Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the team will continue to give priority to Sebastian Vettel if a “50-50” race situation arises between him and team mate Charles Leclerc.

However Binotto said Leclerc is proving he is capable of winning races.

Vettel benefited from Ferrari’s team orders in a series of instructions in the opening races of the season. Binotto confirmed the policy remains unchanged despite the team and its drivers falling far behind their rivals at Mercedes in both championships.

“What I think we said at the very start of the season is that as first we are here to get maximum points for the team,” said Binotto when asked by RaceFans on Friday.

In the event of a “50-50 situation” then “Sebastian was in that case the one that would have had priority,” Binotto confirmed.

“Sebastian is still the one ahead in the championship between the two drivers at the moment so if there would be any 50-50, certainly we may still give the advantage to Sebastian.”

However Leclerc has now led more laps than any other driver in the championship apart from Lewis Hamilton and has came close to winning in Bahrain and Austria.

“I think as the championship is going on Charles is certainly proving that he is a very fast driver,” said Binotto. “He can be on pole as he has been and [if] he has better opportunity to win races we never stop him winning races.”

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2019 F1 season