Ferrari Formula 1 boss Frederic Vasseur has refuted the notion that the team’s line-up model is counter-productive when it comes to pursuing the Drivers’ Championship.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are entering their fourth season partnered together at Ferrari and the two have proved to be a competitive pairing during that time.
The Italian marque became synonymous during its trophy-laden period at the turn of the millennium for prioritising Michael Schumacher over his respective team-mates.
But in recent years, Ferrari has operated with a policy of both drivers being treated equally, which will continue when seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton joins in 2025.
Meanwhile, Red Bull, who have dominated F1 since the return to ground effect cars in 2022, has profited from having Max Verstappen again consolidate his intra-team dominance over Sergio Perez last season, outscoring his team-mate by 290 points.
While having two drivers on a similar footing would hand Ferrari a strategic advantage versus Red Bull, it could be argued that it compromises either’s individual hopes.
But when that proposal was put to him, Vasseur contends that having two drivers push each other will be an aid to Ferrari’s ambition of ending its protracted title drought.
“What do you mean? I am sure that if you have a look at last year, we had a very positive emulation over the season,” Vasseur told media including Motorsport Week.
“We had some stages of the season where Charles was performing a bit more, when Carlos was performing a bit more, and in the recovery of the team from the first part to the last part, I think the drivers played a decent role. We need to have this kind of emulation in the racing team and we are from there to there.
“For sure we want to have more, we want to push more, it’s the DNA of a racing team.
“But I am really convinced that we will have this kind of positive emulation again in 2024, and this would be very helpful to continue to improve.”
Ferrari’s campaign unravelled from the outset with a capricious car, which had been an evolution of its predecessor, that proved susceptible to sudden behavioural spikes.
However, the Maranello-based squad recovered with a revised car concept to land a breakthrough win and Vasseur has credited the drivers for their role in the side’s revival.
“Honestly, all over the season, we have always a good relation between them,” the Frenchman added.
“I’m not asking them to be the best friends in the world and go on vacation together, I’m asking them to work in the interests of Ferrari first, and in the right way, in the right approach, and with the right mentality.
“All over the season, they did a good job. I think it’s also with this kind of relationship that we were able to come back and catch up, and thanks to them for the professionalism.”
Vasseur has admitted that in the circumstance where one had a considerable advantage over the other, Ferrari’s approach with its drivers would have to be adapted.
“We had always a clear strategy that we are able to give exactly the same tool to the two guys,” he highlighted.
“We need this also to develop the team to improve and to recover and I trust them.
“For sure if at one stage during the season and I always had the same approach that if we are fighting with someone for the championship that we will probably change the approach but so far we are able to give them exactly the same support and we will be fully supportive with both of them.”
