P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz insists that rival teams will see Ferrari’s policy not to designate a No1 driver as “a strength”.
Fred Vasseur’s arrival as team principal last year signaled a change in Ferrari’s approach, with no driver being prioritized over the other, despite Vasseur’s history with Charles Leclerc. Sainz and Leclerc had successful seasons, with Sainz becoming the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race and Ferrari finishing third in the constructors’ championship. Sainz believes that having two fast drivers together is a strength for Ferrari and that the ideal situation in Formula 1 is to have the fastest two drivers. He also highlighted the mutual respect between him and Leclerc, with no incidents on the track during their three years together. While both drivers’ contracts expire at the end of this season, Ferrari’s priority is to keep both, although Leclerc’s negotiations are currently taking precedence.
