Breaking news
Formula 1 Japanese GP
Binotto expects to manage more Leclerc/Vettel situations
Ferrari Formula 1 team boss Mattia Binotto expects to have to manage Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc on-track again despite the “misunderstanding” they suffered at the Russian Grand Prix.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Oct 12, 2019, 2:55 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sochi poleman Leclerc gave Vettel a tow at the start of the race and did not defend into the second corner, allowing Vettel to pass the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and rise from third to first.
That meant Ferrari’s plan to hold the first two positions after the first lap succeeded, but Vettel was supposed to let Leclerc back ahead and then ignored a specific in-race instruction to do so.
Ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, both drivers said that post-Russia meetings at the team’s Maranello headquarters have cleared up the situation, which Leclerc called a misunderstanding.
Addressing those meetings, and whether he is confident of avoiding a repeat of the situation that arose in Russia, Binotto said: “First, it’s not the first time we are speaking in Maranello.
“It’s true that I met both of them. We had positive, constructive, honest, fair, transparent discussions with both of them, individually.
“I think what happened in Sochi [was] nothing really bad but certainly something that needs to be improved and addressed.
“But how much I’m confident it will not happen [again]? I’m not at all. These are both very good drivers. They are all going for a single objective which is winning themselves.
“But I think what again is more important is that at least we between us we’ve got clarity and fairness and I think that’s key.”
Read Also:
- Vettel admits team orders defiance was "not right"
- Leclerc: Ferrari interests "priority" over Vettel battle
According to Ferrari, what Binotto expects to happen again is the need to manage the drivers – not for another misunderstanding or team-order violation to occur.
Leclerc has scored four pole positions in a row and asserted a clear qualifying dominance over Vettel, who controversially won the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc because Ferrari’s strategy inadvertently favoured the four-time world champion.
Binotto says it has not been a “surprise” to discover the team has a “very competitive line-up”, despite Leclerc’s stunning form in his first Ferrari season.
However, he insisted that he does not believe “there is the risk of losing control” of the pair.
“There is a difference between not managing drivers and at least having the intent to manage them,” he said.
“There is always a solution which is not manage them, maybe someone may do so.
“Our intention is to try to manage the situation to the benefit of the team and secondly to the benefit, overall, of the drivers.
“We may do a few things that can be addressed or improved and I think that is what we are building and trying to do for the future.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bottas can only "blame" himself for gap to Hamilton
Next article Pirelli set to sign off 2020 F1 tyres ahead of Austin test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
ARCA
ARCA ARCA 42 min
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
Why McLaren gave team order to Oscar Piastri in F1 US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Why McLaren gave team order to Oscar Piastri in F1 US GP
Winners and losers from a frantic NASCAR Cup race at Talladega
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
3 h
Winners and losers from a frantic NASCAR Cup race at Talladega
Herta endorses IndyCar’s international return with Barcelona while marveling at Palou’s dominance
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 4 h
Herta endorses IndyCar’s international return with Barcelona while marveling at Palou’s dominance
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe