F1 contributor on how Vettel and Leclerc’s Brazil collision could set Ferrari up for 2020 title success. Jolyon Palmer's Analysis.

Motorsport commentator and columnist Jolyon Palmer reflects on how Scuderia Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc’s Brazil collision could set the Maranello team up for 2020 title success:

“Hiring Leclerc to replace Kimi Raikkonen has taken them away from the comfortable team mate dynamic, where Vettel had supremacy, and was comfortable in the team, with Raikkonen seemingly accepting of a generally subordinate status. There are obvious pros to this. Firstly, Leclerc is a faster driver than Raikkonen currently, hence he’s already wrapped up the pole position trophy for the year. He’s taken the team on to another level. But crucially, he’s forced Vettel to up his game as well, with the two pushing each other extremely hard in the battle for supremacy at Ferrari.

Leclerc was initially hampered by team orders early on, then got his feet under the table and went on a storming run through the summer, culminating in victories in Spa and Monza, whilst Vettel struggled.

Since then Vettel has raised his game to match Leclerc once more, and therefore the whole team benefits from the drivers pushing each other to the absolute limit, searching tirelessly for the last tenth or even hundredth of a second that will give them the edge – and, of course, this helps them in the battle with Mercedes or Red Bull.

The downside has become obvious as well in recent times, most notably in Brazil, with Vettel and Leclerc colliding on the run down to Turn 4. Whilst the drivers are pushing each other to their limits in situations like this, the team harmony is always at risk, and the team mate relationship needs careful managing. The Ferrari crash on Sunday was a battle of egos. After Leclerc put a brilliant pass on Vettel, Vettel unnecessarily squeezed him and ultimately they touched, causing a double DNF, the absolute worst-case scenario for any team. Mattia Binotto described it as a “luxury” to be in the position of managing his warring drivers, because of how hard they are pushing each other. If he can control them and stop them taking it a step too far, then it could be exactly that. But history tells us it’s not so easy to do.

Ahead of a 2020 season where three teams look relatively evenly-matched heading into it, and all six drivers are settled in position, getting the most out of the team mate relationships could play a critical role in the championship.”