Vasseur addresses 'number one driver' claims at Ferrari F1 team

Two strong drivers

Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has asserted that there is no preferential treatment between their Formula 1 drivers.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have been paired together at the Italian squad since 2021.

Ferrari has been unable to contend for championships during their time spent as team-mates, although the team has secured an odd race victory.

After going winless in 2021, Leclerc won three races to Sainz's one in 2022 before Sainz became the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race this year.

Despite Leclerc being at the team longer and having a better record in the head-to-head battle, Vasseur believes that Sainz's victory in Singapore earlier this year showcases the squad's focus on equal treatment.

“We showed this season that we have more than equal treatment between the drivers,” Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

“I remember perfectly that one year ago in the same room, I had tons of questions about Charles number one and Carlos number two and 'blah blah blah'.

“We showed on some occasions, I think Singapore was the best example, when Charles agreed to start with Soft [tyres] to jump [George] Russell and block Russell.

“When we asked Charles to slow down Russell, he did it. It meant that they did a very good job together.”

Vasseur highlighted that Ferrari wants to have two drivers with mirroring performances in order to maximise its results.

“It's not that we have a number one [driver] that’s a bigger asset. We have two drivers, they are doing a good job.

“I think that Carlos was more than strong when he came back after the summer break, he had a very good sequence with Monza and Singapore.

“It's probably also part of the good results of Charles at the end of the season to have these kinds of positive emulation. I will continue in this direction, I don't want to have one good asset and another one [that's] not a good asset.

“We have two cars, two drivers. One of the good points of the season is that they scored almost the same number of points.

“I will consider this last year in the same way, to give them exactly the same level of freedom and the same approach in the strategy of the race.”