Ferrari has a hierarchy problem: “Open war”

The Corriere dello Sport After the recent power games on the Black Sea, it has long recognized an “open war” between Vettel and Leclerc. The four-time former world champion, severely frustrated and noticeably annoyed, refrained from making any comments about the internal team dispute. “It's best for me if I don't say anything about it. I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Vettel.

Appearances are deceiving: Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel hardly have anything to say to each other. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Dan Mullan

But: Vettel did not seem to have stuck to the plan revealed by Leclerc. The German benefited from Leclerc's slipstream at the start, but did not want to immediately give back the place he had won as agreed. The 21-year-old Monegasque didn't accept this entirely voluntarily, but took the lead after a pit stop and came third. Vettel retired on the 28th lap because part of the engine's hybrid unit failed. Vettel has credit, although Leclerc has long been the faster one The smallest details of the red hiccup in Russia actually hardly matter, because the picture is clear: Ferrari does not have its drivers under control. A week earlier in Singapore, Leclerc was angry after Vettel's victory because, in his view, he had been disadvantaged. But no one speaks out, no one ensures order. No longer number 1 according to lap times: Sebastian Vettel. © AP / Luca Bruno

Vettel still has a lot of credit with the team, even though newcomer Leclerc has long been dominating on the track. He was faster nine times in qualifying recently, and in the World Championship he is 21 points ahead of his teammate, who is more than ten years older.

“I think it's a luxury because we have two fantastic drivers,” said team boss Stefano Binotto. But the highly toxic driver relationship has long been Ferrari's biggest problem. The car is superior thanks to the powerful engine; even industry leader Mercedes fears the Italians' top speed. But the Scuderia makes far too little use of this advantage and has no chance in the constructors' championship five races before the end of the season.

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Ferrari has a hierarchy problem: “Open war”

In the Formula 1 duel between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, Ferrari is losing control. Even after the escalation in Sochi, team boss Mattia Binotto would like to continue to smile away the crisis of trust between the stable rivals.

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