Is Vettel implying here that he and Leclerc did not have the same material?

F1 News

20 December 2020 at 12:31
Last update 20 December 2020 at 15:26
  • GPblog.com

After his exodus from the Scuderia this year, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel looks back on his six-year stint with the team and the sometimes large individual differences between the two Ferrari drivers on the grid, speculating about the possible underlying reasons.

It is not the first time this year that Vettel or Ferrari have been asked about the possible differences between the materials that both drivers had at their disposal. Especially after the announcement of Vettel's move to Aston Martin, both Ferrari's seemed to perform at totally different levels. 

Now, apart from Ferrari and close to his entrance at Aston Martin, Vettel was again asked this question. He reacted relatively cryptically, but did not entirely rule out the possibility that Leclerc's materials had a lead.

Vettel: “In theory, of course, we're driving two different cars, but the same thing somewhere. Let's put it this way: I'm assuming we had the same material. I think so because I trust the guys in the garage. And I don't want to attach anything bad to anyone.”

Distribution of criticism

Vettel's interviewer at Blick also asked about his views on the criticism he often received, but from which his young team mate was often spared. Extremely diplomatically, Vettel says:  “I am very open because I know my weaknesses and my strengths best. And I sure made some mistakes. We don't even have to discuss it.”