Ferrari will reveal "no answers" about Vettel/Leclerc clash
Mattia Binotto says there will be no public "answers" to how Ferrari has handled its Formula 1 drivers' crash in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc retired from the previous F1 race two weeks ago after clashing late on while fighting for position.
Neither was punished by the FIA for the incident, although TV footage showed Vettel moving left towards his teammate, and Ferrari reviewed it in private at its Maranello headquarters, where team boss Binotto met with Vettel and Leclerc independently and as a pair.
Asked in Abu Dhabi what measures had been taken to prevent a repeat, Binotto said: "There are no answers here. It's something we discuss internally. They are both very good drivers, they know exactly what to do. It's unfortunate what happened."
Leclerc said on Thursday ahead of the season finale that he and Vettel needed to "try to be a bit less aggressive between each other" to prevent a repeat.
Binotto had previously said this week that, following the meeting, both drivers "understand what happened was not acceptable" and "how to move forward".
However, pressed on why no specific details had been shared, Binotto defended the team's right to keep things private.
"Is there one driver more to blame than the other? I think it's not important," said Binotto. "Maybe that time it could have been Seb, maybe next time it could be Charles.
"They are two drivers, fighting, and they can make mistakes. What's important is to know the next time, it's not happening again.
"There's not much to discuss. It's been between us, something we discussed at our factory, and I'm happy to keep it between us."
Binotto suggested that his drivers still disagreed over what happened in the crash when he said that there are "different versions" and that "if you listen to the drivers they have their own version".
However, he said the bottom line is that regardless of who was to blame, the incident hurt the team.
"What is more important is to understand what's triggering it," he said. "That is the only way to make sure that in the future it's not happening again. And that's obviously what we discussed."
Previous article
Haas in new simulator "rehearsal" during Abu Dhabi GP
Next article
Hulkenberg's "heart was bleeding" watching 2012 Brazil GP
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Charles Leclerc , Sebastian Vettel |
| Teams | Scuderia Ferrari |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
