Team principal Frédéric Vasseur has issued a clear reminder to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc regarding their internal rivalry: their competition must never come at the expense of the team.
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While the Frenchman appreciates how his two drivers push each other to improve, he insists on one essential condition: the interests of the Scuderia take precedence over those of the drivers.
“They must respect the team, just as we respect them; they must behave properly,” says the Ferrari team principal.
A rivalry beneficial for Ferrari
Vasseur nevertheless believes that the competition between Hamilton and Leclerc currently represents a strength for the Scuderia. The two drivers collaborate while constantly trying to gain the upper hand over each other: “ I see them working together and pushing each other to deliver better performances. As a result, we also progress, because they give 110% every lap. ”
This rivalry exists even when the sporting stakes are limited: “Even in free practice, the most important thing for them is to finish ahead of their teammate,” emphasizes Vasseur.
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For the Ferrari boss, this constant comparison is an important element in the search for performance. It notably allows engineers to more accurately assess the potential of the car and identify areas where each driver can improve.
Vasseur compares Ferrari to its rivals
The Frenchman observes a similar situation at Mercedes and McLaren, where the balance of power between teammates can change from one weekend to another: “Part of the performance always comes from the comparison between the two drivers. This is the case with us, but also with McLaren and Mercedes. For Red Bull, this applies to a lesser extent, but there are other reasons for that…”
Vasseur notably points out that the hierarchy between teammates is not fixed in the main teams: “Mercedes and McLaren are in the same situation as us in this regard. One week, one is ahead and, the following week, it’s exactly the opposite. That’s part of the game. ”
Ferrari therefore intends to let Hamilton and Leclerc fight freely as long as this competition remains healthy. For Vasseur, their rivalry even represents a driver of progress, provided that the interests of the Scuderia and mutual respect remain priorities.
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