Mark ThompsonGetty Images
- Sebastian Vettel has only scored 18 points this season and is well on his way to achieving his lowest score since becoming a full-time F1 driver in 2008.
- Charles Leclerc was fourth and in the first lap on Sunday in Portugal, while Vettel was tenth and one lap behind.
- Vettel announced in September that he would drive for rival Racing Point (renamed Aston Martin) in 2021.
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari F1 team principal, says Sebastian Vettel has no problems this year to get results in Formula 1 this year and at least to keep up with his teammate Charles Leclerc.
According to Binotto, the racing Ferraris driven by Leclerc and Vettel are actually identical.
In Portugal, the retiring four-time world champion Vettel finished 10th and one lap behind. In the meantime, Leclerc finished fourth and led the sister car. Vettel isn’t so sure if the deck isn’t stacked against him on his own team.
“You can see in the telemetry that the other car is much faster in some sections, I’m not an idiot,” said German Vettel after the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday. “I don’t know if I should say more, but I’ve tried everything. There are lap times and my feelings, but I have to think that we have the same car because I trust the people around me.”
Sebastian Vettel (5) was tenth in Portugal on Sunday.
Joe PortlockGetty Images
With five races remaining in the season, Leclerc is fifth in the drivers’ standings with 75 points. Vettel, who leaves Ferrari for Racing Point at the end of the season, is 13th with just 18 points.
Team boss Binotto acted quickly to dispel doubts about unfair treatment.
“Seb and Charles’ cars are identical, there is no doubt about that,” Binotto told Sky Italia. “Charles is certainly very good, but maybe we can expect more from the second driver.”
Binotto also said there are no plans to release Vettel early.
This content is imported from {embed name}. You may find the same content in a different format, or you may find more information on the website.
“It’s not a discussion at all,” said Binotto. “I’m also sure that he’ll get points again that will give him more confidence. I think Sebastian could have been faster in terms of his potential, but we can’t put so much pressure on him now. We’re ‘we do everything to make sure he can finish the season the best he can. “
The good news for Ferrari is that the updates rolled out over the last three races seem to be working.
“We think the direction we are going is the right one,” said Binotto. “We know which way to go and now we’re pushing as much as possible for next year.”
Does Vettel have a point? Is it possible that Ferrari is putting its resources in Leclerc? Join the Ferrari discussion in the comments section.
This content is created and maintained by a third party and is imported onto this page so that users can provide their email addresses. You may find more information on this and similar content at piano.io
The post Sebastian Vettel suggests that Ferrari play F1 favorites with Charles Leclerc first appeared on monter-une-startup.
