as Vettel, whom the team actually admitted was their number one driver ahead of the campaign.

Team orders, disputes between the pair, and an eventual crash at the Brazilian Grand Prix led the pair to be reprimanded by management.

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However, Binotto thinks that, now that the 2019 issues are over, the pair can co-exist for the team, but admits friction is still likely.

"You have to accept them because that is obvious. They are top drivers and they are there to do their best and to win,” he told Motorsport.com when asked if friction is inevitable.

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"So what's important for me is that they understand what is the overall objective and understand more about the overall situation [in the race].

"Arguing on the radio is never the best because when you are in the car you do not have the full picture, so then it is a matter of trust: trusting the team, even if you make mistakes, as the drivers may make them.

"I think it is only about clarity and transparency before the race, clarity and transparency also during the season, and then we should face whatever is the situation in the race together before we eventually discuss it."

He is of the opinion that having two drivers eager to better each other will ultimately benefit the team as a whole.

"If I look at the two drivers at the moment and how they are behaving together, it works very well," the team boss said.

"There is a good spirit, a good benchmark and in qualifying, when Charles is disappointed that he is behind Seb, it is good and positive.

"But between the two, after all the polemics that we may have read in the newspaper about the radio communication, that is one point that is not a concern at all. In fact it is opposite.

"It is a good line-up, as well quite different in terms of experience, driving. For us, that is an advantage."