Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has alleviated suggestions that the squad could favour Sebastian Vettel in the 2019 Formula 1 season, insisting his drivers will be free to fight.
Vettel has been joined this year by sophomore Charles Leclerc and at the launch of its new car last month Binotto suggested the four-time World Champion would be given priority.
But while confirming Vettel’s experience will likely give him an advantage, Binotto clarified that Ferrari is not entering the year with a defined number one driver.
“Obviously they will be free to fight, we will not ask Charles to be slow or Sebastian to be fast,” said Binotto.
“Both of them need to run to the maximum and try to do their best, but in an ambiguous situation at the start of the season Sebastian is the one that has more experience, meaning that with us, also he has won championships, he’s our champion.”
Binotto added that he was unsurprised by the manner in which Leclerc conducted himself during pre-season testing, with the youngster quickly adapting to his new surroundings.
“Charles is a good driver, certainly a very fast driver,” said Binotto of Leclerc, who has replaced 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
“I think that in Barcelona he focused on himself, understanding the car, working with a new team, new engineers.
“More important for us is to understand the car; they’ve [Vettel and Leclerc] done very similar lap times.
“I think that proves that Charles is certainly a fast driver. I think we knew it since the past. It’s now many years he’s spent with Ferrari.
"He spent last year with Alfa Romeo/Sauber, so nothing with Charles is a surprise in that respect so it’s not the testing in Barcelona that is telling us that that was the right choice.
“It was simply the right choice. But the season will tell us a bit more.”
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