During the Italian GP, Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were allowed to compete against each other. According to team boss Frederic Vasseur, it was a way of thanking the Tifosi for their support.
“Guys, let’s take this result to the finish,” the riders were told, but they were also told that they could race each other but without taking any major risks.
“If I had frozen the positions, I would have been asked the same question. Why did you freeze the positions?”
“It is much easier to comment afterwards, but I think this was the best way to thank everyone, the support of the Tifosi and so on. I wouldn’t have felt so comfortable fixing positions five laps before the end of the race.”
“I trust them but I also said not to take any risks. Everything is relative, no risk is also relative. It is an opinion and I am quite proud of the decision and what the drivers have done.”
Vasseur also leaves no doubt that he ultimately made the decision, and not the pit wall, that Leclerc and Sainz were allowed to race against each other.
“I made the final decision,” said Vasseur. “I told them not to take any chances, they could race against each other but not take any chances. And again, that’s relative. But I felt much more comfortable with this situation than fixing the positions.”