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Former Ferrari president says the team need to determine number one driver status

Former Ferrari president says the team need to determine number one driver status

12-01-2020 08:33
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Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insists the Ferrari team must determine whether Charles Leclerc or Sebastian Vettel is the number one driver. Last year a few examples of driver politics got between Leclerc and Vettel on and off-track. 

Ferrari clearly have plans for the long term with Leclerc. The man from Monaco signed a mega-contract that will see him race in red until at least 2024 while the future of Vettel in the same race suit remains uncertain after the 2020 F1 season. Montezemolo suggests the team should forget about the history and contract context to just find out who is faster on the stopwatch. 

“In the years I worked there was Lauda with Regazzoni, who had to swallow some bitter morsels, but Lauda was faster and it is right that we aimed at him. In fact we won two world championships and we lost one by a few points in Japan," he told Sky Italia. 

"Then Schumacher: Barrichello, Irvine and Massa were drivers able to win races, bring important points for the championship, but it was clear that Schumacher was number one. It was not our decision, the stopwatch said so. In general, a little clarity is needed.”