Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has revealed his controversial thoughts on the ‘number 1 driver’ Ferrari debacle.
The Scuderia boasts one of the most impressive driver pairings on the current F1 grid. With seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton partnering Ferrari’s golden boy Charles Leclerc, driver priority issues were in Ferrari’s destiny. Tensions boiled over during the Mexico City Grand Prix, ensuing a radio and media tirade from Hamilton. Ultimately raising questions about Ferrari’s management of intra-team battles.
Some agree with Ferrari’s approach, claiming that the pair should be allowed to fight one another. After all, they are competing for individual results just as much as team results. But Verstappen shares a vastly different opinion.
The Dutchman has previously emphasised his distaste with two top-priority drivers. Explaining that it becomes incredibly difficult, from a team’s point of view, to manage if they are competing against one another.
“I’ve said it before, and a lot of people often don’t agree, but if I was a team principal, I’d never get two ‘No 1’ drivers because then you get things like this,” Verstappen told Viaplay.
From a driver’s perspective, he explained that a lack of team order will encourage both drivers to push their hardest in fighting for a win. In turn, promoting incidents like Mexico City for Ferrari.
“One won’t yield to the other because they both think they can win. And that’s how I am too. And if I were a team principal, I’d change this.
“If you had a clear ‘No 1’ and ‘No 2’, they would’ve gone through the first corner as P1 and P2 and finished like that. Or P1 and P3, that’s fine too, because as a team you’re still scoring great points.”
Ferrari remains committed to its racing guidelines
Despite heated radio exchanges and media comments, Hamilton has expressed that there is no tension within the team. Explaining that he and Leclerc had effectively “squashed the beef” of Mexico City after talks with Fred Vasseur in Brazil.
The seven-time World Champion highlighted that the pair still share an immense amount of respect for one another and are working together to support the team.
“Me and Charles sat and spoke and we squashed it, and we’re moving on,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“We still have a huge amount of respect for each other and I’m glad we had a chat and now we move on.
“We’ve been getting along just fine as normal. Sometimes in those scenarios it takes having a conversation and there’s been no demands from either side, it’s both just giving our points and areas we can do better and support each other. I’m hoping to have better races moving forwards.”
Meanwhile, Vassuer has reiterated that Ferrari will not be changing its ways of racing, following the incident.
“The guidelines are still the same. They accumulated perhaps a bit of frustration because they are starting each weekend side by side. And you have a kind of accumulation of fact,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, the guideline is always the same – it’s that they need to respect each other.
“They are two competitors with the fighting spirit for sure, but they need to have a respect for the other one.
“But mainly and firstly, they need to respect the brand, the team, the people working at home, the people working at the on track.
“I think we are putting a lot of effort on this, and the message was clear and will stay clear.”
READ MORE – Team vs Driver: Which comes first and why is Ferrari different
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