Lewis Hamilton: Sebastian Vettel “clearly not” Ferrari number one

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton says that Sebastian Vettel is “clearly not” the number one driver at Ferrari anymore with the team building up Charles Leclerc to take priority.

At the start of the season it had been made clear that Vettel was going to be the ‘priority’ driver for the Scuderia but Leclerc has outqualified him in the past nine races while winning in Belgium and Italy.
 
The German claimed his first win of the season in Singapore though after being pitted before his teammate who was leading to then come out in front for the rest of the race.
 
In Russia the Monegasque had qualified on pole for the fourth time in a row with Vettel third but he overtook at the start thanks to a tow and later ignored orders to give back the position before retiring.

"It's an interesting dynamic they have there, because obviously Seb was number one, and [he's] now clearly not," said Hamilton (quoted by Autosport).

"From the energy from the outlook, [Ferrari is] trying to ramp Charles up to be [number one].

"Is that good for a team? I don't think so. But that's the philosophy they've had forever.

"We don't complain, because we have a good philosophy [at Mercedes] that works really well here and we don't plan on changing it any time soon."

The Briton also thought it was strange that Leclerc agreed to give his position away at the start rather than give Vettel a tow and defend.

"I think Charles had said that, 'I would let you take the tow' and didn't move and defend, which he should've done, because you don't give a place and expect to get it back - I wouldn't," Hamilton added.