Charles Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 2020

Ferrari still prepared to use team orders despite granting drivers equal status

2020 F1 season

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Ferrari’s change in policy regarding its two drivers this year does not mean the team has ruled out using team orders.

At the launch of the team’s new car earlier this month team principal Mattia Binotto confirmed Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc would receive equal treatment, reflecting Leclerc’s strong showing in his first season of F1.

But last week Binotto said he remains prepared to use team orders in “clear situations” to secure the best possible result for Ferrari.

Leclerc has “already proved to be ready” to fight on equal terms with Vettel, said Binotto. “He did a fantastic, great season last year. He has [performed] on the same level at the end of Sebastian as well in terms of final results. I think he has proved that he can do it. So I think it’s right that they are on the same level to start the 2020 season.

“They know as well that the team has the first priority. So team orders may still be there. I’m not saying that they are free to race, that there will be no team orders. So there may be team orders to the benefit of the entire team. But it has to be a clear situation.”

Vettel and Leclerc collided during the Brazilian Grand Prix late last season, but Binotto is confident they will avoid any further run-ins this year.

“I think that last year has been very useful to both of them and myself to know each other, to understand how we should behave and what should be the rules in the team, what priority the team has first,” he said. “I think that the two drivers now know each other a lot more better and they are behaving well.

“I’m very happy with the level of discussion we’ve got, the level of contribution to the car, to the team and the way clearly they are discussing. So I think that generally speaking, there is not much to tell them because they understand perfectly what should be the way to behave when on track.”

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2020 F1 season

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29 comments on “Ferrari still prepared to use team orders despite granting drivers equal status”

  1. The problem for Binotto is, what seems like a clear situation from the pit wall, doesn’t always look so clear from the driver’s seat.

    1. Actually I think their problem is that the people on the pit wall seem to be the only people who can’t actually see a clear situation given their history of either late calls or failing to make a call at all.

      1. Unfortunately, the clear situation is that Merc are soo much quicker in 2020 that issues like team orders at Ferrari are unlikely to come up. If they do, they are academic, nothing more.

  2. Every team “remains prepared to use team orders in ‘clear situations’ to secure the best possible result for” them.
    We saw it last year, and it won’t be different this year.
    The only difference for Ferrari (last year) was that they decided and announced before the start of the race (even the year) which driver they would order to play the support role.

    1. @coldfly In ’50-50 situations’. Which is a bit of a Zeno-like paradox. If it’s 50-50 and Vettel then had an advantage, it’s no longer 50-50, but balanced in favour of Vettel. So maybe that 50-50 rule kicked in at a slight advantage to Leclerc? 55-45? 60-40? I’m joking obviously, but in Vettel’s head, where was the 50-50? Probably somewhere most ‘independent’ observers would put at a clear advantage to Leclerc. (The same may have applied in reverse.) You can see that ‘maths’ playing out in various incidents last season. All teams with two closely matched and competitive (aggressive) drivers are going to have incidents. It’s beyond control after a certain point. Ferrari last year, Red Bull with Verstappen and Ricciardo, Haas forever apparently, Renault probably this year… The question is whether it’s ultimately still better for the team to have that mix.

    2. The trouble is Ferrari weren’t using Team Orders to get the best possible result for themselves, it was to get the better results for Red Bull and Mercedes, and also for Sebastian. Not that helping your competitors and your second best driver is wrong, but don’t you want to win the World Constructors’ Championship and have a driver win the WDC? As others have suggested, it seems the W11 is going to be the car of envy this year.

  3. Judging by Ferrari statements, car is slow, drivers will have issues with each other, and team is down on leadership.

    Easy Hamilton title, unless Verstappen makes a step up in performance.

    1. Agreed, except Verstappen has the performance, but he keeps crashing into everyone, at least 10 collisions he initiated in 2019. He has to learn to keep his nose clean. But he is coddled by his team, so he won’t change his ways.

      1. @megatron I would be interested to see a list of these “10 incidents” he initiated.

        1. @mashiat
          @esploratore
          Crashed into SAI in Bahrain
          Crashed into BOT in Monaco
          Crashed into HAM in Monaco
          Crashed into LEC in Austria
          Touched LEC at Silverstone
          Crashed into Kimi in Spa, TWICE!
          Crashed into someone at Monza T1
          Crashed into HAM in Mexico
          Crashed into BOT in Mexico
          Crashed into MAG in Mexico

          But like most max fans you’ll probably claim that they weren’t his fault

      2. Like mashiat said, verstappen had an almost perfect season, you won’t find 10 incidents, I’m getting annoyed by these people who try to twist reality to say verstappen is a high-crash rate driver. All he needs is the car now.

