Ferrari’s damage-limitation mode went into overdrive after the Russian Grand Prix, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to control the fall-out from the latest team orders controversy between their two drivers.
The facts are simple.
Sebastian Vettel, several times in the early laps of the race, ignored a direct order to let Charles Leclerc past him into the lead.
Vettel was in front as a result of Leclerc executing his part of a strategy agreed before the race and aimed at ensuring the German could pass Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, which qualified between them in second place, so the Ferraris could run one-two after the start.
It seems, though, that Vettel did not fulfil his part of the bargain, and – although they denied it afterwards – it looked as if the team had to take things into their own hands to resolve it.
There is so much at stake here – a proud champion fighting for his position in the team, which is patently under threat from an extravagantly talented youngster, and a team boss struggling to contain the potentially volcanic mix when two alphas are in the same cage.
In the end, the way the race turned out, Ferrari were able to keep a lid on the situation – publicly at least. But as the dust settled afterwards, from what was not said as much as what was, it was hard to believe that the matter would rest there.
With Leclerc starting on pole and Vettel third, Ferrari were concerned about the threat from Hamilton in second on what is the longest run from the start to the first corner in any race all year.
They hatched a pre-race deal to ensure both Ferraris emerged from that corner in front of Hamilton.
“The agreement was very simple,” Leclerc said. “I had to give the slipstream to Seb at the beginning, let him past at the second corner for us to be first and second and then to swap back.”
Vettel was not quite so forthcoming.
“I don’t know exactly what happened,” he said. “We had an agreement. I spoke with Charles before the race and I think it was quite clear but maybe I missed something. We will speak later.”
What was the agreement, he was asked?
“I don’t want to share,” Vettel said. “I don’t want to put the team in a bad position afterwards. I know it’s not fair because I think people deserve to know. We were talking about a strategy to find a way past Lewis. I had a very good start and there were a couple of options. I prefer not to [say].”
