F1: Leclerc should be Ferrari number 1

(GMM) Ferrari’s former technical chief is urging the Maranello team to nominate a clear number 1 driver for the championship battle with Max Verstappen.

Enrico Scalabroni, a well-known name in the F1 paddock who also worked at teams including Williams and Lotus, disagrees with the current policy of allowing Carlos Sainz to fight for the title against teammate Charles Leclerc.

“Ferrari must have a first and second driver for the battle with Verstappen,” he told f1sport.it.

“At this level, with a lot of points to make up for, they need to do that. The second driver must be there to prioritize the team.

“It doesn’t matter if the name is Leclerc or Sainz. It’s not about the driver, it’s about the team,” the Argentinean added.

“If they want to win as a team, they can’t do what Williams did with Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet, for example,” he said.

Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving (16) the Ferrari F1-75, Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari F1-75 and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 Honda during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 29, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

On the face of it, Ferrari’s leading candidate as number 1 is Leclerc – with a longer contract, higher salary and a clear 37-point advantage in the drivers’ standings.

“The most important thing is to drive for the team,” said Scalabroni. “So I think the biggest issue is which of the two drivers has the most points.

“Ferrari is not looking at that now, but it has to make a decision. They should focus on the driver with the most points and who has had the fewest problems.”