Ferrari toiled and struggled for most of the season and ultimately ended up P6 in the Constructors’ Standings. Ahead of the 2021 season, the team will look to make a set of changes in both personnel and machinery.
One of the changes, is in their drivers’ lineup for next season. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz will replace Sebastian Vettel in the team and partner their current star driver, Charles Leclerc.
Naturally, questions will arise as to whether Leclerc gets the strategic advantage during the races compared to Sainz. But team principal, Mattia Binotto, has denied any such notions, at least for the start of the season.
Ferrari will freely allow Sainz and Leclerc to ‘fight on track’
Binotto stated, “There is nothing in the contract of Charles [about] him being the leader. They will be free to fight on track.”
“It is important they will not damage themselves. They will have equal opportunities at the start of the season.”
This season in 2020, Leclerc brought home nearly 75% of Ferrari’s points in the standings. And the team’s natural expectation is to have both drivers firing consistently to deliver the results.
The Ferrari boss continued, “The top priority is to maximise the team points and it may be that in some races the two are accepting decisions to optimise the team’s interests but by doing the team interest we are helping the driver interest.”
Sainz’s encouraging form with McLaren will come as a boost to the Italian giants
“And later in the season if one has a clear advantage and one can achieve something the other can’t, it will be an open discussion [about team orders],” concluded Binotto on the subject.
Basically then, Ferrari want Sainz to continue where he left off from at McLaren. Vettel did not produce results capable of fighting the other midfield teams. And so they want Sainz aiding Leclerc on the track to give them a competitive advantage.
The Spaniard’s streak of form at McLaren also included a couple of podiums. And as Ferrari rebuild with an eye to the future, their first task would be to see both drivers develop a good relationship at the team.
The post Ferrari To Treat Sainz And Leclerc Equally ‘At The Start Of The Season’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
