A night with consequences: Vettel and Leclerc need mediators

Pumped up with winning adrenaline, Sebastian Vettel sent the sulking Charles Leclerc into the night with a warning. “You are very wrong if you ever think that you are bigger than this team,” said Vettel after his liberating success at the Formula 1 race in Singapore – and there was little doubt that the addressee of his words was right next to him sat. His stable rival Leclerc, who was seriously offended by second place, had long since endangered the peace at Ferrari. The duel between the drivers for supremacy at the Scuderia threatens to escalate in the final spurt of the season.

“I need explanations” Charles Leclerc It was only with difficulty that Leclerc kept up the good looks during the celebration in front of the Ferrari garage shortly before midnight and forced a smile. As soon as the photographers lowered their cameras, the Monegasque hurried away. Because he felt betrayed by the Ferrari strategists, who had first guided Vettel to change tires and thus win, the 21-year-old demanded a discussion: “I still need a few explanations as to why this decision was made.”

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Simply lining up behind four-time world champion Vettel again is incompatible with Leclerc's burning ambition. With two previous victories in Spa and Monza and the brilliant drive to pole position in Singapore, the boy wonder had erased the German's number 1 status. But the swansong of Vettel after more than a year without success was premature, and his somewhat happy resurrection is difficult for Leclerc to swallow. “There could be different opinions internally” Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto “Of course Charles is disappointed,” said team boss Mattia Binotto. He even admitted to thinking during the race about giving in to the nagging Leclerc's request for a place swap. “We are still discussing with our drivers whether we made the right choice or not. There could be different opinions internally about this,” Binotto said diplomatically. The 49-year-old is now more than ever required to act as an arbitrator.

For Vettel and Leclerc, the remaining six races of the season are also about positioning themselves as leaders of the next World Cup attack next year. Although the title has almost certainly been awarded to Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton again this year, the three victories since the summer break have sparked new hope at the Scuderia. “I've been at Ferrari for a while and we're only really back when we win the World Cup,” said Vettel. Leclerc with a declaration of war The German has been chasing this world championship in vain for the fifth year in Maranello. Allowing himself to be pushed out by Leclerc is out of the question for the 32-year-old. And so the criticism and ridicule of the past, when Vettel too often attracted attention through driving errors and mindless, high-risk maneuvers, were more of an incentive. “I didn't feel like I had to change much. I now see this as confirmed,” explained the veteran.

The only question is whether the momentum of the fifth victory on its parade route at Marina Bay is lastingly strong enough. Vettel's performance on Sunday was flawless as in the best of times, but he also needed the unplanned help of the tacticians. Before traveling on to the race in Sochi on Sunday, Leclerc let Vettel know that it was just a runaway. “I will come back stronger in Russia,” assured the young star with a threatening undertone.

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A night with consequences: Vettel and Leclerc need mediators

After Sebastian Vettel's victory in Singapore, the mood at Ferrari is explosive. The four-time champion's duel with stable rival Charles Leclerc is coming to a head. It's also about the role of leader for the Scuderia's next World Cup attack.

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