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Ralf Schumacher: 'Leclerc is the future at Ferrari, not Vettel'

Ralf Schumacher: 'Leclerc is the future at Ferrari, not Vettel'

22-11-2019 08:03
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has warned Ferrari about their drivers' on-track clashes across this season, saying the Italian works team has "other worries than its teammates constantly arguing".

Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc's rocky relationship reached its worst point yet last weekend, with the duo colliding during the Brazilian Grand Prix and ending each other's races.

It was the first double DNF for the team since Singapore 2017 as they went side-by-side down the back straight at Interlagos. Vettel, who was slightly ahead as they approached the braking zone, moved across a little bit to dictate the racing line, but in doing so touched with his teammate's SF90.

Doube punctures and double DNF's, and a lot of questions to be answered. Speaking to Sky Deutschland, Schumacher thinks team principal Mattia Binotto needs to sort things out at the team urgently.

“I believe there will be a difficult internal discussion because Binotto is increasingly coming under pressure,” the German explained.

“After all, Ferrari has other worries than its teammates constantly arguing. And they both have that responsibility to prevent this as they are both mature enough to do so."

Should the situation become so toxic that the current duo can't co-exist any longer, Schumacher thinks a decision has to be made about which driver stays and which driver leaves. 

“I think it is serious enough that if it does not improve, if there are no clear rules of engagement, then Ferrari might think about changing something,” the six-time Grand Prix winner continued.

“It will be very difficult for both of them but especially Sebastian. If they cannot find a solution, it is clear that the future is with Charles.”