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NUERBURG, GERMANY – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto walks in the Paddock before final practice ahead of the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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NUERBURG, GERMANY – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto walks in the Paddock before final practice ahead of the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Ferrari toiled and struggled for the most part of the 2020 season and ultimately ended up at 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.
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One of the changes is their drivers’ line-up for next season. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz replaces Sebastian Vettel in the team and partners 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, denied any such notions, at least for the start of the season.
Ferrari will 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.”
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Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit Hamad I Mohammed/Pool via REUTERS
This season, Leclerc brought home nearly 75 percent of Ferrari’s points in the standings. Hence, 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 is a boost for 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.
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Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during practice Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
Basically then, Ferrari wants Sainz to continue where he left off 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 fine form at McLaren also included a couple of podiums. As Ferrari rebuilds with an eye on the future, their first task would be to see both drivers develop a good relationship with each other.
