Vettel says new teammate Leclerc is free to race against him
Four-times Formula One world champion affirms teammates will go head to head
Melbourne — Sebastian Vettel says new Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc will be “free to race” from the start of the Formula One season and the German rejects suggestions his bid for a fifth world championship title will take precedence. Ferrari’s new team principal Mattia Binotto said earlier in the year that Vettel, as the team’s “champion“, would be given priority over Leclerc in certain racing situations, though he later clarified the drivers would be “free to fight”. Vettel, bidding for a third successive win in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, said testily that he expected no special treatment. “I think it’s very clear, and I think Mattia also made it very clear, we are free to race each other,” he told reporters at Albert Park on Thursday. "I think Charles will do his best to help himself, to help the team and that’s the same for me, I’ll do the best to help myself and to help the team. "In the end we are racing for Ferrari and that means we will try to get Ferrari ba...
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