When will Ferrari follow Red Bull in team orders: 'Matter of time'

In Barcelona, Red Bull Racing was the first team this season to use team orders to ensure that their first driver would score more points for the championship. Max Verstappen was passed by Sergio Perez and as a result he won the race in Spain. With team orders having been used after only six races, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer wonders when Ferrari will follow Red Bull's lead.

"Ferrari must be thinking to move to the same position were Carlos Sainz to be ahead of Charles Leclerc soon," Palmer thinks aloud in his analysis on Formula1.com. According to the former Renault driver, Ferrari has so far always denied that team orders will be used, but it seems very likely that the Italian team will be ranked this season.

Charles Leclerc is currently just behind Verstappen in the championship and well ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz. In the opening stages of the season it was still said that team orders will not be used because both drivers should have an equal chance of winning the title, but with the points tally rising so much Palmer thinks it could happen within considerable time that Ferrari will also exercise team orders.

"It’s a situation that hasn’t arisen yet at Ferrari, but it’s probably a matter of time before Sainz has a stronger weekend, and team orders must be back in the minds of all." According to Palmer, there is currently only one clear favorite for the world title within Ferrari and that is Leclerc.