Brawn: “Vettel relives what he felt at Red Bull in 2014”

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) found himself in a tricky position again during the 2019 Italian Grand Prix. One year after a spin against Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), the German this time made a mistake in the Ascari chicane. 

Arrived more than a lap behind his teammate and winner Charles Leclerc, the four-time world champion Formula 1 has been the subject of strong criticism. To which Ross Brawn, Motorsport Director of Liberty Media, responded in his usual post-GP letter.

For the former technical director of the Scuderia, Sebastian Vettel has “made two mistakes on the sixth lap, sliding then hitting Lance Stroll (Racing Point) ». A situation which reminds him of the 2014 campaign.

“It’s unmissable, no matter who the driver is, the first rival is the teammate. On some level, Sebastian relives what he felt in Red Bull in 2014, when he found himself against Daniel Ricciardo, a young talent with incredible racing pace. »

Or the same pattern as in 2019, where the leader of the team is bullied by a young starving man capable of tearing himself away from the track to gain the upper hand over an internal reference. In 2014, Sebastian Vettel saw Daniel Ricciardo signs three victories and finishes third in the championship, when number 1 only finished fifth without a win. 

In 2019, after the Italian meeting, Charles Leclerc is two winners' trophies away against zero for the German, and also ahead of him in the Drivers' standings (4th and 5th). But that's no reason to blame the man who was nicknamed "baby Schumi" in his early days. 

“Vettel is clearly one of the great drivers of our sport (you don't win four titles by chance), but during this tough period, he needs the support of his team in order to regain the confidence that he seems to have lost at the moment , continues Ross Brawn.

This must be Mattia Binotto's priority in the coming weeks, while leading the development of the future car. It won’t be easy but it’s essential, especially for 2020.” 

Discover the full report and analysis of the Italian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Monza, in issue 2233 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.