Binotto explains how Vettel-Leclerc fight will help Ferrari

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes the increasingly competitive battle between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc will only benefit the Maranello outfit. Vettel began the season with "priority" over Leclerc, but the Monegasque has challenged that with fine on-track performances.

Leclerc finished behind Vettel in the season-opener in Australia, albeit only due to Ferrari ordering him to remain behind the German, having caught him late in the race.

In Bahrain, Leclerc vastly outperformed his world champion team-mate, qualifying on pole and racing to a certain victory until an engine issue let him down.

"Charles was faster everywhere," Vettel admitted after a race which saw him spin and finish fifth.

The German says he is struggling to feel confident with the rear of the 2019 car.

GPFans F1 Podcast #3 - Leclerc luckless, Vettel spins, Schumacher's debut and more!Subscribe today!Read more

"We took a real step forward in Bahrain compared to Melbourne," he added. "But it was not like Barcelona, when I could do what I wanted."

Vettel stuck around in Bahrain after the race for the post-grand prix test, where he said simulations of "different phases of the race" were done.

"The information we collected should be useful for China," he said.

Regarding the Bahrain spin, team boss Binotto backed Vettel but admitted that managing the fight between the quadruple world champion and Leclerc will be challenging.

"Of course as team boss now I have to manage the drivers, and that was not the case before," he told Speed Week.

"But I think it's even a good thing, because it's important to have the right fighting spirit in the team, and that includes the drivers."

But at present, it is the criticised Vettel who is in greater need of support than Leclerc.

"For the driver, it is important to feel the confidence of the team," Binotto acknowledged. "We give everything to make him feel good.

"But more important than that, in my opinion, is a strong car. After all, everything works better with a good and fast car.

"It also has to be a car that suits him."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Red Bull F1 problems are beginning to look cultural and not technical

• Just now

Ferrari can correct Lewis Hamilton mistake with Max Verstappen signing

• 45 minutes ago

F1 News Today: Verstappen to Mercedes could fall apart as Russell behaviour called out

• 1 hour ago

F1 Drive to Survive star opens up on stroke battle: 'I had to relearn how to write'

• Yesterday 22:42

F1 insider says Max Verstappen to Mercedes deal could fall apart due to Kimi Antonelli

• Yesterday 21:55

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are not the problem at Ferrari as F1 giant falters again

• Yesterday 20:54