Ferrari’s new team principal, Fredric Vasseur, has stated that Charles Leclerc will not be the team’s lead driver for the 2018 season, stating that the team would operate without a driver hierarchy, as it did in 2022.
Fredric Vasseur stated that he has made it “obvious” to both drivers that they would be treated equally by the squad. With Leclerc having competed for Alfa Romeo Sauber under Vasseur’s leadership in the 2018 F1 season, it was predicted that he will be promoted to No. 1 driver in 2023.
However, Fredric Vasseur stated that attaining team goals is a larger priority for Ferrari this season. In an interview with Sky Italia, the Frenchman stated:
“The team’s goal is to win – this is the team’s policy with Ferrari and for Ferrari. I’ve already discussed it with the drivers. We’ve made it obvious that we’ll treat them both equally and support them both in the same way.”
Fredric Vasseur was appointed Ferrari boss after Mattia Binotto announced his departure from the Maranello-based club after nearly three decades at the end of the 2022 season.
The squad has been without a championship for 15 years and had a chance to end it last season. However, despite a strong start to the season, a series of dubious team choices and technical troubles guaranteed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen easily won his second world title.
In 2023, Ferrari will be more cavalier about dependability
Fredric Vasseur explained his choice to treat both drivers equally by saying that they must perform best for the team and not only for themselves.
However, Fredric Vasseur stated that if either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz outperforms the other, the team would change its approach appropriately, but this will not happen right away.
“For sure, if one is in a lot better position to battle for the title at some point during the season, we’ll have to take action, but it’s not that one will be the number one from the start of the season.”
One of the key reasons Charles Leclerc lost the championship lead in 2022 was engine dependability, with defeats in Spain and Baku owing to such concerns.
However, Fredric Vasseur stated that Ferrari’s vehicle appears to be dependable enough for the 2017 season, implying that the team has a greater chance of winning the championship. Fredric Vasseur stated that dependability was “in control” ahead of the pre-season testing in Bahrain, which is slated for February 23-25.
