Frederic Vasseur is not thinking about Charles Leclerc’s F1 contract, as well as team orders at Ferrari going into 2023 season.
Leclerc is amid a long term contract at Maranello which runs out at the end of the 2024 campaign. With this season and next season to go, there is a lot to ponder for the 2022 runner-up as well as his new boss Vasseur. But there is no hurry as per the new Ferrari boss who took over the reigns from Mattia Binotto last month.
They are no stranger to each other with Leclerc having worked with Vasseur at Alfa Romeo. For now, the Frenchman is focused more on getting results rather thinking about a driver contract. “I don’t want to put this topic on the table today,” he said to F1 media. “It would not be a good way to start the collaboration”.
“We have to be focused on the sporting side to get the results. It is like a wedding – if both sides of the table are happy with the situation, we will continue. But it is not the priority today. We have a good relationship. We will have time to discuss about this,” summed up Vasseur.
It was an extremely interesting answer which possibly caught media on the hop but then again he does have a valid point and a lot will happen between now and the end of 2024. The team dynamics can change too and Leclerc could be out. He has enjoyed Sainz’s company last year but once things gets tricky, a lot can still change.
As it stands, at Ferrari as per last season, there were no team orders per se and as per Binotto both Leclerc and Sainz were free to race each other. And while it worked quite well, there is no doubt that it could happen that one would have to get priority over the other especially when the championship is on the line.
As of now, Leclerc and Sainz would go into the season with equal status as per Vasseur, but that he would not hesitate to prioritise one if the circumstances demanded it. “We have two very good drivers who are both able to do the job. We will have the capacity to provide them exactly the same car and structure and support,” he said.
“The target is to win for Ferrari. There will be no number one or two. But if at one stage I have to take action, I will take action. It doesn’t matter if it is one or the other, if at one stage of the season, I have to do something, I will do it,” summed up Vasseur.
Team orders have been part of F1 since 1950, and that is no lie. It did seem and appear to work well at Ferrari last season and Leclerc did get the upper hand over Sainz but it could be interesting to see if both have a case scenario where they are racing on equal terms and get equally good results and then Vasseur will have to make a call.
Here’s Frederic Vasseur on Ferrari’s win target and PU
Here’s Frederic Vasseur crediting Mattia Binotto
Here’s Ferrari undertaking 2023 testing
Here’s Charles Leclerc on his extreme training
Here’s Ferrari about its reserve pool
Here’s list of its junior drivers
Here’s Carlos Sainz on Frederic Vasseur