Ferrari brush off fresh Lewis Hamilton-Charles Leclerc concern

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has dismissed concerns relating to the high-intensity battles between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc this year.

The Ferrari pair have gone wheel-to-wheel on numerous occasions in the early stages of the campaign - including at last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

However, the duo have so far been able to avoid a clash despite the close proximity of their battles.

Vasseur has insisted that both drivers know that the team comes first when it comes to their on-track behaviour.

“As long as we have the two cars at the end, I'm happy that it's a good emulation,” Vasseur told F1. 

“Everybody would prefer to have the two cars in front, one at the front and one [behind].

“I'm very pleased with this. They have a huge respect between them. 

“They know perfectly [well] that it's Ferrari first, and they are doing a very good job on track.”

Ferrari has scored a podium at every round so far this year, while Mercedes has stormed away at the head of the field.

Ferrari's primary rival as it stands appears to be McLaren, who returned to the podium in Japan after a disastrous opening two rounds.

However, Vasseur insisted the Italian squad never counted McLaren out.

“It's not because they didn't start in China, that they were not in the fight,” he said. “They were next to us on the grid. They were there. 

“You can have a DNF or DNS in this case, but they are there, and they were there, and they will be there. Nothing change for me.”