Sebastian Vettel says it will be important to have a good relationship with Charles Leclerc in 2019 when the Monegasque racer comes in to replace Kimi Räikkönen as the German’s team-mate at Scuderia Ferrari.
After making his debut in 2018 with the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, Leclerc’s sophomore Formula 1 season will be with the Maranello-based squad where he will partner four-time World Champion Vettel.
However, Vettel says he and his new team-mate should try and emulate the relationship that he had with Räikkönen next season in order to progress the team whilst avoiding any kind of gamesmanship or internal hostility that could destabilise the team.
“It’s going to be different for sure, because Charles is not Kimi and Kimi is not Charles,” said Vettel to Autosport. “He is young, so he will have a lot on his head and a lot of things in his mind. So I think for the team we need to work together on track.
“I am sure he wants to beat me, [and] I want to beat him, the rules are clear. It was the same with Kimi. But I think the key is that we work together and, as I said, he will have a lot things going on in his head.
“I am his team-mate, so I am also here to help. I am the last one that is trying to hide or playing any games or anything like that. That is why I think I get along very well with Kimi, because in this regard we are very similar. So we will see.”
