Vettel’s facing a step down if he fails again

SEBASTIAN VETTEl will have to fight for his No 1 status at Ferrari if he finishes tomorrow’s German Grand Prix behind team-mate Charles leclerc.

Sportsmail understands that the Ferrari camp is already divided over whether to throw their support behind the four-time world champion or the 21-yearold from Monaco, who is seen as the coming man. And the tension will rise another level if leclerc overhauls his three-point deficit to Vettel, who is 11 years his senior. That would be a considerable achievement in his first season with the Scuderia, especially as Vettel, who earns £36million a year, has been favoured so far. ‘Ferrari will back whoever is leading the championship,’ said one source close to the Italian team yesterday. If that forecast is borne out, it would be another blow to Vettel, whose driving has been wonky in the past couple of seasons. One notable setback came here at his home race last year, when he crashed out at Sachs Curve, lost his eight-point lead and fell 17 behind winner lewis Hamilton. Owing to a litany of errors, the German has not led the standings since. Driving into the back of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at Silverstone a fortnight ago was his most recent blunder. His confidence appears shot — partly by Hamilton’s brilliance and his own car’s shortcomings — but also by the lack of unconditional love he enjoyed at Red Bull during his glory years. Vettel’s new boss, Mattia Binotto, sought to apply balm at the start of the campaign by declaring him their No 1, but the effect is now wearing off. In yesterday’s practice, Vettel had to watch leclerc head the timing screens. Vettel was second fastest. Hamilton, who leads Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 39 points and Vettel by 100, was third best.