Breaking news
Formula 1 Brazilian GP
Ferrari: Timing of Vettel/Leclerc Brazil clash "lucky"
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto says the Formula 1 team is “lucky” Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc have collided this season so they can clarify what is needed for 2020.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Nov 19, 2019, 3:26 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Binotto believes his drivers have a good relationship but there have been tense moments in Vettel’s and Leclerc’s first season as teammates, although this had not resulted in an on-track clash until last Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari drivers crashed out towards the end of the race after Leclerc overtook Vettel and they collided when the four-time world champion attempted to get back ahead on the run down to Turn 4.
At the start of 2019 Binotto said managing Vettel and rising star Leclerc was a “luxury”, and in Brazil he said he still believes that is the case.
“I'm still convinced it's a luxury because they are both good drivers,” he said. “Very good drivers.
“They both certainly represent a boost or a benchmark for each other. We have seen them improve during the season. Seb in the second half, certainly, has been very fast.
“So I think overall, it is still a luxury. What happened, I would say it is even lucky it happened this season because at least there will be opportunities to clarify with them, in the view of next year, what we need not to happen.
“So I'm happy to take the opportunity of what happened, at least to clarify with them for the future.”
Read Also:
Ferrari’s double DNF in Brazil makes no difference to its championship prospects because it had already secured second in the constructors’ contest and has been comfortably beaten by Mercedes.
However, it needs to ensure the relationship between Vettel and Leclerc does not undermine its challenge next season, and any consequence from the collision will need to be administered internally as the Brazilian GP stewards determined neither driver was predominantly to blame.
That was despite footage from the camera providing a reverse view from Turn 4 clearly showed Vettel moved left, towards Leclerc, after drawing alongside.
But Binotto said it was “not a matter of managing” Vettel, who also defied a team order in Russia to let Leclerc past.
“It's a matter of recognising eventually what has been the actions and the mistakes,” said Binotto.
“And I think that whether you are a driver, you're an engineer, whatever you're doing, recognising mistakes is important, because that can only make you better.
“So I think what would be important with both drivers is to understand what happened, making sure that at least – not in the heat [of the moment], but when we have time all together in Maranello – to understand what happened, what has been the mistake.
“It's not for me to blame them. It's for them to recognise it.”
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 Sainz: Brazilian GP charge "definitely" my best-ever race
Next article Bottas faced with threat of grid drop for Abu Dhabi
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
FIA stewards explain Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty in F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
43 min
FIA stewards explain Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty in F1 Mexico GP
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
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
FIA stewards explain Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty in F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
43 min
FIA stewards explain Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty in F1 Mexico GP
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Can Kimi Antonelli seal the title?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Can Kimi Antonelli seal the title?
What does Yamaha’s shock MotoGP boycott mean for F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Qatar GP
3 h
What does Yamaha’s shock MotoGP boycott mean for F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
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