New Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur admits he will "fight like hell" with Toto Wolff and Mercedes, despite sharing a good relationship with the Austrian.
Vasseur and Wolff have been friends for several years, with the two often spotted together in the paddock.
With Vasseur moving from Alfa Romeo to become Ferrari's new Team Principal and General Manager, it could raise questions over whether his friendship with Wolff – boss of the Scuderia's rivals, the Silver Arrows – will remain intact.
The Frenchman is expecting a tough fight with Wolff when it comes to what happens on track.
"I know that we will fight on track, we'll fight to the stewards, we'll fight in the FIA, we'll fight [over] the Concorde Agreement," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365.com.
"And this is life."
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Good relationship off track, but a fight on it
Vasseur admits that it can be a positive factor for the sport to have good relationships and cooperation between the teams.
"I think for the global picture, it's an advantage to have a very good collaboration between teams," he explained.
"When the common interest of the teams [and] F1 will be to have a discussion and to find an agreement, I think it will be a huge advantage to have a good relationship. I have good relationships with [several] of my colleagues, and I think this is always good.
"[But you can] be sure that I will fight like hell with Toto on track and [off] the track."
Ferrari beat Mercedes to second place in the Constructors' Championship in 2022, finishing 39 points ahead.
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