Vettel doesn't know whether Leclerc will bring 'unnecessary politics'

Vettel doesn't know whether Leclerc will bring 'unnecessary politics'

Martin Macdonald

Tuesday 11 December 2018 12:22

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Sebastian Vettel has insisted that the harmonious relationship between himself and former team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen, at Ferrari meant that the pair did not have to deal with the "unnecessary politics" that can occur behind the scenes, but admits he doesn't know if it will be the same with Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc, a former Formula 2 champion, has impressed in his rookie season with Sauber and finished 13th in the driver's championship ahead of his more experienced team-mate, Marcus Ericsson.

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The Monegasque driver is a member of Ferrari's junior driver academy, and the decision was made during the summer to promote him to the Ferrari works team for 2019 at the expense of Raikkonen, who would move back to Sauber.

Vettel has praised the talents of Leclerc, but for him it remains unclear whether the team-mate harmony at Ferrari will be intact now that Raikkonen is gone.

"I do not know that yet," Vettel told BLICK when asked if he could foresee a harmonious relationship with Leclerc.

"The harmony between me and Kimi meant that there were not unnecessary politics. We have always left each other the necessary space – and thus not give the team unnecessary worries.

"Everyone is different, and how Charles and I will tick together will become apparent. But he is a well-bred boy – and Ferrari is a huge chance for him. The Basic Law will not change this time either: everyone wants to beat each other."

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