VETTEL vs. LECLERC
BATTLE NO 2
Ferrari has received the shakedown it needs, starting at the top with the sullen Maurizio Arrivabene being replaced as team principal by Maia Binoo. The Italian is well liked and highly respected. These credentials come from his outstanding leadership of the technical department … which creates a possible problem in itself.
The role of team principal requires a great deal of astute manoeuvring, not just in the shark-infested world of F1 but also within the politically riven domain of Ferrari. Apart from dealing with the Fiat boardroom and fending o a rapacious Italian media which regards Ferrari as a national team, the quiet-spoken Binoo may find himself having to nursemaid his leading driver.
Sebastian Veel (below le) no longer has the protective shield provided by Kimi Räikkönen, who was quick but inconsistent, and usually accepted his role in support. In the veteran’s place comes Charles Leclerc. The 21-year-old Monégasque may have completed only one season with Sauber but that has been enough to signal the arrival of a potentially sublime talent as he finished sixth in Baku and regularly scored points.
Leclerc is no fool and will not set out to make waves, but that may prove inevitable during the course of the season if such natural ability happens to embarrass his team leader. Veel may have won four world championships with Red Bull but it did not prevent his reputation taking a hammering when the precocious Daniel Ricciardo arrived in 2014 and handsomely outscored the German.
A repeat of the aforementioned on the back of a season stained with fundamental errors in 2018 would seriously undermine Veel’s confidence. On the other hand, mediocrity doesn’t win back-to-back titles. If the team works as well as the car, Veel could return to his brilliant best. The problem for Binoo is finding the time to ensure all of these things happen.