Charles Leclerc causing Sebastian Vettel to “dig deeper” to find time

Vettel has been Ferrari’s number one driver since he joined the team back in 2015, partnering Kimi Raikkonen for 4 years and beating him on most occasions.
 
Last year it was announced that Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) rookie Leclerc would replace Raikkonen for 2019 and the youngster has proved to be a challenge for the German, out-pacing him for the majority of the year.
 
The 21-year old has out-qualified Vettel this season, starting first five times and winning three to the Germans one.

“Nothing focuses the mind like your team-mate doing a better job than you,” said Palmer in his BBC column.

“It's the ultimate benchmark - someone who has the same equipment who is ultimately performing to a higher level.

“It means you dig deeper and find time you didn't think possible. And right now Vettel is probably having to do this on the regular basis.

“After years of beating former team-mate Kimi Raikkonen with ease, Vettel would have been assuming he was getting the most out of the car.

“But Leclerc has come in and the bar has been raised.”

After various races of mistakes and poor form Palmer believes that Vettel had turned his game around in qualifying, setting the pace for everyone in Q3 before the Monegasque claimed his fifth pole.

“Vettel had already shown signs before the race in Singapore that he had raised his game,” Palmer added.

“He set the pace on the first runs in final qualifying - and it was Leclerc who had to go out and do better to take pole, which he did with a lap right on the ragged edge.

“Vettel's race was strong, but he needs to be at the front from the start to take further opportunities, at circuits where the race pace won't be as measured and reduced as it was in Singapore.”