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Sebastian Vettel & Charles Leclerc free to race in 2020 Formula 1 season

Sebastian Vettel & Charles Leclerc "free to race" in 2020 Formula 1 season

04-12-2019 14:00 Last update: 08-12-2019 14:05
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Bobby Vincent

Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc will be "free to race" during the 2020 Formula 1 season, according to team principal Mattia Binotto.

The pair clashed on numerous occasions in the 2019 season; most noticeably at the Brazilian Grand Prix, when the two touched and then both had to retire from the race early after suffering punctures.

Leclerc finished 24 points ahead of Vettel in his first season with Ferrari, after many thought the Monegasque driver would be joining the Italian team as Vettel's "number two" driver.

However, Binotto admitted that Leclerc's impressive debut season "surprised everyone" and the duo will be free to race each other next season.

"If you look at the last races, they have been free to race and I think that is how we are going to start the next season," Binotto said, as cited by OneStopStrategy. 

"He (Leclerc) is fast, he manages pressure, he is good in fights, he is good in the races - I am very happy with him. Getting seven pole positions and two wins in his first year and finishing ahead of Sebastian in the championship is a great achievement.

"Obviously we are not happy with the performance of the car and some mistakes that we made, including reliability issues and some decisions, but now we have to move forward."