'Vettel shouldn't be Ferrari's number one driver'

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has made an error by appointing Sebastian Vettel as his number on driver for 2019 ahead of Charles Leclerc, according to former Scuderia boss Cesare Fiorio. Binotto said in pre-season that Vettel would have "priority" but the German trails his team-mate in the standings after two races.

Binotto anointed Vettel as Ferrari's "champion" for the season as the Prancing Horse look to loosen Mercedes' grip on the drivers' and constructors' championships.

However, Vettel has flattered to deceive so far, fading from third place in Australia to come home fourth and spinning out of contention in Bahrain while battling Lewis Hamilton wheel-to-wheel, aiding the Mercedes man's win in the desert after Leclerc suffered engine trouble from the lead.

"Frankly, I was expecting Charles Leclerc to be a big problem for Vettel from the start," Fiorio told tuttomotoriweb.com.

"Binotto is a very good engineer who knows how to make fast cars, but probably he wasn't expecting Leclerc to be immediately competitive. This will create an issue for him.

"If I had to decide, I wouldn't appoint a first and a second driver, but I'd leave them free to race. Just like I did with Prost and Mansell, who were very competitive but never had a problem with one another."

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Fiorio also claimed Vettel is guilty of making "way too many mistakes when he's under pressure" but says Ferari should keep faith with the four-time world champion.

"Ferrari will have to take a little bit of pressure off him, but being in a very close battle with Mercedes it's not easy," he said.

"For sure in the long term, Leclerc is the man to rely on."

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