        1. And not saying he doesn’t have a decent car, it’s just that mercedes always has the edge for a reason or another.

  4. Vettel has the problems. Leclerc has the long contract and he knows Ferrari regard him as the future of the team. Vettel has to decide if he wants to carry on racing beyond this season, if he does, he’ll have to remain at Ferrari, as no other team can afford him. So he’ll have to cut out the errors and tantrums. If Vettel finds himself behind Leclerc on the grid, he’s needs to accept there’s been a change of leadership in the team, otherwise he’ll be gawn.

    1. I completely agree with Jon Bee and that unless Vestappen raises his game consistently he can’t stop Hamilton again this year.

    2. Rubbish. Why should Vettel play 2nd fiddle to Charles? Ferrari have said they have equal status. The choice for Charles and Ferrari could be that Vettel has nothing to loose. Push Vettel too far and the team suffers with a Charles that has still to prove he can be the teams most point scorer.

      1. Charles already proved that he can score more points, wins, poles and podiums than Vettel, IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE SCUD.

      2. Why should Vettel play 2nd fiddle to Charles?

        If you read the original post the guy said IF he finds himself below Charles on the grid, not to deploy his usual dirty Multi 21 esque tactics and tantrums and ignoring team orders to get ahead, because Charles has the long contract he he DOESNT. If he wants an extension he needs to be a team player.

        Charles that has still to prove he can be the teams most point scorer.

        Jon Bee – +1

        He already did that last year with one hand tied behind his back for the first 5 races, try again.

    3. LEC may be future of the team NOW, but that can change overnight and he can find himself a pariah with the very same people who now give him hugs and kisses.

      Verstappen can be nabbed out of RB. Contracts are never sacrosanct in F1, as Kimi will tell you.

      I do believe this is bound to happen within two years. In fact some at Ferrari may already be planning for Max partnered by Giovanazzi. Why GIO?? you may ask. Well, because Ferrari wouldn’t be Ferrari if they didn’t get something wrong.

      1. I want some of what you’re smoking Islander. Strong stuff.

        Comparing an ageing and useless Kimi who in turn couldnt outscore a fairly useless Seb to Leclerc and what he did last year is laughable.

  5. Why wouldn’t Ferrari use team orders? Everyone does it, and they have been specially good at it.

    Problem is will Vettel cooperate?

    Clean cuts are easy, like when in different pit stop strategies, but what if the situation is Russia 2019 like?

    1. and they have been specially good at it

      In the past, yes. Schumacher, good but probably overkill (unnecessary). Massa and Raikkonen, worked well and won them their last title. Alonso and Massa, Raikkonen and Vettel, fine, though without achieving another championship. But last year wasn’t good. Team orders ultimately cost their de facto lead driver, Leclerc, quite a few points.

  6. @keithcollantine, Where is Ferrari based? Now the Coruna virus is loose in Italy travel have restrictions in North Italy.

    Will Ferrari have problems moving there team to the other tracks? Now Monza is in September but if it goign wrong we will see Monza dropped?

    1. you really ignore Ferrari is based in Maranello? small town near Modena, in the northern part of Italy

      1. Yes i had to look it up as i didn’t know where their base was. So they are very near the affected area (NW and NE from Modena) i think this is going to be bad for Ferrari.

  7. Good point. Vettel has no where else to go at this stage unless he switches seats with Lewis or steps down to a midfield team.

    Better he accepts no. 2 and pick yp the odd win here and there.

    1. @david-beau

      I doubt Vettel could just switch seats. Why would Merc even want him?

  8. Vettel is the new Kimi. A has-been destined to nothing special in F1. He thought he could build a successful team around him, as advised by Schumacher, but the timing was wrong as Mercedes F1 showed complete dominance. Vettel has shown numerous times he can not handle wheel to wheel racing without spinning, unless it is under yellow flag in Baku…:)))).

    I would not be surprised to see the SF to sack VET after he fails to obey team orders and Nature and trail LEC…

    1. Agree with bad timing due to mercedes dominance, but I’m pretty sure a driver like schumacher or alonso at peak would’ve brought much more of a challenge in 2017 and won 2018.

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