Button: "The situation at Ferrari is now really strange"

Jenson Button has questioned Ferrari's decision to tell Sebastian Vettel to let Charles Leclerc retake the lead of the Russian Grand Prix. The former World Champion believes it is now a strange situation at the Scuderia.

Vettel overtook Charles Leclerc in the opening stages of the race in Sochi but was expected to let his teammate back in front, as the team gave the Monegasque the preferred strategy. Vettel ignored the order telling his team that Leclerc must catch up if he wanted to pass. The team eventually did the move in the pit stop phase before the German retired with an engine failure.

Button has questioned Ferrari's decision to call for Vettel to let his teammate pass him and believes the team are now in a strange position.

"I don't understand what they do at Ferrari why keep that deal intact if Vettel was much faster and didn't need any advantage from it?" Button told Speedweek.

"He had to fight for that [position, ed]and I think it's very strange that he had to give it up.

"You can safely drive with two drivers side by side, both in the lead, but the situation at Ferrari is now really strange. Once upon a time one and the other is favoured."