The case for Germany’s four-time champion not being No 1 with the Scuderia next season is overwhelming
Already beaten and bloody from a punishing season,
Ferrari completed Paul Weller’s Eton triumvirate by emerging from the Brazilian
Grand Prix with sick down their shirt. Heading into the winter to regroup, the very last thing the Scuderia needed was for their drivers to clash on track and bring to a premature head the problem the team have in how they manage
Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc next season. Indeed, what
Brazil demonstrated is that they may have a problem that is simply intractable.
At Interlagos the two drivers were set for a solid points finish when they came together battling for fourth. Leclerc had put in a fine move up the inside of turn one to pass Vettel but the German, with DRS, came back at him on the run towards T4, Descida do Lago. Vettel went in front but then moved marginally over towards Leclerc. They touched, both took damage and retired. Both were furious, both believed the other to have been at fault.